Jaguars stake claim as contenders by beating Seahawks at their own game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Jaguars all week dismissed the idea that they could make a statement to the rest of the NFL by beating the Seattle Seahawks.

To do so, players figured, would have been admitting that the Jaguars were some sort of underdogs.

But this 30-24 win over Seattle Sunday at EverBank Field certainly sent a message to the rest of the NFL that this Jaguars team is a legitimate playoff contender that won’t be intimidated by anyone, regardless of their playoff legacy.

“When you come see us, you’ve got to play. That’s how we’re taking every game, whether it’s the Seahawks or anybody else, we’re coming out on Sunday to play,” Jacksonville defensive tackle Abry Jones said. “Calling it a statement game isn’t going to do nothing if you don’t do it on Sunday, so that’s pretty much all we’ve got to say.”

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What’s ironic is that Jacksonville did so by following the blueprint the Seahawks drew up several years ago. The Jaguars run a version of Seattle’s defense – implemented by former head coach Gus Bradley, who previously served as the Seahawks' coordinator – and do it with similar swagger. The Jaguars have a relentless pass rush that sacked quarterback Russell Wilson twice and a fearless, ball-hawking secondary that hauled in three interceptions.

The Jaguars improve to 9-4, and, after Tennessee’s loss to Arizona, took a one-game lead in the AFC South, moving closer to their first playoff berth since 2007.

More than half the players on the Jaguars roster have never been to the postseason, but Sunday’s game against the Seahawks had the feeling of a playoff contest, flexed into a late-afternoon start against a surging Seattle team that had a statement win of its own last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Jaguars dominated the first half but held just a 3-0 lead after two quarters. They extended that to 10-3 after intercepting Wilson on the opening drive of the third quarter.

The Seahawks took momentum back with a long field goal drive. Seattle then tied the game after scoring a quick touchdown on a pass from Wilson to Doug Baldwin following a fumbled kickoff return by Jacksonville.

The 1:44 that followed for the Jaguars may have been most important moments of their season so far.

On the next offensive play following Seattle’s touchdown, quarterback Blake Bortles launched a deep pass and placed it perfectly into the hands of Keenan Cole for a 75-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

Jacksonville’s defense responded with a quick three-and-out, including a third-down sack of Wilson by Yannick Ngakoue, and the Jaguars returned the punt to the 1-yard line. Rookie running back Leonard Fournette’s 1-yard run one play later broke the game open for Jacksonville.

Bortles finished the game with 268 passing yards and two touchdowns. He did not commit a turnover.

“We knew we were going to have to score points. I think guys did a really good job of when they made big plays and scored touchdowns, no one got down or hung their head or anything,” Bortles said. “That’s fine, we knew we could go back out and score again so it was all right.”

Seattle was able to rally in the fourth quarter after giving up a pair of long touchdown passes – 61 yards to Paul Richardson and 74 yards to Tyler Lockett – but the Jaguars defense was able to come up with one more big stop with an 8-yard sack by Malik Jackson. From there, the Jaguars offense was able to close out the game when Fournette rushed for a first down after the 2-minute warning, allowing the Jaguars to run out the clock.

That’s when tempers that had been simmering for much of the game erupted. Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett tackled Jacksonville center Brandon Linder after the kneel down, and Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson took a swing at Fournette.

Another scrum erupted after the next kneel down, and Seahawks defensive end Quinton Jefferson was ejected. As he was leaving the field, a Jaguars fan seated above the tunnel threw a drink at Jefferson, who then approached the stands and appeared to try to get into the stands to confront the fan.

“He just kind of lost it," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Somebody poured a beer on his head walking out of the stadium or something. I told him that’s pro football. They pay to get in, they can do whatever they want I guess. So, that’s what happened.”

A Jaguars spokeswoman told USA TODAY Sports the team will look into the fan or fans involved in the incident. Fans are subject to a code of conduct and tickets can be revoked for violations.

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.

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