JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence's confidence one way or the other by no means wavered. Not after the primary interception. Or the second. Or the third. And even the fourth.
The generational quarterback merely delivered a generational comeback.
The No. 1 total choose within the 2021 draft adopted 4 interceptions with 4 landing passes — some of the inconceivable turnarounds in NFL postseason historical past — and rallied the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night time.
Lawrence engineered the profitable drive, highlighted by Travis Etienne's 25-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play, and put the Jaguars in place for Riley Patterson's 36-yard discipline purpose on the ultimate play. It capped a 27-point comeback, the most important in franchise historical past and the third largest in playoff historical past.
“You couldn’t write a crazier script,” Lawrence mentioned. "We mentioned within the locker room that’s sort of how our season’s going. We’re by no means out of the struggle. ... I’m sort of speechless, truthfully, simply to see what perception can do and to see when a workforce believes in one another what you may accomplish.”
Patterson's kick barely stayed inside the best upright and set off a raucous celebration for a franchise that had gained a mixed 4 video games over the earlier two years. The Jaguars (10-8) gained their sixth consecutive recreation and fifth straight at residence — all 5 in come-from-behind style.
Nonetheless, nobody may have seen this one coming. Possibly not even Lawrence. However he was the regular hand in cost after a debacle of a primary half. He completed 28-of-47 passing for 288 yards, a shocker contemplating the way in which he began.
Lawrence was downright dreadful to start Jacksonville’s first playoff recreation since shedding within the 2017 AFC title recreation. He grew to become the third quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period to throw 4 interceptions within the first half of a playoff recreation, becoming a member of Detroit’s Gary Danielson and Denver’s Craig Morton.
However he bounced again in addition to anybody in NFL historical past. Jacksonville's comeback goes down in postseason lore behind solely Buffalo's rally on Jan. 3, 1993 (32 factors towards Houston) and Indianapolis' on Jan. 4, 2014 (28 factors towards Kansas Metropolis).
“I didn’t have a selection,” Lawrence mentioned. “These guys have sacrificed approach an excessive amount of for me to be the rationale we lose a possibility."
The Jaguars, who additionally turned the ball over when a punt hit Chris Claybrook's helmet, grew to become the primary workforce to win a playoff recreation with a turnover differential of minus-five or worse. Groups with that turnover deficit had been 0-19 within the Tremendous Bowl period.
“Let me let you know one thing, man. I feel from enjoying soccer, watching soccer, I do know a whole lot of quarterbacks would’ve folded in that scenario that he went by means of,” Jaguars receiver Zay Jones mentioned. “For him simply to be as poised and composed as he was, it confirmed one other aspect of who we now have on this workforce. I imply, that man proper there, standing proper there, that’s a particular man.”
He wasn't early. Lawrence misfired on 12 of his first 16 throws and began getting booed lengthy earlier than halftime. His confidence appeared shot. His swagger appeared gone. All of the progress he made in his first season with coach Doug Pederson appeared like it will be flushed within the workforce’s finale.
However Lawrence by no means gave up. He linked with Evan Engram, Marvin Jones, Zay Jones, and Christian Kirk for touchdowns that more and more raised the workforce's perception in its quarterback and its comeback.
Lawrence added one of many largest performs when he jumped for a 2-point conversion with 5:25 to play that made it 30-28 — and put the Jaguars able to win as a substitute of tie.
Jacksonville's protection responded by sacking Justin Herbert after which forcing a punt. Lawrence took over from there, with a major help from Etienne — and Peterson's daring play name.
“I really feel just like the working again, when it will get to that time of the sport, you’re imagined to be the nearer,” Etienne mentioned. “Coach believed in me on that fourth-and-1, to offer me the ball. I needed to make one thing occur for my teammates.”
CHARGERS COLLAPSE
Herbert threw for 273 yards and a landing with out an interception, however the Chargers' offense was largely ineffective after a 62-yard TD drive that made it 24-0 halfway by means of the second quarter. Los Angeles (10-8) completed with 320 yards of offense and 18 first downs, and it produced solely three factors on 4 second-half possessions.
“Anytime you’re up 27-7 at halftime and also you’ve obtained 4 takeaways, and you find yourself profitable the takeaway margin (5-0), you understand, it’s it’s gonna be a killer," Chargers coach Brandon Staley mentioned. "I’m hurting for everyone in that locker room. ... We simply didn’t end the sport.”
Staley certainly can be questioned for being too conservative, each on protection and offense — he opted for a discipline purpose on fourth-and-3 halfway by means of the fourth quarter that Cameron Dicker missed — and for not attempting to run the ball extra. LA had 23 speeding makes an attempt for 69 yards, a 2.9-yard common, whereas Herbert threw 43 occasions.
“I wanted to carry out higher,” Herbert mentioned. “I’ve obtained to offer them greater than three factors within the second half and so I really feel horrible for the protection for the unimaginable effort they put up there at this time, however gotta be higher as a workforce.”
KEY INJURIES
Chargers receiver DeAndre Carter and left sort out Jamaree Salyer left the sport with ankle accidents. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis left with a pectoral muscle harm. Lawrence minimize the tip of his left thumb within the fourth however wrapped it up and performed on.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Could have a troublesome offseason coping with this loss. Staley may face questions on his job safety.
Jaguars: Await their highway divisional opponent, which doubtless can be top-seeded Kansas Metropolis subsequent weekend. The Chiefs gained their regular-season assembly.