See how Trevor Lawrence’s first playoff game stats compare to those of some all-time greats

Trevor Lawrence’s first playoff game certainly didn’t start the way he had hoped. However, it ended exactly how he wanted.

The Jaguars overcame a 27-0 first half deficit to the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 31-30 on a last-second field goal Saturday night to advance to the second week of the playoffs. Their opponent will be determined Sunday.

Lawrence threw three first-quarter interceptions — and four total — but they happened early enough for the Jaguars to post the third largest comeback in playoff history.

For Lawrence, his performance started out as bad as he’s been during the 2022-23 campaign. He hadn’t thrown more than two interceptions in any game this season, only turning the ball over more against Philadelphia, where he lost four fumbles and threw an interception on a cold, rainy day.

Takeaways:Jaguars post largest comeback in franchise history, defeat Chargers 31-30 in wild-card round

Jaguars report card:Doug Pederson gets high marks for masterful job in comeback

By the numbers:Just how rare was Jaguars’ playoff comeback win over Chargers? See the stunning statistics

Weather wasn’t a factor Saturday. It was a crisp 45 degrees with no breeze at kickoff.

Lawrence tried forcing and guiding passes early, and he needed to stop throwing the ball toward Los Angeles’ Asante Samuel Jr., who had three INTs in the first 24 minutes of the game.

Lawrence had only thrown four interceptions one other time in his career — during his rookie season against the Tennessee Titans in a 20-0 loss on Dec. 12, 2021.

After the fourth INT, Lawrence started to collect himself.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) sets back to pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville.

He finally led a solid drive just before the half, throwing a 9-yard TD pass to Evan Angram. The Jaguars trailed 27-7 at the half.

The Jaguars stopped the Chargers on their first possession out of the half, and Lawrence led Jacksonville on a 14-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that took 7 minutes, 17 seconds.

The Chargers kicked a field goal on their next possession, and Lawrence commenced to lead the Jaguars on a 5-play, 68-yard drive that only took 2 minutes, 14 seconds. The two-point try was no good, and the Jaguars trailed 30-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Story continues

After the Chargers missed a field goal, the Jags went on a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive in 3:22, culminating in a nine-yard TD pass from Lawrence to Christian Kirk. After an unsporstmanlike penalty by the Chargers that gave the Jaguars the ball at the 1, Lawrence reached across for the two-point conversion and the Jags trailed 30-28 with 5:25 to play.

The Jags’ defense did what it’s done the past eight games — stopped the opponent immediately, and after a Chargers punt, the Jags had the ball at their own 21 with 3:09 to play and three timeouts, trailing by 2.

Jacksonville drove down the field and Riley Patterson won the game on a 36-yard field goal as the clock hit zero, setting off an incredible celebration at “The Bank.”

The record for most interceptions in an NFL playoff game is six, and it’s shared by four quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Reference. It’s been done just once in the Super Bowl era, and that was by Brett Favre in 2002.

Favre threw six interceptions in the Green Bay Packers’ 45-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.

That matched the record set by Norm Van Brocklin of the Los Angeles Rams in 1955, Bobby Layne of the Detroit Lions in 1954, Frank Filchock of the New York Giants in 1945.

A quarterback has thrown five interceptions in an NFL playoff game on 14 occasions. And a quarterback has thrown four interceptions in a playoff game 30 times in NFL history. (Now 31 with Lawrence joining the group).

With Trevor Lawrence’s first playoff game in the books, we look back at the first playoff performance of some of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.

Tom Brady

Brady didn’t play much during his first season in the league. In 2000, he appeared in one game and attempted three passes.

In 2001, Brady was called into service during the second game of the season when Drew Bledsoe was injured against the New York Jets. He started the next 14 games and led the Patriots into the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl title.

Brady’s first playoff game came in the Divisional Round against the Oakland Raiders, a 16-13 victory. He didn’t throw a TD pass, but he did rush for one.

Here are Brady’s stats from his first playoff game:

Peyton Manning

Manning, like Lawrence, was a No. 1 overall pick chosen by a long-struggling franchise.

Prior to Manning, the Colts had only made the playoffs three times in 20 years.

Like Lawrence, Manning didn’t make the playoffs his first season. Coincidentally, Manning and Lawrence both won three games during their rookie seasons.

Manning, like Lawrence, took his team to the playoffs during his second season.

Manning and the Colts played the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round, losing 19-16.

Like Brady, Manning didn’t throw for a TD in his first playoff game, but he did rush for one.

Here are Manning’s  stats from his first playoff game:

Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes played just one game during his rookie season of 2017. The Chiefs made the playoffs, but he didn’t play.

Mahomes took starting duties in 2018, leading the Chiefs into the playoffs during his sophomore season.

His first playoff game came against the Colts in the Divisional Round, a 31-13 victory.

Mahomes follows the trend of not throwing a TD in his first playoff game, but he did rush for one.

Here are Mahomes’ stats from his first playoff game:

Joe Montana

Montana only played sparingly his first two years in the league, but during his first full year as a starter in 1981, he led the 49ers to the playoffs where the ultimately won a Super Bowl.

Montana’s first playoff game was against the New York Giants, a 38-24 victory.

Here are Montana’s stats from his first playoff game:

John Elway

Elway started the majority of his games during his rookie season, but he was benched in the first two games of the season in favor of Steve DeBerg.

DeBerg eventually was given the starting job, but an injury brought Elway back as the starter. They squeaked into the playoffs at 9-7.

During Elway’s first playoff game, a 31-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, DeBerg started and played the first three quarters, but Elway was brought in late in hopes of sparking the sputtering offense.

Here are Elway’s stats from his first playoff game:

Trevor Lawrence

Jaguars 31, Chargers 30

Attempts: 28-for-47 (59.6%)Yards: 288Touchdowns: 4Interceptions: 4Rushing yards: 8Rushing touchdowns: 0

Trevor Lawrence 2022 Season stats

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trevor Lawrence overcomes 4 interceptions to lead Jaguars to playoff win