Jaguars 26, Panthers 0: Game Balls
In the midst of a four-game skid, the Jacksonville Jaguars desperately needed a win to maintain their ever-shrinking lead on the AFC South. Ahead of Sunday’s bout with the Carolina Panthers, the 8-7 Jaguars were firmly entrenched in a three-way tie for the division crown.
Today’s 26-0 demolition of the now-14 loss Panthers didn’t clinch the division, but have given themselves the privilege of controlling their own destiny next weekend. Win, and you’re in; it’s as simple as that as it pertains to next week’s season finale in Tennessee.
For now the Panthers remain fresh in the minds of players and fans alike, and for good reason; Sunday saw franchise records shattered and significant benchmarks cleared. Defensive end Josh Allen’s fifth multi-sack performance of the year gave him 16.5 on the year, setting a new franchise mark for sacks in a single season.
With Travon Walker tallying two sacks on the opposite side, Jacksonville gave rookie quarterback Bryce Young with no time to think. Cornerback Tyson Campbell and the Jaguar’s young secondary held up their end of the bargain, and gave the former Alabama signal caller nothing to work with.
With Allen on one side and Walker on the other, Jacksonville sports one of the most athletic pass-rush duos in the league. On Sunday they helped hold Young 112 passing yards and a quarterback rating of 53.1.
The defense held the Panthers to just 67 total passing yards and 124 yards of total offense. Both Walker and Allen’s continued development will be paramount to the defense’s year-over-year continuity, and hopefully, in the postseason.
On the offensive side of the ball, Evan Engram became the eighth tight end in league history to record 100 or more catches in a season–an elite, exclusive club. His 104 catches this season ranks third in franchise history, behind Jimmy Smith’s 112-catch 2001 season and record-setting 116-catch season in 1999.
Without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Beathard performed well. At the helm of an offense that has turned the ball over 10 times in the last three games, Beathard turned in a clean game; and with running back Travis Etienne Jr. gaining 6.4 yards per carry, that’s all he needed to do.
Five rushers toted the football for Jacksonville, including rookie running back Tank Bigsby who totaled a career-high 10 carries. The passing game was also relatively generous, as seven receivers caught a pass against Carolina.
Rookie wideout Parker Washington caught a pass for the fifth straight game, while Etienne hauled in his 50th and 51st of the season. As it pertains to Week 17 shutouts, Sunday’s was about as significant as it gets.
Kicker Brandon McManus was perfect on the day, nailing all four of his field goal tries and both of his extra point attempts. With three of the Jaguars six scoring drives spanning five minutes or more, his accuracy proved invaluable in ensuring those drives ended in points for the good guys.
Following arguably the most satisfying and relieving win of the season, Duval faithful can take solace in the fact that the only people ‘dropping the ball’ today will be doing so live from midtown Manhattan. For my money, the best way to celebrate today’s festivities is with the year’s final edition of Game Balls.
It’s a hell of a lot cheaper, too.
Offense: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Carolina Travis Etienne Jr. had only eclipsed the 100-yard mark once this season, and had failed to average four or more yards per carry in nine of his last ten games. If anybody needed a big game to close out the year, it was him.
Following a 102-rushing yard, two touchdown effort against the lowly Panthers, his capacity to carry the offense may still be in doubt. His home run ability, however, was never in question.
Through two quarters the Jaguars offense had gained 165 total yards but failed to find the endzone, having kicked three field goals to establish a 9-0 lead at the halfway point. After forcing the Panthers to punt on the opening drive of the second half, the Jaguars offense took the field with a chance to really put their foot on the gas.
Etienne took that opportunity and ran with it. No pun intended.
On the second offensive snap of the second half, Etienne took a toss from six yards behind the line of scrimmage 62 yards to the house. With three blockers in front of him–and what felt like the Panther’s entire front seven behind him–Etienne had just two men left to beat before he even crossed the 50-yard line.
One will call it smart play design, another will call it a fantastic read by the back; I call it both. Etienne’s touchdown rush tied his career-long, and put the Jaguars comfortably ahead by 16. His second rushing touchdown–this time from the one-yard line–left just four minutes on the clock, and was the final nail in the coffin for the two-win Panthers.
Etienne was the offense today; and likely will be for a long time.
Defense: EDGE Josh Allen
Since being selected with the seventh pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, Allen has had to endure some astronomical highs and devastating lows in Jacksonville. A nuclear, 10-sack rookie season gave way to multiple consecutive disappointing campaigns for the talented pass rusher; now in a contract year, Allen had to perform or risk hitting the open market.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season Allen has been one of the league’s most productive edge rushers, and thoroughly silenced any and all doubters–which likely included a portion of the front office.
On Sunday, his career-year reached new heights. Having recorded his 14th, 15th, and 16th and a half sacks against Carolina, Allen has broken the Jaguars single-season sacks record in impressive fashion.
His three-sack performance against the Panthers was his third such game of the year, and his first with two or more sacks in over a month. Jacksonville has hit a wall over the past month and badly needed a win to remain alive in the playoff race, Allen’s performance was a massive reason Sunday’s game went the way it did.
Regardless of the outcome of this season his name will be remembered in annals of Jaguars history as both a standard to be met, and a benchmark to be cleared. With one game left and everything to play for, we’ll see just how high the Jaguars defense can ride Allen’s hot hand.
Special Teams: K Brandon McManus
When I said the team hit a wall in December, I wasn’t excluding Brandon McManus. The former Bronco turned in five straight games with a miss and had made just one of his five field goal attempts in the month of December, and there was no reason to believe Sunday would be the day he turned it around.
Luckily enough, it was.
As previously stated, McManus converted all four field goal attempts and was the lone Jaguar to contribute to the 9-0 lead at halftime. Tack on two extra points, and the 10-year veteran scored 14 points on the day; essentially, he would’ve blown out the Panthers by himself.
Obviously, McManus is not capable nor qualified to play all 22 positions on both sides of the ball; he is equally as unqualified to set any new career-marks as it pertains to kicking. In the midst of one of the best years of his career, the past month unfortunately spoiled any hope of McManus eclipsing 30 made field goals.
For the Jaguars purposes, however, McManus has been a fine kicker. On Sunday, he was flawless for the first time since November 19th, and deserves to be celebrated.
Though it wasn’t the year I was rooting for, it’s a nonetheless strong season from one of the game’s longest-tenured active players and a strong sign heading into postseason play. Well, potentially heading into postseason play.
