When they miss the playoffs, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars typically remain out of contention for years.
The Patriots, with their rapid rebuild led by the legendary Bill Belichick, have broken the mold again.
With Sunday’s 50-10 thumping of the hapless Jaguars (and a Miami loss at Tennessee), Bill Belichick’s Patriots (10-6) returned to the postseason after just one year on the outside.
New England pounded Jacksonville relentlessly, scoring on eight of ten drivesrookies led the way, as running back Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 107 yards on 19 carries, scoring twice. Quarterback Mac Jones bounced back from two subpar games, completing 22 of 30 passes for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
Jones was especially pleased that he didn’t turn the ball over: “The past several weeks my ball security hasn’t been very good (4 interceptions, 1 fumble), so I’m trying to work on it…the goal is to protect the ball whether you’re throwing it, or running it.”
Jacksonville’s own rookie headliner, QB Trevor Lawrence, is working with a roster that's light on talent, and it showed. With a patchwork offensive line and without running back James Robinson, who was placed on injured reserve (Achilles) last week, Lawrence (17-27 passing, 193 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions) got little support.
It got ugly for Lawrence early. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower sacked him on the second play from scrimmage and the Jaguars punted after three plays.
Jones, on the other hand, got immediate results. He completed all five pass attempts on a 70 yard opening touchdown drive, connecting with Jakobi Meyers three times. After Stevenson’s 15 yard rumble brought the Pats to the red zone, RB Damien Harris (9 carries for 35 yds.) powered his way for a two yard score that gave them the lead they would hold all afternoon.
Lawrence showed off his arm on the next drive, with a 40 yard bomb to Laquon Treadwell, setting up a field goal.
It would be the only meaningful score for Jacksonville.
Jones completed both pass attempts on a run-based touchdown drive, ending with a 7 yard touchdown by Harris. It was his 14th rushing TD of the season, matching Curtis Martin (who did it twice) for second most in Patriots history (LaGarrette Blount scored a team-record 18 in 2016). It was 14-3 Patriots.
Lawrence’s afternoon then went further south. His overthrown ball intended for Ryquell Armstead was intercepted by cornerback Myles Bryant, and the rout was on.
After being promoted to the active lineup, replacing the struggling N’Keal Harry, wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson scored on a 6 yard pass from Jones to make it 21-3. It was his first NFL touchdown. Wilkerson, a practice squad call-up, came into the afternoon with no career NFL catches and came out with 4 for 42 yards.
“Wilk’s a hard working kid,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “It’s nice to see him get the opportunity today and take advantage of it and cash in.”
Then, cornerback J.C. Jackson joined elite company with an interception of Lawrence. With 25 interceptions, Jackson tied the Oakland Raiders’ Lester Hayes and the Dallas Cowboys’ Everson Walls for the most by any player in his first four NFL seasons. Jackson can break the record in next week’s regular season finale in Miami.
Jones then found Jakobi Meyers for a 4 yard touchdown, finishing a near-perfect first half for the Patriots. They scored touchdowns on all four first half possessions, as their defense held the Jaguars to 3 points, sacking Lawrence twice and intercepting him twice.
The second half brought more of the same, as the Patriots scored on the opening drive with the easiest-looking touchdown of the game. The Jaguars’ defense lost Wilkerson completely. He was wide open, running down the left side of the field, when Jones found him for a 20 yard score.
Kyle Dugger added the third interception of Lawrence, and Stevenson scored twice, to cap an afternoon when then Patriots again proved themselves playoff-worthy after just one year out of the running.
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--That Playoff Feeling should be especially sweet to safety Adrian Phillips, who just cashed in with a contract extension: “It’s a great feeling to know that you have the opportunity to go to the postseason.”
--Bill Belichick clinched his twentieth 10 win season as a head coach (19 with New England).
--The Jaguars have still never won a game in Foxborough (0-9).
--Jones’ 21 touchdown throws are the most for a Patriots rookie.
--With 3 interceptions, the Patriots have a +10 turnover differential for the season. The Jaguars are an NFL-worst -22.
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