JACKSONVILLE – They won one. Finally.
The Jaguars' 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium wasn't close to pretty. It also was unlikely, dramatic and nerve-wracking – none of which mattered for the Jaguars when kicker Matthew Wright's 53-yard field goal was good on the game's final play.
What mattered was the Jaguars won.
They won for the first time since Week 2 of 2020, the first time in 399 days. That means Urban Meyer is no longer winless as the Jaguars head coach and Trevor Lawrence is no longer winless as the Jaguars' quarterback. It also means a bunch of new, improving players are no winless with the organization.
Mostly, it means the franchise-record 20-game losing streak is over. That means the Jaguars won't be approaching the 1976-1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 26 consecutive losses, the NFL's longest losing streak since the 1970 AFL-NFL Mergers.
So, we can put that topic away.
Make no mistake: The Jaguars weren't great Sunday. They started slowly defensively, struggled to score at times against a struggling defense and many will question Meyer's decision to eschew a short field goal on 4th-and-1 from the Dolphins 9 early in the fourth quarter. That left the Jaguars leading 17-13 and loomed costly when Miami took a 20-17 lead on the ensuing series.
But you know what? We can minimize the debate – to eschew or not eschew – for a day or so, right?
The Jaguars won Sunday. That hasn't happened in too long.
Feel good about it. Whoo.
Let's get to it …
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ
O-man, why do you think they changed the play to slider kill after the timeout versus calling the play in the first place?
You're referencing Meyer changing a call on the game's second-to-last play. It originally was going to be a Hail Mary from the Dolphins 44 on 4th-and-8 and it was changed to "slider kill" or "slider timeout," with Lawrence throwing a slant to wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and calling a quick timeout. The play set up Wright's final-play field goal. Why not call it originally? Because a timeout by each team just before 4th-and-8 gave Meyer time to think – and this was an unusual situation that needed some thought. With five seconds remaining, there typically isn't time to run a pass play and get a timeout. The eight yards needed on fourth down made it a longer shot. Meyer eventually took the extra time and essentially figured, "Why not?" It was tricky. Five seconds was barely enough time. It worked. Good for the Jaguars.
Chris from San Diego
We can't go wrong if we go with Wright? High five?
High five.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
Six weeks into the season and I'd say Jamal Agnew has already outperformed his contract.
Agnew, wide receiver/returner signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. He was signed primarily as a returner, and already has two 100-yard-plus returns for touchdowns. He caught five passes for 78 yards Sunday – and perhaps no one except Agnew expected him to produce like that as a receiver. So yeah … consider the contract outperformed.
Gary from Fleming Island
How 'bout that! Back-to-back 54-and 53-yarders for the win!
I'm glad you enjoyed your game.
Jerry from Hero, FL
Watching on TV it seemed like the crowd was cheering more for the Jags than the Dolphins, could this be the beginning of a real home field advantage in London?
I've sensed the beginnings of a homefield advantage in London before, usually when the Jaguars as the home team were winning. When losing? Not so much. This is not scientific and perhaps my memory is failing. In fact, it's probably failing. What was the question?
David from Orlando, FL
KOAF - I think the Jags finally found the recipe for winning…two to three miracles a game!
Let's see … a 54-yard field goal that starts right and drifts left that the kicker thought he missed …. Late stop on 4th-and-1 … a fourth-down conversion and a timeout in four seconds with a second remaining … 53-yard field goal on the game's final play? Two or three miracles? That's about right.
Mike from Atlanta, GA
I guess they proved me wrong. I still find it difficult to imagine wins with coverage being so inconsistent. I noticed Cover 3 zone against the Dolphins and receivers were running wide open. The problems in the secondary aren't related to scheme. But they won so maybe I'm wrong and it's good enough
You're not wrong. The coverage isn't good enough. The Jaguars won Sunday. Maybe we can discuss coverage Tuesday (or Monday).
Robert from Jacksonville Beach
KOAF, #Jaguars Have The Wright Stuff! #You're Bloody Well Wright! #Wright On!
They sure Wrighted the Ship Sunday. No doubt.
Beavis from the South Side
What kind of play call is that? It's the last play! Either try for the long field goal or throw the Hail Mary! Time will expire before we get another play in. If we aren't playing to win, we should just take a knee....Wait, what? It worked? Perfect play call! I know we could do it!
Yep.
Jeremy from Jacksonville
D&%n crossing route!
This was the oft-ballyhooed, long-anticipated, all-important First Email of the Game. It came as the Dolphins drove all-too-easily on the Jaguars' defense on the first drive – and it indeed looked bad defensively early. It got better.
Grace from St. Augustine, FL
Is Wright the new field kicker??
It's hard to see how that wouldn't be the case, at least for now.
