JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars needed something special Sunday.
They almost got it on a big day from their special teams, instead squandering a second-half lead to lose their 2018 regular-season home finale.
Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins' 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Redskins a 16-13 victory over the Jaguars Sunday on a day when 67,577 tickets were distributed for the final game at TIAA Bank Field this season.
Redskins cornerback Fabian Moreau intercepted Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler at the Redskins 29 and returned it to the Redskins 45 with 2:31 remaining to set up Washington's 31-yard game-winning drive.
Wide receiver Dede Westbrook returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown with :04 remaining in the first half to give the Jaguars their lone touchdown of the game and a 10-3 lead. It came four plays after a 63-yard punt by rookie punter Logan Cooke.
A six-yard touchdown pass from Redskins quarterback Josh Johnson to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle tied the game 13-13 with 5:47 remaining. The touchdown was set up by a 33-yard pass from Johnson to wide receiver Jamison Crowder off the hands of Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson to the Jaguars 27.
Defensive end Lerentee McCrary earlier in the second quarter partially blocked a punt to set up the Jaguars' first points of the game – a 33-yard field goal by newly-signed kicker Kai Forbath.
Forbath also had a 41-yard fourth-quarter field goal.
The Jaguars (4-10) lost for the ninth time in 10 games. The Redskins (7-7) snapped a four-game losing streak.
Westbrook, the Jaguars' best offensive player in recent weeks, caught three passes for 21 yards and also rushed once for 20 yards. His punt-return touchdown was the Jaguars' first special teams touchdown this season
Kessler, making his third start since taking over for longtime starter Blake Bortles, completed nine of 17 passes for 57 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions. Kessler led the team in rushing with 68 yards on six carries.
Signed as a free agent by the Redskins December 5, Johnson completed 16 of 25 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He rushed nine times for 49 yards.
Johnson, the Redskins' fourth starting quarterback in five games, last started in the NFL in 2011.
The Jaguars registered two sacks Sunday, with defensive end Calais Campbell getting one in the first quarter and strong-side linebacker Nick DeLuca – making his first NFL start – adding one in the fourth quarter. Campbell leads the Jaguars with eight sacks this season.
The Redskins sacked Kessler six times, including four in the first half.
Step by step:
*A 46-yard field goal by Hopkins gave the Redskins a 3-0 lead with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter. The Redskins squandered an early scoring opportunity after defensive tackle Daron Payne recovered a fumble by Kessler; Campbell's first-quarter sack pushed the Redskins out of field goal range on a drive that began at the Jaguars 34. The Redskins turned in three sacks in the first quarter.
*The Jaguars tied the game near the end of the first half, with a 33-yard field goal by Forbath making it 3-3 with 3:22 remaining in the second quarter; that capped a 31-yard, 10-play drive on which Kessler ran three times for 32 yards. Westbrook's 74-yard punt return came four seconds before halftime and put the Jaguars ahead, 10-3.
*Hopkins' 33-yard field goal came with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter, capping a 16-play, 40-yard drive to start the second half; that cut the Jaguars' lead to 10-6.
*Forbath's 41-yard field goal with 11:16 remaining gave the Jaguars a 13-6 lead with 11:16 remaining. The Redskins tied it with Sprinkle's six-yard touchdown reception.
Notable:Kicker Josh Lambo (groin) was among seven Jaguars players de-activated an hour and a half before kickoff Sunday; Forbath, who signed Friday as a free agent, kicked in Lambo's place. … Running back Carlos Hyde was a healthy inactive for the Jaguars; with Hyde out, starter Leonard Fournette, reserve T.J. Yeldon and reserve Dave Williams were the active running backs. … Other Jaguars inactives Sunday: wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., cornerback Tyler Patmon, linebacker Martrell Spaight, nose tackle Eli Ankou and right tackle Jermey Parnell. … DeLuca started at strong-side linebacker for Leon Jacobs (quadriceps), who was placed on injured reserve Friday. … Josh Wells started start at right tackle for Parnell; Ereck Flowers started at left tackle.
Injury report: Jaguars safety Ronnie Harrison sustained a first-quarter knee injury and did not return. …. Harrison's replacement, Jarrod Wilson, sustained a fourth-quarter ankle injury.
What's next:The Jaguars are scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, December 23 at 1 p.m.
