An invigorated Jaguars offense showed up in the second half to beat the Cowboys in overtime. A tipped pass was intercepted and run back for a touchdown. The Jaguars won 40 – 34.
3rd Quarter
The Jacksonville Jaguars accepted a touchback and started the 3rd quarter on their own 5-yard line. After 10 plays for 61 yards, they ended the drive with a 33-yard field goal by Riley Patterson. DAL 21 – JAX 10.
Dallas also started their first drive of the half on their own 25. Two big plays by CeeDee Lamb brought the Cowboys from their 27 to the Jacksonsville 12-yard line. After 2 runs and an incomplete pass, Dallas answered with a field goal of their own, a 24-yarder by Brett Maher. DAL 24 – JAX 10.
Jacksonville took the ball back at their own 25 after another touchback. They only had the ball for 1:09 before Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland intercepted a pass that Trevor Lawrence intended for Christian Kirk. Bland returned the interception 15 yards to the Jacksonville 42-yard line.
On the third play after reclaiming possession, an incomplete pass on 3rd down brought up 4th & 3 for the Cowboys. They elected to kick a field goal and increased their lead with a 53-yard field goal by Brett Maher. DAL 27 – JAX 10.
The Jaguars made quick work of their next possession. On their third play of the drive, Trevor Lawrence completed a 59-yard pass to Zay Jones to put up their second touchdown of the day. The extra point was good. DAL 27 – JAX 17.
On the following kickoff, KeVontae Turpin returned the ball from the Dallas 1-yard line but ran into a teammate and was stopped at the 16. Dak Prescott was sacked on 1st down for an 8-yard loss. The following play resulted in an interception, and the Jags took over on the Dallas 39-yard line. 90 seconds and 4 plays later, the Jacksonville Jaguars scored a touchdown to cut the deficit to the lowest of the day. DAL 27 – JAX 24.
4th Quarter
The Cowboys ended their next drive with a punt which was fair caught at Jacksonville 25-yard line by Jaguars receiver Jamal Agnew. Trevor Lawrence was back on the field with 13:46 remaining in the 4th quarter. Jacksonville used 8 plays to move 75 yards and take the lead for the first time during this game. A touchdown and extra point put them up by 4 points. DAL 27 – JAX 31.
A kick into the end zone put the Cowboys on their own 25-yard line to start their next drive. They took 7:01 off the clock with 13 plays that brought them 75 yards down the field and into the end zone. A pass from Dak Prescott to Noah Brown in the end zone game them the lead back, and Brett Maher’s extra point was good. DAL 34 – JAX 31.
Had to have it. Went and got it! 🙌
TOUCHDOWN @dak + @Nb_Eight5
📺: @NFLonFOX | #DALvsJAX | #WPMOYChallenge pic.twitter.com/CeLGs64Lc0
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 18, 2022
Trevor Lawrence started the Jaguars’ next drive from the Jacksonville 25 with 3:02 left in the 4th quarter. On the 6th play of that drive, Jayron Kearse forced a fumble that was recovered by Micah Parsons. Dallas took over on their own 38, but a three-and-out gave Jacksonville the ball back with 1:01 left in the 4th quarter. After 6 plays for 41 yards, Jacksonville made it to the Dallas 30-yard line. A 48-yard field goal by Riley Patterson with 5 seconds left sent the game into overtime. DAL 34 – JAX 34.
Overtime
Jacksonville won the overtime coin toss and got the ball first in overtime. They were on the field for 1:12 before the Cowboys defense forced them to punt.
The Cowboys took over on offense at their own 20-yard line. On the 4th play of that drive, a pass intended for Noah Brown bounced off of the receiver and landed in the hands of Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins. Jenkins ran the ball 51 yards the other way for a touchdown. That score ended the game and gave Jacksonville the win. JAX 40 – DAL 34.
Final Thoughts
By the numbers, the Cowboys most impactful players showed up and played well. The Jacksonville Jaguars had been on an upward trend in terms of performance leading into this game, and it showed on the field. Many referred to this as a potential trap game for the Cowboys and expected the defense to make the biggest difference in the outcome. The difference here was just a couple of mistakes and failures to convert that translated to a lack of much needed points on the scoreboard for Dallas.
Also of note is that Dallas lost two defensive starters during this game. Linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch (neck) was ruled out early in the second half and defensive tackle Dorance Armstrong (knee) left the game in the third quarter.
The Cowboys’ next game will be at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is scheduled for December 24th, 3:25pm CST.
