Headed into Sunday’s matchup at EverBank Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a difficult task: scoring against the New England Patriots' defense. In their first two games of the season, the Patriots ranked No. 4 in the NFL, allowing 260 yards per game while surrendering only one touchdown.
But Trevor Lawrence, along with his variety of offensive weapons, rose to the occasion and made it look easy. After a scoreless first quarter, the Jaguars' offense exploded for 35 points and finished the game with 313 offensive yards.
Furthermore, Jacksonville’s talented defense capitalized on New England's offensive mishaps, as Drake Maye threw two interceptions and fumbled. Ultimately, the Patriots could not find the end zone all afternoon.
With smothering play on both sides of the ball, the Jaguars (2-1) demolished the defending AFC Champion Patriots (1-2) 35-6.
Lawrence led Jacksonville with 19 of 29 passing for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw an interception that bounced off tight end Brenton Strange’s usually steady hands into the waiting arms of Pats defensive back Marcus Jones.
Meanwhile, Maye completed 14 of his 25 throws for 199 yards and two interceptions. Travis Hunter and Jarrian Jones recorded the interceptions, with the latter picking off his first career pass. Tommy DeVito replaced Maye in the fourth quarter.
Neither team put points on the board until the second quarter, when Lawrence connected with rookie wideout Josh Cameron for a 12-yard score. It was the Baylor product's second TD catch of the season after he found the end zone in Week 1.
Maye tried to get the Patriots offense going, but self-inflicted wounds would strike the dynamic third-year QB. On a 1st and 10 from the Jags 35-yard line, Maye fumbled and Jacksonville defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton smothered the ball to complete the turnover.
After the Patriots settled for three with a 35-yard field goal by Andy Borregales, Lawrence kept on rolling. On the next drive, he went 3 for 4 for 38 yards, connecting with wideout Jakobi Meyers for a 10-yard touchdown grab. That throw put the sixth-year QB second all-time in franchise history with 104 passing touchdowns, surpassing Blake Bortles.
Meyers, a former Patriot, had his best game of the young season with seven catches for a team-high 64 yards.
When the Pats tried to respond to the Meyers score, they faced one of the most up-and-down drives a team could imagine.
First, Maye found wideout Demario Douglas deep for a 38-yard gain. He had Douglas near the end zone on a 2nd and 10, but the ball bounced off the hands of the 5-foot-8 speedster. One play later, Jarrian Jones committed a defensive hold, gifting New England a 1st down near the red zone. A few plays later, Maye tried to scramble for a score, but he fumbled again; however, he recovered his own loose ball on this instance.
But the biggest play of the drive was yet to come. On 3rd and goal from the 2, Maye looked for Efton Chism III, but Hunter diagnosed the play to secure his first career interception. Off that crucial stop, the Jags tried to make history, as kicker Cam Little attempted to beat his own NFL-record 68-yard field goal with a 70-yard try. However, it came up just to the right, and Jacksonville took a 14-3 lead into the half.
The Patriots drove down the field at the start of the second half, but Borregales sent his 38-yard field goal attempt wide right. Lawrence then engineered a 15-play drive, capitalizing with a diving 17-yard touchdown grab by Parker Washington.
The fourth-year wideout from Penn State has continued his excellent start to his contract season, leading the team with 15 catches and 221 yards through three games.
Jones then made a massive defensive play, reading Maye’s eyes and picking him off. He then ran back 30 yards, setting the Jacksonville offense up at the six-yard line. One play later, Chris Rodriguez Jr. powered into the end zone to put the Jags up 28-3.
New England posted a solid 9-play, 69-yard drive to start the fourth quarter, as Maye leaned on veteran wideout Mack Hollins. Ultimately, the Pats fell short of the end zone, and Borregales converted from 40 yards out. The 33-year-old Hollins led both teams with 87 receiving yards.
Up 22, Jacksonville kept its foot on the gas, leaning on its efficient run game. Lawrence could have scored on a 15-yard carry, but he went down unimpeded at the 1-yard line. Unselfishly, he handed the ball to Bhayshal Tuten, who converted for the score.
The trio of Tuten, Rodriguez and Lawrence was effective on the ground all afternoon, combining for 27 carries, 135 yards and two touchdowns.
From there, both teams pulled their offensive starters as the clock wound down.
Now firmly in the AFC South lead, Jacksonville heads to Cincinnati on Oct. 4 to face the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET. Then the Jags head to London to face the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @maxbernstein23.
Max Bernstein is a fourth-year sports and media journalism major and sports management minor. This Fall, he is a Sports Editor and a Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars reporter at The Alligator. Now in his ninth semester with The Alligator, Max previously served in roles including Digital Managing Editor, Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor and Football Reporter. He has also made appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. In the rare moments Max isn't working, he's usually with his girlfriend Reese, watching sports with his fraternity brothers or missing his family and his two cats.
