Lawrence shines as Jaguars destroy Jets at EverBank

For the first time since the 2017 Jacksonville AFC Championship Game appearance, 2017 season (Myles Jack wasn’t down), the Jacksonville Jaguars have a ten-win season. An explosive 31-point first half, effectively wrapped this holiday gift in a bow for the EverBank fanbase, tying for the second most points in a first half in Jaguars’ history, the most in a first half since week 15 of the 2017 season, and the seventh straight game the Jaguars have scored 25-plus points in franchise history.

Following Jacksonville’s 48-20 EverBank Stadium victory over the New York Jets, the Jaguars remain in the driver’s seat in AFC South play and third in the AFC. Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 15 win over the Jets.

Live blog:

Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!

Pregame Notes:

As the Jaguars’ roster continues to heal up week by week, following the bye the most notable inactive on Sunday was left tackle Walker Little. After leaving Jacksonville’s week 13 victory over the Tennessee Titans with concussion symptoms, Little was held out of the week 14 victory over the Colts. Walker cleared the concussion protocol on Thursday, allowing him to be a full practice participant on Friday. However, he reportedly experienced a setback, complaining of concussion symptoms afterward – resulting in another starting opportunity for Duval favorite swing tackle Cole Van-Lanen.

Linebacker Yasir Abdullah, tight end Hunter Long, defensive linemen Emmanuel Ogbah and Austin Johnson rounded out the Jacksonville inactives with Parker Washington active following his week 14 absence with a hip injury suffered against Tennessee.

New York went with UDFA quarterback Brady Cook as the starter against Jacksonville, with starting quarterback Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor both dealing with injuries and unable to practice this week. Additionally, tight end Mason Taylor and defensive lineman Mazi Smith were both inactive, along with wide receiver Tyler Johnson, edge Braiden McGregor, and linebacker Kiki Mauigoa. Rookie Jets CB AZ Thomas was placed on IR this week, joining WR Garret Wilson, S Andre Cisco, and slot CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

The following Jacksonville players left Sunday’s game due to injury:

• DL Danny Striggow (angle)
• RB Bhayshul Tuten (finger)

Game Recap

Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville passing game with a dominant 9-play, 72-yard drive where the Jaguars faced no third downs, as Lawrence went 5-6 on the drive for 52-yards, capped with an impressive, tight-window, four-yard touchdown throw to Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars 7-0)

The equally feisty Jacksonville defense immediately stopped the Jets offense for a quick four and out following a Travon Walker tackle for loss on Jets RB Breece Hall on fourth down, as Aaron Glenn chose to pass on punting the ball from midfield.

Jacksonville, again, quickly moved into scoring range, with Lawrence doing it with his legs, scoring on a 15-yard rush following a 21-yard completion to Jakobi Meyers to enter the redzone. (Jaguars 14-0)

The Jets offense bounced back, showing signs of life after falling to 14-0, with undrafted free agent, third string Jets QB Brady Cook heating up, going 4-4 on the drive for 44-yards, with RB Breece Hall also ripping off a 13-yard first down conversion. (Jaguars 14-7)

The scorching hot Jacksonville passing game continued their onslaught after being set up in prime position to start the drive after a 43-yard Bhayshul Tuten kick return. The offense, again faced no third downs on the drive, picked up chunk plays of 19-yards (via a Jakobi Meyers reception) and a nifty schemed up 16-yard Tuten touchdown reception. The 5-play, 55-yard drive took just 2:33, as the Jaguars regained their 14-point home lead. (Jaguars 21-7)

Jacksonville first three drives:

• 5 plays, 55-yards (2:33) – Touchdown
• 5 plays, 38-yards (2:22) – Touchdown
• 9 plays, 72-yards (4:42) – Touchdown

As noted by BCC’s Gus Logue, Lawrence’s only incompletions on the opening three scoring drives were a throwaway on a called screen and a drop by tight end Brenton Strange, with Lawrence holding a 151.2 passer rating at that time. The Jaguars defense forced a quick Jets punt, which Jacksonville answered with one of their own on the following drive. However, the Jaguars’ punt, from their own endzone was returned for a negated touchdown by returner Isaiah Williams. The score was called back for an illegal block out of bounds penalty, with the Jets eventually settling for a field goal on the drive. (Jaguars 21, Jets 10)

After a Jets kickoff out of bounds, Lawrence, for the third game in a row, completed an impossible throw on the move, this one to Parker Washington for a 33-yard gain, as the offense drove into the Jets’ redzone.

Cam Little capped the 10-play, 45-yard, 3:30 drive with a 33-yard field goal to regain the 14-point lead. (Jaguars 24, Jets 10)

Just two plays later, CB Montaric Brown got the ball back for the Jacksonville offense at midfield, corralling an impossible interception at the Jets 47-yard line with 1:07 left in the half and with three timeouts remaining.

Trevor Lawrence, Liam Coen, and Co. continued to shred this Jets man-coverage defense, exploiting the lack of defenders with eyes on the quarterback with Trevor hitting explosive plays of a 20-yard rush, followed by a 12-yard pass to Parker Washington, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Travis Etienne (over former Jaguars LB Quincy Williams). (Jaguars 31, Jets 10)

Halftime Stats:

• Score: Jaguars 31, Jets 10
• First downs: Jaguars 17, Jets 9
• Time of possession: Jaguars 14:54, Jets 15:06
• Sacks: Jaguars 0, Jets 0
• Turnovers forced: Jaguars 1, Jets 0
• Rushing yards: Jaguars 78, Jets 52
• Yards per rush: Jaguars 5.6, Jets 3.1
• Passing yards: Jaguars 192, Jets 73
• Passing yards per attempt: Jaguars 8.7, Jets 5.6
• Redzone: Jaguars 3 of 4 (75%), Jets 1 of 1 (100%)
• Penalties: Jaguars 4 for 45-yards, Jets 4 for 24-yards
• Points off turnovers: Jaguars 7, Jets 0

At the half, QB Trevor Lawrence was 14/22 for 192-yards (8.7 YPA), 4 total TDs, 4 carries for 48-yards (12.0 YPC), no turnovers, no sacks (131.1 passer rating).

Following the half, the Jets drove 32-yards into scoring range before Dennis Gardeck sacked Cook on third down forcing a field goal. (Jaguars 31, Jets 13)

The Jaguars offense refused to lift their foot off of the gas, bludgeoning the Jets linebackers and secondary with man-beating double moves and concepts, as Brian Thomas Jr brought in a 39-yard stutter and go.

Lawrence connected with Etienne for his second receiving touchdown of the day to complete the drive – this one, a seven-yard, third-quarter, touchdown catch. (Jaguars 38, Jets 13)

BJ Green joined the EverBank party, collecting his first (official) sack on Cook, bringing down the rookie quarterback on first down. Following a Jets turnover on downs, Cam Little added a field goal to confirm the 40-Burger. The make awarded Little the title of the youngest player in NFL history to hit 50 career field goals. (Jaguars 41, Jets 13)

Per ESPN, Sunday’s matchup was the first time Jaguars scored 40 points before the fourth quarter since 2005 Week 17 2005 against the Tennessee Titans. However, the 41 total points are the most the Jaguars have scored before the fourth quarter since the 2000 season (Week 14 against the Browns).

Following a 5-play, 65-yard touchdown drive by the Jets, Lawrence and Etienne weren’t done, securing the sixth touchdown for Lawrence and third receiving TD for Etienne, on the ever-elusive Jacksonville screen play. (Jaguars 48, Jets 20)

Following another forced punt by the Jacksonville defense, Lawrence hung his helmet up with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter. With Nick Mullens taking over, WR Dyami Brown fumbled a rushing attempt back to the Jets on the next series. However, the Jaguars defense bailed him out, as Ventrell Miller intercepted an ill-advised pass by Cook in the endzone to end the Jets drive – his first career interception. Following the Jacksonville punt, Antonio Johnson came up with Brady Cook’s third interception of the day to wrap the game up – Jacksonville’s 26th takeaway of 2025 (second in the NFL).

Best highlight:

Liam Coen and Lawrence were in their bag on Sunday, with multiple beautifully schemed up plays, giving Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks fits on defense. The second quarter Bhayshul Tuten play action fake, with a B-gap release was a thing of beauty and no defender in sight.

Biggest play(s) of the game:

According to rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Expected Points Added (EPA) was Ventrell Miller’s endzone interception on first down, effectively taking seven points off the board (-6.8 EPA).

Per rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Win Probability was the opening touchdown of the day – Trevor Lawrence’s four-yard pass to Brian Thomas Jr (5 percent added win probability).

Key stats (traditional):

• QB Trevor Lawrence: 20/32 for 330-yards (10.3 YPA), 5 carries for 51-yards (10.2 YPC), 5 passing TDs, 1 rushing TDs, no turnovers, no sacks, 136.7 passer rating
• RB Travis Etienne: 12 carries for 32-yards (2.7 YPC), 3 catches for 73-yards (24.3 YPR) and three TDs on four targets
• WR Jakobi Meyers: 5 catches for 71-yards (14.2 YPR) on 7 targets
• LB Devin Lloyd: 6 tackles, 1 solo
• S Eric Murray: 6 tackles, 4 solo, 1 sack, 2 TFL
• Interceptions from LB Ventrell Miller, CB Montaric Brown, and S Antonio Johnson

View the full box score here

Game balls:

• Special Teams: Cam Little: 2/2 on field goals with a long of 33, 6/6 on extra points
• Defense: CB Montaric Brown: 4 tackles, all four solos, 1 pass defensed, and an interception
• Offense: QB Trevor Lawrence: 20/32 for 330-yards (10.3 YPA), 5 carries for 51-yards (10.2 YPC), 6 total TDs, no turnovers, no sacks, 136.7 passer rating

Full highlights:

• You can watch the top plays of the Week 15 matchup on the NFL’s YouTube channel here.

Post-game notables:

1. This Trevor Lawrence/Liam Coen marriage looks to be the real deal

While it’s been bubbling for some time, for even the staunchest Trevor Lawrence critic, it’s hard to deny that this growth for Lawrence in this Liam Coen offense is real and here to stay. Lawrence cooked on Sunday, with six total touchdowns, no true turnover worthy throws, and he likely could have had even more had the Jets offense been a respectable unit on Sunday. It was easily Trevor’s sharpest day at the office, a phrase we have now said no less than three times since the Jaguars’ week 8 bye week. The arrow is pointing up, folks.

2. Jaguars defense handles business

Giving up 20 points to the shell of a Jets’ offensive roster is hardly an accomplishment in most circumstances. However, after going up 14-0 early into the game, there are few points where one could realistically say the Jaguars defense truly struggled in this one. They gave up a first quarter touchdown drive much too easily, which showed some issue slowing down the Jets run and playaction game. Outside of that drive it was truly business as usual for Campanile’s unit. A three interception, three sack day where you hold Breece Hall to 23-yards rushing on 12-carries will almost always result in a Sunday victory.

3. Can they do it when the game is on All-Madden mode?

The Jaguars have convincingly answered the question of, can they dominate the NFL’s cellar, since the bye week. They have even thoroughly dominated the AFC favorite Los Angeles Chargers during this stretch. A huge test lingers on the horizon with the AFC second seed Broncos on Sunday in Denver. Coen’s unit will finally have an opportunity to prove they earn that respect that has been withheld.

What are your thoughts from tonight’s game, Jaguars fans? Who surprised you most or disappointed you with their play tonight? Let us know in the comments.