The Jacksonville Jaguars left no doubt Sunday about who rules the AFC South. Behind a historic performance from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a suffocating defense, the Jaguars clinched the division title with a dominant 41-7 rout of the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium. The victory not only secured Jacksonville its third AFC South crown in nine years, but also earned the franchise a home playoff game for just the second time in its 31-year history.
Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and broke the club’s single-season record for total touchdowns as the Jaguars improved to 13-4. Jacksonville later learned it will enter the postseason as the AFC’s No. 3 seed and host the Buffalo Bills (12-5) in next weekend’s wild-card matchup.
This team is rolling and the numbers back it up. The Jaguars have now won eight straight games and nine of their last 10 since the bye week, establishing themselves as one of the league’s hottest teams heading into January.
Lawrence was sharp from the outset after a brief slow start, completing 22 of 30 passes for 255 yards with touchdown throws to tight end Brenton Strange, wide receiver Parker Washington, and tight end Quintin Morris. He picked apart Tennessee’s depleted secondary and spent much of the fourth quarter watching from the sideline as the game turned into a runaway.
The win was the most lopsided in the history of the Jaguars-Titans series and completed a season sweep of Tennessee (3-14) for the third time in four seasons.
Lawrence closed the regular season with 38 total touchdowns — 29 passing and nine rushing — surpassing Blake Bortles’ previous franchise mark of 37 set in 2015. He also passed Bortles (17,646) for second place on the team’s all-time passing yards list and now trails only Mark Brunell (25,698). Lawrence played into the fourth quarter specifically to eclipse 4,000 passing yards for the third time in his professional career, drawing a loud ovation from the home crowd when he exited after a 23-yard completion to Washington.
Defense and special teams added to the spectacle. Jacksonville’s defense forced mistakes all afternoon, finishing the regular season with 22 interceptions — a new franchise record, breaking the mark set during the 2017 season. Rookie safety Antonio Johnson delivered the highlight, intercepting Brandon Allen’s third-down pass in the second quarter and returning it 58 yards for a touchdown.
Tennessee’s day unraveled early. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward scored on a 7-yard scramble on the Titans’ opening drive but landed awkwardly on his right shoulder and did not return after halftime, appearing on the sideline with his arm in a sling. Veteran backup Brandon Allen struggled in relief, completing 17 of 30 passes for just 72 yards with an interception that turned into six points for Jacksonville.
The Jaguars also made history before halftime when kicker Cam Little drilled a 67-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. The kick gave Little the two longest field goals in NFL history in the same season, after he set the record with a 68-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders in November. Little had also connected from 70 yards during the preseason.
By the time Lawrence flashed his new mouth jewelry in celebration, the outcome had long been decided.
For Tennessee, the loss capped a difficult season and signals an offseason likely focused on continuing the search for a new head coach and direction. For Jacksonville, the focus shifts immediately to Buffalo and a postseason run fueled by confidence, momentum, and a quarterback playing the best football of his career.
No one should want to face the Jaguars right now — and next weekend, the Bills will be the first to try.
