Game Report, 2024 Week 15: Jets 32, Jaguars 25

Dec 15, 2024 at 04:34 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars came, they saw, they fought on.

On a wild Sunday, that again wasn't enough.

Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught two touchdowns from Mac Jones, but Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams countered that again and again. The result: A scrappy Jaguars performance wasn't enough to prevent a 32-25 Jets victory in front of 63,251 at EverBank Stadium on a sun-splashed December Sunday.

"They made plays that we didn't make, and that part's unfortunate," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said.

"We didn't execute in certain areas and that's why we're in the losers' column," Jaguars center Mitch Morse said. "We'll figure it out, loved the fight out of the guys and all we can do is continue to fight for these next three weeks."

Running back Breece Hall's one-yard run with 1:05 remaining gave the Jets their final margin of victory, with cornerback Sauce Gardner intercepting an overthrown pass by Jones with :37 remaining.

"You watch NFL football – there are plays that are made and plays that aren't," Jones said. "As a quarterback, you want to get the game to the fourth quarter. We did last week [in a 10-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans] and got down there and won it. This week we didn't, and that's on me."

Adams caught nine passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, with Rodgers' 41-yard pass to Adams coming one play before Hall's touchdown. Adams earlier caught touchdowns of one and 71 yards.

"He's a great receiver," Pederson said of Adams, "and Aaron's a great quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback. I thought we did some good things, but it comes down to a couple of plays and your season or the game could be a little bit different.

"Give credit: Those are two good players."

Gardner's interception capped a wild fourth quarter in which the Jets scored 15 points and produced 197 yards – with Adams catching four passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets

QB Mac Jones (10)

Jones, whose three-yard touchdown to Thomas gave the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead, completed a 19-yard touchdown to Thomas midway through the quarter for a 22-17 Jaguars lead. Rodgers' third touchdown – the 71-yarder to Adams – made it 25-22, Jets. Jaguars kicker Cam Little's 43-yard field goal capped the ensuing possession and tied it 25-25 with 1:51 remaining.

"You have to execute the little plays within the game and then down the stretch, if you want to win those games—NFL, you never know which play is the winning play," Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun said. "I could talk about it every time it happens, but it's basically the same stuff."

The Jaguars (3-11) missed a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since late November/early December 2023. The Jets (4-10) snapped a four-game losing streak.

Jones, starting for the fourth time in five games for injured starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, completed 31 of 46 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

"It comes down to me finishing and making better decisions," Jones said. "Just finish better and see where it takes us. I have to make a couple of more plays and we'll be in a different spot. I want to win. Everybody wants to win. We're going to find ways to do that in these last three weeks."

Rodgers, a 20-year veteran and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, completed 16 of 30 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

Thomas Jr. set a Jaguars rookie record for receiving yards in a season. He caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, and now has 956 receiving yards for the season. He passed Justin Blackmon's 856 yards as a rookie in 2012.

Thomas' first-quarter touchdown capped the Jaguars' first drive and moved Thomas past Allen Hurns (six, 2014) with his franchise-rookie record seventh touchdown of the season.

That also marked the Jaguars' first first-drive touchdown of the season.

The Jaguars registered no takeaways and one sack Sunday, with defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter sacking Rodgers in the third quarter.

"We just have to keep learning and growing as a team, and keep working," Pederson said, with Morse adding: "It's extremely frustrating, but we've got a good group of guys that win or lose will stick with it and stick with each other. I think this locker room has done a fantastic job through thick and thin here of rallying around each other."

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets

WR Brian Thomas Jr. (7)

Step by Step: Breaking Down Jaguars Week 15

The Jaguars took the early lead with an impressive first drive, with Thomas capping a 13-play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown reception from Jones. Rodgers' 22-yard pass to wide receiver Garrett Wilson on the ensuing drive made it 7-7 with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter; the touchdown came three plays after Jets safety Ashtyn Davis took a direct snap in punt formation and ran 21 yards for a first down at the Jaguars 44.
Little's 28-yard field goal capped another extended Jaguars drive – 18 plays, 77 yards, 11:07 – and gave the Jaguars a 10-7 lead with 2:41 remaining in the second quarter. The Jaguars continued to control possession with an 11-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard field goal by Little that gave the Jaguars a 13-7 lead on the final play of the first half. Jacksonville had advantages of 18-6 in first downs, 203-104 in yards and 21:08-8:52 in time of possession at that point.
Jets kicker Anders Carlson's 43-yard field goal cut the lead to 13-10 with 10:28 remaining in the third quarter. Little's 43-yard field goal capped the ensuing drive and pushed the Jaguars' lead to 16-10 with 8:05 remaining in the third quarter. Rodgers' one-yard pass to Adams with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter gave the Jets their first lead, 17-16.
Thomas' second touchdown – a 19-yard crossing pattern from Jones – gave the Jaguars a five-point lead with 10:58 remaining. Jones' two-point pass was incomplete to wide receiver Parker Washington. Adams' 71-yard touchdown came after the teams exchanged punts, with the Jaguars tying on the ensuing possession.

Notable Game Moments

Veteran wide receiver Josh Reynolds, claimed off waivers from the Denver Browns last week, was active for the first time Sunday.
Jaguars game day inactives Sunday: Rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster, rookie defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, rookie defensive end Myles Cole, running back D'Ernest Johnson and defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo,

In-Game Injury Report

The Jaguars reported no significant injuries Sunday.