The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t end up in the playoffs as fans hoped and most expected.
Instead of defending their AFC South title from the season prior, the team lost five of its last six to stumble to a 9-8 finish. That wasn’t enough to beat out the Houston Texans for the division crown and didn’t earn them a wild card berth either.
While the ho-hum ending to the year left a sour taste, Jacksonville’s talented roster still turned out a few impressive plays en route to a winning record in the 2023 season.
Here are the Jaguars’ top 15 plays of the season:
15. Travis Etienne Jr.: Week 1 vs. Colts
Travis Etienne had 60 Yards after Contact (YCO) and forced 4 missed tackles against the #Colts. #Jaguars
pic.twitter.com/UbueCkUWpX— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) September 12, 2023
Running back Travis Etienne Jr. had a solid game Week 1 against the Colts punctuated by his late touchdown run that was one Jacksonville’s best plays of the year.
After Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell came up with a clutch interception, Etienne all but ended the game with an impressive 26-yard touchdown run. He ran into the trenches, bounced to the outside and forced three missed tackles to essentially put the game on ice.
14. Josh Allen & Travon Walker: Week 12 vs. Texans
This battle between #Texans Laremy Tunsil vs #Jaguars Josh Allen was All pro talent vs All Pro talent.
Tunsil held his own.
There were a couple plays were Allen got a sack but it was more miscommunication than anything pic.twitter.com/oS5pxUibYW
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 30, 2023
Most times Jaguars linebackers Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for a sack this year, the outcome might not have been game-changing. But with a minute left and the Texans breaking into field goal territory, Allen and Walker made one of the biggest plays this season.
The pair brought down rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud for a nine-yard loss. The sack made the eventual 58-yard attempt a more difficult kick. The Texans missed the kick off the crossbar, and Jacksonville stole a victory in Houston.
13. Trevor Lawrence: Week 4 vs. Falcons
#Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence completes a 30-Yard Touchdown to WR Calvin Ridley to take a Touchdown lead over The #Falcons#Jaguars– 7
1Q#Falcons– 0
— SportsCastProductions (@SportsCastProd) October 1, 2023
The stakes might not have been very high, but in Week 4 against the Falcons, quarterback Trevor Lawrence made a memorable pass to the still-freshly-acquired Calvin Ridley.
Lawrence evaded a rusher and put the ball in the end zone while getting hit on a 30-yard pass to Ridley, who was in his fourth game with the team.
12. Josh Allen: Week 4 vs. Falcons
The finisher!@JoshAllen41_ | #ATLvsJAX pic.twitter.com/eGlmzltA88
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 1, 2023
When a player has 17.5 sacks in a season, it’s clear he made an impact on his team and one of Allen’s best moments came against the Falcons.
Allen beat Atlanta’s left tackle and swiped Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder’s arm. The strip sack gave the ball back to Jacksonville, essentially ending Atlanta’s hope for a comeback.
11. Travis Etienne Jr.: Week 5 vs. Bills
TOUCHDOWN JAGUARS‼️‼️
Etienne grabs another one on a huge rushing touchdown to extend the #Jaguars lead over the #Bills to 25-13 pic.twitter.com/lPSNmRNIcw
— Lukas Galecki-Shofroth (@TGNCoverage) October 8, 2023
With just three minutes remaining, Etienne put the stamp on one of Jacksonville’s biggest wins of the season.
He ran into Buffalo’s defensive front, slipped through the left side, and broke away for a 35-yard touchdown. The Bills scored on the next drive, but the deficit ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.
10. Calvin Ridley: Week 2 vs. Chiefs
Calvin Ridley is the real deal 😲 What a Catch #NFL #Chiefs #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/StEm41HJrt
— MJ_Fears_None (@MJ_Fears_None) September 17, 2023
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley may not have been as consistent as fans hoped this year, but he had his fair share of standout plays. One of his best came in the Jaguars’ massive home opener against the Chiefs.
Ridley created just enough separation against Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, reached up, and hauled in the ball over the top of his head through pass interference. The catch put the Jags in field goal range, bringing Jacksonville within one point of the lead at halftime.
9. Evan Engram: Week 6 vs. Colts
Probably my favorite play from Sunday. #Colts dare #Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to rip the honey call vs Cov 2 and he puts it on Evan Engram who makes an insane grab. pic.twitter.com/BNzwD7gGHG
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 17, 2023
Like Ridley, tight end Evan Engram made his share of impressive sideline grabs for the Jaguars. His best was when Lawrence put the ball between the Indianapolis corner and safety, and Engram did the rest.
He reached out with one hand, making one of the more impressive catches of the season.
8. Trevor Lawrence & Calvin Ridley: Week 18 vs. Titans
TREVOR LAWRENCE TO CALVIN RIDLEY 59-YARD TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!
Jags lead the Titans 10-7
pic.twitter.com/P4T1iop4mM— Sideline Daily (@sideline_daily) January 7, 2024
Ridley was one of Lawrence’s favorite deep threats this year, and their best connection this year came in the final week of the season.
Ridley got over the top of the Tennessee defense, and Lawrence hit him in stride for a 59-yard touchdown.
7. Jamal Agnew: Week 15 vs. Ravens
TOUCHDOWN
T-Law finds Jamal Agnew for a 65-yard score.
Ravens 10-7 Jags#NFL #Agnew #Jags #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/cOKAaRi2cG
— SmashMouthin' Football 💥👅 🏈 (@SMingFootball) December 18, 2023
Week 15 saw Jacksonville taking on one of its biggest opponents of the season, and after a scoreless first half, wide receiver Jamal Agnew finally got his team on the board.
He found himself wide open on the left side of the field, juked out the safety, and finished the play for a 65-yard touchdown.
6. Travis Etienne Jr.: Week 8 vs. Steelers
We have the answer on the Etienne TD. Talked to Kazee and JPJ today
It was M2M to the trips side. Steelers disguised C2 pre-snap.
Porter was supposed to carry Etienne. Kazee charging down toward Ridley (the No. 2)
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 31, 2023
Etienne was one of the Jaguars best big-play threats, but this was a rare time when he showed that ability out wide.
The running back lined up as a wide receiver and made the Steelers pay. He beat the defensive back deep and took the ball 56 yards for a score.
5. Travis Etienne Jr.: Week 17 vs. Panthers
TRAVIS ETIENNE TORCHES THE PANTHERS DEFENSE AND HE’S GONE pic.twitter.com/G4LyDUVANZ
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) December 31, 2023
Etienne just wouldn’t go away. This time he made a highlight-worthy play against the Panthers in Week 7.
Etienne took a toss to the right side, cut through the defense and made his way to the right sideline. Three broken tackles later, the Jags went from up 9-0 to 16-0.
4. Darious Williams: Week 4 vs. Falcons
¡DARIOUS WILLIAMS PICK 6!#Falcons 0-17 #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/qz4tj7KmW7
— CRAZY NFL 🏈 (@CrazyNFL_) October 1, 2023
In a standout year for cornerback Darious Williams, his best play came against the Falcons in London.
Jacksonville already had a 10-point lead before Williams added to it. He read Ridder’s eyes and took his interception 61 yards to the house.
3. Foye Oluokun: Week 7 vs. Saints
Foyesade Oluokun PICK-6 ‼️
Jaguars go up 24-9 against the Saints!pic.twitter.com/C27UogZZ1w
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 20, 2023
Linebacker Foye Oluokun was one of the Jaguars’ leaders all year, and he came through when his team needed him. Jacksonville’s Week 7 bout against the Saints was tight, but Oluokun did his part in creating some breathing room.
He caught a deflected pass and channeled his inner Etienne on the return, putting six on the board and giving Jacksonville a two-possession lead.
2. Zay Jones: Week 1 vs. Colts
¡INCREDIBLE CATCH BY ZAY JONES!#Jaguars 14-7 #Colts pic.twitter.com/GxUfMLfh28
— CRAZY NFL 🏈 (@CrazyNFL_) September 10, 2023
In a tight, season-opening game, Jacksonville had a chance to get on the board again before halftime. And then wide receiver Zay Jones made debatably the best catch of the Jaguars’ season.
Lawrence lofted the ball up, and Jones adjusted and made a diving hands catch to put Jacksonville back on top.
1. Christian Kirk: Week 7 vs Saints
TREVOR LAWRENCE TO CHRISTIAN KIRK FOR A 44 YARD TOUCHDOWN
JAGS LEAD THE SAINTS 31-24 WITH 3:08 LEFT
pic.twitter.com/5lKkRTdGos— Sideline Daily (@sideline_daily) October 20, 2023
In Week 7, New Orleans climbed back in the game, erasing a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to tie the game late. Jacksonville needed a score to get back in front, and wide receiver Christian Kirk made a tremendous play.
Kirk faked out the defender, broke inside, and turned a two-yard pass into a 44-yard touchdown. The Saints couldn’t answer with a touchdown of their own, and Jacksonville walked away with a Thursday night win in New Orleans.
