Faced with one of their toughest opponents of the year, a Jacksonville Jaguars team with a brand-new identity proved that they’re not only the NFL’s best defensive team, but also one of its most fun. Their 30-24 win over Seattle today was highlighted by big plays and mostly lopsided excitement.
One week after a dominating performance against Philadelphia, Russell Wilson looked much more confounded, chucking up deep passes and watching the wrong jerseys come up with them. A.J. Bouye got two picks, and Jalen Ramsey got the other, with the defense shutting Seattle out in the first half and doing enough to stifle a resurgent Wilson at the end. On the other side of the ball, Blake Bortles gave his team everything they needed, including this 75-yard TD pass to Keelan Cole.
On special teams, too, Jaydon Mickens delivered a 72-yard punt return off the bounce, and while he got stopped just before the goal line, that missed touchdown allowed a solid bowling celebration from Leonard Fournette and fullback Tommy Bohanon as they gave their team some breathing room in the third quarter.
Despite the best efforts of a Russell Wilson comeback, Jacksonville held on without too much drama (save a late Quinton Jefferson ejection as the Seahawks got mad about the victory formation). The Jags are now 9-4, with a one game lead in the AFC South after the Titans’ loss to the Cardinals. After a decade as perhaps the league’s most anonymous team, Jacksonville has transformed into perhaps the most entertaining.