The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday.
While fans would have loved to see the Jags advance to the next round, the Jaguars had an impressive turnaround of a season this year, winning 10 total games after winning only four games the last two seasons combined.
Recap
Kansas City got off to an early start forcing the Jaguars to go three and out on their opening possession. The Chiefs then followed that up by having a 12-play drive resulting in a touchdown on their first drive of the game.
The Jaguars responded the very next possession by going five plays, 39 yards, and getting a touchdown to Christian Kirk set up by a 63-yard Jamal Agnew kickoff return.
The big news of the first half came when Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes got injured in the first half with a high ankle sprain. Mahomes continued to play the game even while compromised with his injury, but Chad Henne did fill in for one 12-play, 98-yard drive that led to a Travis Kelce touchdown.
Jacksonville went down and got a field goal before halftime, but trailed 17-10 at halftime.
Both defenses played great to start the second half as both teams were forced to punt their first two drives. Jacksonville made a push early into the 4th quarter getting a Travis Etienne touchdown that cut the lead to 20-17 with 11:49 remaining in the ball game. Jacksonville couldn’t stop Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense as they immediately responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive to extend their lead to 27-17.
Jacksonville had one last fight in them before it was all but over at the end of their drive that resulted in a fumble. Trevor Lawrence took the team 49 yards down the field, got the Jaguars inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line, but Jamal Agnew fumbled the ball with 5:36 left in the game. Trevor Lawrence proceeded to throw a critical interception on the following possession which essentially sealed their fate.
Jacksonville lost this game 27-20, but the Jaguars and their fans have to be impressed with the fight they put up in this game versus the number one team in the AFC on the road.
The Jaguars were under their first season with Head Coach Doug Pederson and they spent the most money this off-season in free agency.
The Jaguars made a lot of strides this season, and the future is bright in Duval.
Jacksonville will also be getting back Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Calvin Ridley next season after serving his full one-year suspension this past season.
Can’t wait for next season!