For the past two years, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been the worst team in the NFL. Consequence: the Florida franchise inherited the first draft pick and recruited quarterback Trevor Lawrence and defensive end Travon Walker. And, since this year, Doug Pederson, winner of the Super Bowl in 2018 with Philadelphia, has been coaching the team. And it’s starting to pay off.
400 yards for Allen but a defeat
Sunday, a week after surprising Indianapolis, the Jaguars corrected the Los Angeles Chargers (38-10), at home in addition, a candidate for the play-offs, with a spectacular attack. Lawrence threw for 262 yards and three touchdown passes. In his defense, LA played with a Justin Herbert – his QB – diminished by a hip injury, and lost his defensive end Joey Bosa early, injured in the groin.
A week after a superb comeback against Baltimore, the Miami Dolphins delivered another choice performance, beating the Buffalo Bills (21-19), favorites No. 1 to win the Super Bowl. Josh Allen threw for 400 yards, but couldn’t prevent his team’s loss. Buffalo suffered its first setback of the season. Nice surprise: the Dolphins have won their first three games.
Brady winner Rodgers
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) faced each other, for the first time since January 2021 and the National Conference final won by Brady. But on Sunday, it was the Packers who won (14-12), carried by their defense. Tampa Bay scored a TD with 15 seconds remaining but then missed the two-point conversion, which would have allowed them to tie the game and snatch overtime.
The same mishap happened in Las Vegas, beaten by Tennessee (24-22). The Raiders trailed 24-10 at the break. They came back to two points late in the game, but missed the conversion to equalise.
Baltimore won at New England (36-27), with a recital from Lamar Jackson, his quarterback. He threw four touchdown passes and one on the run. Mac Jones, the New England QB, was intercepted three times and injured his ankle late in the game.
First victory for Cincinnati and Burrow
Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City suffered their first defeat of the season, against Indianapolis (20-17). Matt Ryan kicked the winning touchdown 25 seconds from time, then Mahomes was intercepted.
The Cincinnati Bengals, finalists of the last Super Bowl, have won their first victory, at the New York Jets (27-12). Joe Burrow was effective (275 yards, three TD’s). Joe Flacco, his Jets counterpart, had a nightmare: four sacks, two interceptions and two fumbles.
Detroit with its fire attack led 24-14 against Minnesota at the start of the last quarter, but ultimately lost (28-24). Late in the game, the Lions missed a field goal and conceded an interception. Philadelphia dominated Washington (24-8) with a gala Jalen Hurts (340 yards, three touchdowns). Carson Wentz, Washington’s QB, suffered nine sacks. Khalil Herbert ran for 157 yards and scored two TD’s and Chicago beat Houston (23-20). Finally Aaron Donald recorded the 100th sack of his career, during the victory of the LA Rams, the defending champions, in Arizona (20-12).