by Ryan Mercier
After throwing four interceptions in the first half, three in the first quarter, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars should have been done for the day. Down 27-0? Forget about it. Not to mention it was *only* 24-0 when a punt comically bopped off the face of Chris Claybrooks into the waiting arms of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Three of those first half interceptions went to the same man, Asante Samuel Jr. Clowns would be appalled at the circus which broke out in Jacksonville. It was too ridiculous.
Then, everything changed.
In October, after a mind-numbingly frustrating period of Jaguars football, the bar was lowered to at least reach the status of Alex Smith for Lawrence. His play was up-and-down. Decidedly unspectacular. After December and especially after tonight, Lawrence has shattered the Alex Smith Ceiling into tiny little pieces and has reclaimed his status as a potential generational quarterback. The Wild Card comeback in Duval was some Tom Brady shit.
Yeah, the Jaguars superstar QB dug his own grave. He threw the picks. He made the mistakes. Here’s Jacksonville’s drive chart until the last drive of the 1st half:
INT
INT
PUNT
INT
PUNT
INT
PUNT
To climb out of that hole, though, the Jaguars needed something superhuman. To the tune of a drive chart, beginning with the final drive of the first half, which looked like this:
TD
TD
TD
TD
FG
Head coach Doug Pederson and the Jaguars defense both deserve an immense amount of credit for this incredible win, as well. A win which was the 3rd largest postseason comeback in NFL history. No team had ever been a minus-5 in the turnover margin and won a playoff game, until tonight. Ever.
Pederson’s even-keeled approach helped the Jags in many similar situations this season, but none quite like this. The coach called for a 2-point conversion in Week 12 to beat the Ravens by one. In the playoffs, after a penalty put the ball at the 1-yard line, he called for another. This one put the Jaguars behind by only two points, setting Jacksonville up to potentially win the game with a field goal, instead of tie it. Pederson’s crystal ball is still working.
After four interceptions followed by four touchdowns, Trevor Lawrence has won his playoff debut. Doug Pederson has won his Jaguars playoff debut. After a rollercoaster of a season, in a wild card game with questionable (at best) officiating, and being down 27-0, those are the facts. Lawrence, Pederson, and the Jaguars are 1-0.
Struggling Actor Sports 