JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence’s self confidence someway never ever wavered. Not just after the initially interception. Or the next. Or the third. Or even the fourth.
The generational quarterback simply just delivered a generational comeback.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft followed four interceptions with four touchdown passes — just one of the most inconceivable turnarounds in NFL postseason historical past — and rallied the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 31-30 victory around the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday evening.
Lawrence engineered the winning push, highlighted by Travis Etienne’s 25-lawn run on a fourth-and-1 enjoy, and place the Jaguars in posture for Riley Patterson’s 36-garden industry purpose on the last enjoy. It capped a 27-point comeback, the premier in franchise history and the 3rd premier in playoff historical past.
“You couldn’t generate a crazier script,” Lawrence stated. “We reported in the locker space that’s variety of how our season’s going. We’re under no circumstances out of the battle. … I’m form of speechless, honestly, just to see what belief can do and to see when a team thinks in every single other what you can complete.”
Patterson’s kick hardly stayed inside the right upright and set off a raucous celebration for a franchise that experienced won a merged 4 game titles about the earlier two a long time. The Jaguars (10-8) gained their sixth consecutive match and fifth straight at house — all five in arrive-from-at the rear of trend.
However, no a single could have seen this a single coming. Maybe not even Lawrence. But he was the continual hand in demand right after a debacle of a very first 50 %. He finished 28-of-47 passing for 288 yards, a shocker considering the way he began.
Lawrence was downright dreadful to start out Jacksonville’s 1st playoff match because getting rid of in the 2017 AFC title game. He grew to become the 3rd quarterback in the Super Bowl era to toss 4 interceptions in the first 50 % of a playoff sport, joining Detroit’s Gary Danielson and Denver’s Craig Morton.
But he bounced again as nicely as any one in NFL historical past. Jacksonville’s comeback goes down in postseason lore behind only Buffalo’s rally on Jan. 3, 1993 (32 factors from Houston) and Indianapolis’ on Jan. 4, 2014 (28 points in opposition to Kansas Metropolis).
“I did not have a choice,” Lawrence stated. “These guys have sacrificed way much too significantly for me to be the purpose we lose an opportunity.”
The Jaguars, who also turned the ball in excess of when a punt strike Chris Claybrook’s helmet, grew to become the initially crew to earn a playoff match with a turnover differential of minus-5 or even worse. Teams with that turnover deficit experienced been -19 in the Tremendous Bowl era.
“Let me inform you anything, person. I imagine from enjoying soccer, observing football, I know a large amount of quarterbacks would’ve folded in that predicament that he went by way of,” Jaguars receiver Zay Jones mentioned. “For him just to be as poised and composed as he was, it showed a further aspect of who we have on this group. I indicate, that person correct there, standing appropriate there, which is a exclusive man.”
He wasn’t early. Lawrence misfired on 12 of his initially 16 throws and started off obtaining booed extended prior to halftime. His confidence seemed shot. His swagger appeared long gone. All the development he built in his first season with mentor Doug Pederson looked like it would be flushed in the team’s finale.
But Lawrence by no means gave up. He linked with Evan Engram, Marvin Jones, Zay Jones and Christian Kirk for touchdowns that more and more lifted the team’s belief in its quarterback and its comeback.
Lawrence extra just one of the major performs when he jumped for a 2-issue conversion with 5:25 to play that built it 30-28 — and put the Jaguars in position to earn alternatively of tie.
Jacksonville’s protection responded by sacking Justin Herbert and then forcing a punt. Lawrence took in excess of from there, with a major support from Etienne — and Peterson’s bold enjoy simply call.
“I experience like the functioning back, when it gets to that issue of the game, you’re supposed to be the closer,” Etienne explained. “Coach believed in me on that fourth-and-1, to give me the ball. I had to make a little something occur for my teammates.”
CHARGERS COLLAPSE
Herbert threw for 273 yards and a landing without the need of an interception, but the Chargers’ offense was largely ineffective following a 62-yard TD travel that produced it 24- midway through the second quarter. Los Angeles (10-8) concluded with 320 yards of offense and 18 initially downs, and it manufactured only three factors on 4 second-half belongings.
“Anytime you are up 27-7 at halftime and you have obtained 4 takeaways, and you finish up profitable the takeaway margin (5-), you know, it is it’s gonna be a killer,” Chargers mentor Brandon Staley explained. “I’m hurting for every person in that locker home. … We just did not finish the activity.”
Staley surely will be questioned for being much too conservative, both equally on defense and offense — he opted for a subject intention on fourth-and-3 midway by means of the fourth quarter that Cameron Dicker missed — and for not trying to operate the ball additional. LA experienced 23 dashing makes an attempt for 69 yards, a 2.9-yard average, when Herbert threw 43 situations.
“I required to conduct superior,” Herbert said. “I’ve received to give them far more than 3 details in the next 50 % and so I sense horrible for the defense for the incredible energy they place up there now, but gotta be superior as a workforce.”
Essential Injuries
Chargers receiver DeAndre Carter and still left deal with Jamaree Salyer left the recreation with ankle accidents. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis still left with a pectoral muscle damage. Lawrence cut the tip of his still left thumb in the fourth but wrapped it up and performed on.
UP Up coming
Chargers: Will have a rough offseason dealing with this decline. Staley could facial area inquiries about his occupation security.
Jaguars: Await their road divisional opponent, which very likely will be top rated-seeded Kansas Town upcoming weekend. The Chiefs won their frequent-season meeting.
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