The Jaguars suffered from another slow start and saw six starters suffer injuries, yet nearly pulled off a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Sunday.
But after Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence led a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter, which ended in a spectacular touchdown reception by tight end Evan Engram, the Packers responded with backup quarterback Malik Willis finding wide-open receiver Jaylen Reed for 51 yards.
It placed Green Bay in field goal range with just over a minute left in regulation, allowing the Packers to grind the clock down over their next six plays.
Former Jacksonville kicker Brandon McManus — who the Jaguars let walk in free agency this offseason before a lawsuit involving sexual assault allegations was filed against him in May and later reportedly “resolved” — converted the game-winner from 24 yards as time ran out.
Willis took over after Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love exited the contest with a groin injury early in the third quarter, after appearing to play hobbled and completing 14-of-22 passes for 196 yards with one interception.
Willis went four-of-five for 56 yards with one passing touchdown and rushed four times for 23 yards. Green Bay’s rushing offense exploded with Willis on the field, specifically running back Josh Jacobs, who dashed for 96 yards in the second half after churning out 36 in the first.
Jacksonville’s defense — which experienced only one of the Jaguars’ six reported injuries, to cornerback Ronald Darby — largely struggled between the first and final whistle.
The Jaguars’ offense started slow and saw five contributors get hurt — wide receivers Gabe Davis (shoulder), Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Christian Kirk (shoulder), and guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle). Yet the unit kept Jacksonville in the fight until the bout’s final minutes.
After generating merely 15 yards after their first four possessions, the Jaguars scored 10 points over back-to-back drives to close the first half and narrow the Packers’ lead to three points, 13-10.
They marched 93 yards over 10 plays in the third quarter, with Thomas hauling in a 14-yard touchdown to cap the drive off and give Jacksonville its first lead of the game, 17-13. Thomas was hurt on the play.
Despite losing Thomas, then Kirk, and already without Davis and right guard Ezra Cleveland, Lawrence led Jacksonville to another 10 points within the final 10 minutes of play, including the picturesque pitch-and-catch with Engram to tie the meeting during the Jaguars’ final series, 27-27.
LAWRENCE TO ENGRAM TO TIE IT 🫨
📺: #GBvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/SkD10lJb7d— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
But Willis connected with Reed deep down the left sideline four snaps later, placing the Packers at the Jaguars’ 15-yard line and ultimately setting up a chip shot, 24-yard kick for McManus to seal the game, 30-27.
The Jaguars travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 9, on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.
