Trevor Lawrence went into Sunday’s game battling an illness, and for much of the afternoon, the Jaguars’ offense looked just as sickly. He threw an interception into double coverage in the end zone, and Jacksonville seemed headed for a third consecutive defeat. But when the game was on the line, Lawrence came alive — leading a late comeback and capping it with his own game-winning sneak in overtime to give the Jaguars a thrilling 30-29 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
The deciding play came moments later, when Jacksonville nose tackle DaVon Hamilton batted down Geno Smith’s pass on a two-point try that would have given the Raiders the win. The 335-pound lineman’s swat sealed the victory and sent the Jaguars (5-3) home with a much-needed boost to their playoff hopes.
“We’ve been through a lot the last few weeks,” Hamilton said. “We just had to finish one. I saw Smith’s eyes and just got my hands up. That’s all it took.”
Lawrence completed 23 of 34 passes for 220 yards, while rushing for two key touchdowns — a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter that gave Jacksonville a 13-9 lead, and the game-winning 1-yard sneak in overtime. He was 11 of 15 for 120 yards in the second half and OT after a sluggish start.
“I wasn’t feeling great all week,” Lawrence admitted. “But the guys just kept battling. Once we found a rhythm, we started believing we could win this thing.”
Running back Travis Etienne carried 22 times for 84 yards, keeping the Jaguars’ offense balanced enough to sustain long drives.
The game swung wildly in the second half and overtime, featuring six lead changes — but one of the day’s biggest moments came right before halftime.
After Raiders tight end Brock Bowers made a spectacular one-handed, falling-backward touchdown catch from seven yards out with 35 seconds remaining, Las Vegas led 6-0. But kicker Daniel Carlson’s missed extra point loomed large.
Jacksonville quickly moved the ball to midfield, setting up Cam Little for an NFL-record 68-yard field goal, which sliced through the uprights as time expired in the half. It broke Justin Tucker’s previous record of 66 yards set in 2021, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
“That was surreal,” Little said. “Coach just said, ‘Give it a swing,’ and I did. Didn’t even feel it off my foot.”
The Raiders’ offense, led by Geno Smith, came alive after halftime. Smith threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Bowers, who returned from a three-game absence due to a knee injury.
Bowers caught 12 passes for 127 yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to record five games with at least 10 receptions in his first two seasons, and the first Raiders tight end since Todd Christensen in 1983 to score three touchdowns in a game.
“He’s special,” Smith said. “You can see why everyone missed him. We just came one play short.”
That one play was Hamilton’s. After Lawrence’s overtime sneak gave Jacksonville a 30-23 lead with 3:24 left, Smith led Las Vegas right back, finding Bowers for a 2-yard TD. But on the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, Hamilton’s deflection ended the Raiders’ hopes.
Jacksonville was without rookie two-way star Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who was placed on injured reserve after injuring his right knee in practice Thursday. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also missed overtime with an ankle injury.
The defense also had to play much of the second half without Travon Walker, who was ejected in the third quarter for throwing a punch at Raiders tackle Stone Forsythe. Despite losing one of their top pass rushers, Jacksonville’s defensive front — led by Hamilton and Josh Hines-Allen — stepped up. Hines-Allen recorded 1.5 sacks, surpassing Tony Brackens’ franchise record with 55.5 career sacks.
“This team showed grit,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. “Trevor gutted it out, the defense made the play we needed, and Cam [Little] made history. That’s a huge win for us.”
Jaguars: Visit the Houston Texans next Sunday in a key AFC South matchup — their fourth true road game in five weeks. Raiders: Have a short turnaround with a Thursday night game at Denver against their AFC West rivals.
Game-Changer: DaVon Hamilton’s swatted pass on the 2-point attempt — the difference between heartbreak and a statement win for Jacksonville.
