Jets Survive Jaguars’ Onslaught, Advance on Dugan’s Game-Winner

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - It came down to the final snap, but the New York Jets survived a scare from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 20-19 Wild Card thriller at MetLife Stadium. Riding a 12-game win streak-the longest in the postseason-New York faced its toughest test yet and needed every bit of grit, poise, and clutch execution to pull off the comeback.

New York Extends Win Streak to 13 in Wild Card Classic

The Jaguars started hot. Trevor Lawrence launched a 70-yard touchdown strike to Brian Thomas Jr. in the first quarter and led Jacksonville to a 13-3 advantage late in the third. Lawrence was nearly perfect, finishing with 405 passing yards, but one throw would turn the tide. With under two minutes left in the third quarter, Jets cornerback Charvarius Ward jumped a pass for a critical interception, returning it 36 yards to the Jaguars' 32-yard line. Just three plays later, rookie quarterback Joshua Booth connected with Garrett Wilson on a 16-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to three points.

Gardner’s Breakup Saves the Game

Momentum began to shift, but the Jaguars weren't done. After the Jets closed the gap, Jacksonville drove into the red zone early in the fourth and came away with a short field goal to go up 16-10. Then, after a Breece Hall touchdown put New York ahead for the first time, Lawrence once again guided his team inside the five. On third and goal from the three-yard line, he looked for the end zone. His pass seemed destined for a touchdown-until Sauce Gardner made the defensive play of the game. Launching himself through the air, Gardner stretched out and tipped the ball away, forcing the Jaguars to kick yet another field goal. That gave Jacksonville a 19-17 lead with 2:23 remaining.

Booth's Fourth-Down Magic Sets Up the Winner

New York's next possession started rough. Three straight incompletions left them with a 4th-and-10 from their own 34. But Booth delivered under pressure, finding Wilson for 14 yards just before the two-minute warning. He followed with key completions to Devin Payne, B. Allen, and Wilson again, pushing the Jets into field goal range. With the game on the line and the clock showing 0:01, kicker Jacob Dugan drilled a 32-yard field goal to complete the comeback and extend the Jets' win streak to 13.

Stat Leaders

Joshua Booth completed 20 of 34 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, guiding the Jets to victory with smart, resilient play. On the other side, Trevor Lawrence put up a heroic effort, throwing for 405 yards, including a 74-yard bomb, while completing over 77 percent of his passes. Garrett Wilson caught 3 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, including a fourth-down conversion that kept the game alive. Brian Thomas Jr. led all receivers with 183 yards and a touchdown on 6 receptions, showcasing his big-play ability throughout.

Up Next

The Jets will remain at home next week as they prepare to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC Divisional Round. Both teams are coming off dramatic Wild Card wins, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.