Jaguars Report Card: Another AA-wesome performance in comeback win over Cowboys

A Jacksonville Jaguars fan cheers as they head to overtime of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jaguars edged the Dallas Cowboys 40-34 in overtime. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette grades the Jaguars’ performance against the Dallas Cowboys based on execution, effort and game circumstances.

Offense: A-minus 

Except for a fumble late in regulation that nearly cost the Jaguars the game and his streak of passes without an interception stopping at 204, quarterback Trevor Lawrence (27 of 42 passes, 318 yards, 4 TDs) played close to lights out when it mattered.

He had a 109.0 rating, the fifth 100-plus for him in the last six games, and the second of his three TD passes to Zay Jones (6 catches, 109 yards) on a 59-yard bomb ignited the Jaguars’ comeback from a 27-10 deficit.

All Lawrence did was pass for more yards against Dallas, the No. 2-ranked pass defense, than any quarterback in the previous 13 games.

Besides Jones having more TD catches than he had all season, there were plenty of heroes for a Jaguars offense that totaled 503 yards.

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Running back Travis Etienne, who had only 134 yards rushing in his past four games, provided offensive balance with 19 carries for 103 yards and part-time weapon Jamal Agnew had three runs for 52 yards.

A hat tip to Walker Little, who did a commendable job having to play both left tackle and right tackle positions after injuries to Juwaan Taylor and Cam Robinson.

Tight end Evan Engram came up big to get out of bounds with 12 seconds left in regulation, saving a timeout, which made the difference in getting Riley Patterson on the field for game-tying, 48-yard field goal.

Defense: B-plus 

What an incredible finish, winning on a 52-yard, walk-off overtime interception by safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who reached down to grab the tipped ball by Tre Herndon before it hit the ground.

Story continues

It was Jenkins’ second pick of the game, which allowed the Jaguars to finish off a game in which they overcame a 17-point deficit.

The Jaguars’ shaky defense struggled to contain the Dallas 1-2 running back punch of Ezekiel Elliott and Troy Pollard in the first half, allowing them to move the chains and control the ball for nearly 19 minutes.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arden Key (49) celebrates after an early first quarter sack on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 15 of 16 passes for 137 yards in the first half, then reverted back to his interception-prone ways. The game’s momentum-changing play came with the Jaguars trailing 27-17 on Jenkins’ first pick, which was forced by Roy Robertson-Harris and K’Lavon Chaisson getting pressure on Prescott from behind.

After the Cowboys scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions, Mike Caldwell’s unit settled down and limited Dallas to 105 yards in the last 26 minutes.

Jenkins had one of the most brilliant defensive performances for a Jaguar in years, becoming the first player in NFL history to have 18 tackles and two interceptions in the same game, according to Pro Football Reference.

Arden Key, who got the start for the injured Travon Walker, continued his underrated season with 1.5 sacks and Duwuane Smoot had a pass deflection and three tackles for a loss.

Special teams: B-plus

Riley Patterson made the biggest kick of his life to end regulation, nailing a 48-yarder to send the game to overtime. Since the Jaguars weren’t sure if they could move the ball into adequate field-goal range, they were getting punter Logan Cooke with the bigger leg ready if the field goal try had been beyond 55 yards into the wind toward the north end zone.

After the Jaguars gained some momentum on a touchdown to cut the Dallas lead to 14-7, they gave it right back by allowing a 38-yard kickoff return by KaVontae Turpin.

From four yards deep in the end zone, Turpin had a wide open lane up the middle of the field to get the Cowboys in ideal field position at their own 34. That led to a 66-yard TD drive and gave Dallas a two-TD margin at halftime.

The kickoff coverage team did a better job later on two Turpin returns, limiting him to 16 yards and 17 yards. Cooke had three punts for a splended net average of 48.0 yards.

Coaching: A 

It can’t be emphasized enough how much this Jaguars team never panics in adverse situations, climbing out of a 17-point hole to win for the second time this season (Las Vegas Raiders).

That’s a reflection of the mindset instilled by head coach Doug Pederson, who has remarkably elevated this team into a playoff contender after it went 0-5 in the month of October.

Once again, the Jaguars didn’t flinch against a likely playoff-bound opponent when things looked pretty gloomy midway through the third quarter. Even after Lawerence’s fumble, the defense got the three-and-out it needed to give the Jaguars one more shot with 1:01 left, just one timeout and 40 yards from respectable field-goal range. Pederson cut it close with his time management, preserving the Jaguars’ last timeout that he used with five seconds remaining after a 19-yard pass completion to Jones.

Pederson took a gamble with 59 seconds left in the half by spending his first timeout before Dallas faced a third-and-1 from its own 43, but it paid off when linebacker Foye Oluokun stuffed Pollard for a 7-yard loss on the next play.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars offense, Pederson, Rayshawn Jenkins deliver against Cowboys