GLENDALE, Ariz. – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals in a 2025 Week 12 game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Anyway, anyhow. Little about the Jaguars' victory Sunday was pretty. What was beautiful for this franchise was the score – and the fact that the Jaguars gained a game in the AFC South standings – because winning is the only true beauty in the NFL. The Jaguars on Sunday pulled off the remarkable feat of winning when losing turnover differential 4-0 – and the talk in the post-game locker room focused more on resilience than turnovers, mistakes and style points. But you know what? That locker-room focus was right. "We just keep going no matter what," Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange said. "That's the important thing in a football game: No matter what, in the ups and downs, you just always stay steady. I'm proud of the guys for fighting back and fighting the whole entire game." The Jaguars on Sunday had multiple opportunities to lose. They repeatedly lost momentum and chances to take control of the game, yet they made plays both offensively at defensively at critical times. That's how you win in the NFL. It's how you stay in contention and as mid-November turns into Thanksgiving, the Jaguars are very much in contention. Beautiful.
2. Credit where it's due. The Jaguars' defense has been criticized plenty this season – and sometimes deservedly so. But on an Arizona Sunday when the Jaguars' theme was finding a way to win however it took, the Jaguars' defense embraced that theme and deserves a ton of credit for the victory. This was a unit playing without safety Eric Murray, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and cornerback Travis Hunter – arguably their three best secondary players entering the season. It also was without defensive end Travon Walker, arguably the defense's best player. The unit held Arizona to 17 offensive points despite four turnovers by the offense. It also registered six sacks after entering the game tied for 30th in the NFL in the category. The unit wasn't perfect Sunday, but how do you expect perfect with half your front-line players out? It played big enough and made enough plays when it mattered – ad it's a huge reason this team is 7-4 and a game behind the Colts in the AFC South.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

1. The Kansas City Chiefs gave the Jaguars a golden opportunity with their 23-20 overtime victory over the Colts Sunday. They didn't always play like it, not with three interceptions and a fumble caught out of the air and returned for a touchdown. Do you know the winning percentage when a team is minus-four in giveaway-takeaway ratio? It's 2.7 percent. The Jaguars had to go to overtime to win, but the defense stood up when it absolutely had to on fourth down in overtime. Cornerback Christian Braswell, who allowed a 31-yard reception to Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson to set up the game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter, was in on that deciding play. The defense played much better than the statistics indicate, forcing five punts on six second-half possessions, holding the Cardinals to 55 yards rushing and pressuring quarterback Jacoby Brissett relentlessly while sacking him six times. The Jaguars didn't play like contenders except when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter and at the end of overtime – and that's all that matters. They are contenders.
2. Lawrence answered the bell. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence shrugged on the sidelines after his third interception – and fourth turnover – of the game, then came back to the fight trailing 21-17 with 7:12 remaining. He ripped a couple of key throws on a 6-play drive that ended with wide receiver Parker Washington diving and sliding past the defender with the go-ahead touchdown. Lawrence is maddening to watch. One play he's throwing an interception, and the next he is rifling the ball past the corner where only Washington can get it. But give Lawrence credit for giving his team the lead with less than four minutes remaining. He came back out in overtime and ripped another pass to Washington to put the Jags in field-goal range. He then threw a beautiful ball to wide receiver Tim Patrick that should have been a touchdown, but Patrick never turned his head. Lawrence threw three interceptions, but he also tossed three touchdowns. You decide what you think about him, but his team is 7-4.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer...

1. They took all the blame in Houston, and they deserve all the glory in Arizona. Two weeks ago, the Jaguars' defense had its lowest moment of the season – blowing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead to their AFC South rival, the Houston Texans. Sunday in Arizona remained competitive throughout only because of an extraordinary performance from Jacksonville's defense. The unit came up big on the game's final play, keeping Arizona out of field-goal range and knocking down a pass intended for Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver. The statistics speak for themselves: Six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and a tremendous 15 quarterback hits. A well-earned "Victory Monday" for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and his crew.
2. A timely win puts the Jaguars where they need to be in the playoff hunt. Entering Sunday's matchup, the pressure was on Jacksonville after Houston improved to 6-5 with a decisive win on Thursday Night Football over the Buffalo Bills. The Jaguars clawed out the overtime win Sunday and put themselves at 7-3 with six games remaining. The Colts did not fare well in their overtime game, falling late to the Chiefs – and now their lead over the Jaguars in the AFC South is down to one game. While Indy looked to be running away with things early, it is officially now a three-horse race in the division.