Rayshawn Jenkins’ pick six huge in Jaguars OT win vs. Cowboys

The 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars have shown a propensity to start slow but eventually get back in the game. After trailing 21-7 at halftime in Week 15, they crawled back from the hole they were in and beat the Dallas Cowboys 40-34 in overtime.

The Jags led 31-27 at one point in the fourth quarter but the Cowboys managed to score a touchdown that made it 34-31. Jacksonville had a bit less than two minutes to answer back and win the game. But a fumble by Trevor Lawrence helped Dallas get the ball back. They weren’t ready to give up just yet. The defense forced the Cowboys to punt and the offense got the ball back with a bit more than a minute left in the fourth quarter.

Lawrence missed a few throws but later connected with wide receiver Christian Kirk on a 15-yard pass that got the Jaguars to their 44-yard line. He later made a few throws, including a spectacular one to Zay Jones that got kicker Riley Patterson within field-goal range.

Although the Cowboys tried to ice Patterson, he didn’t take the bait and nailed a 48-yard kick that sent the Jags to overtime. Jacksonville got the first possession but a false start stalled their drive and had to punt. However, safety Rayshawn Jenkins wasn’t going to let Dallas win this one. He intercepted quarterback Dak Prescott and promptly returned it for a touchdown. Here’ Jenkins’ electrifying pick six.

The offense and the defense did their part in the Jaguars OT win

The defense couldn’t stop the Cowboys’ offense in the first half. They had no answer for the tandem of Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard on the ground but they tightened things up in the second half. The front seven also deserves credit for rattling Dak Prescott. Similarly, Rayshawn Jenkins’ two interceptions were big.

On offense, both Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne deserve praise as well. Even though they both made mistakes, they didn’t dwell too much on them and instead made plays that helped the Jaguars beat the Cowboys. Lawrence went 27-of-42 yards with 318 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Etienne toted the rock 19 times for 103 yards.

Zay Jones was the Jags’ leading receiver with six catches for 109 yards with three touchdowns. Christian Kirk finished second with six receptions for 92 yards.

All in all, this win shows that this Jaguars team isn’t just going to fold when things get tough. Instead, they’ll fight back and find a way to win. This win marks the second time that they managed to win six games in a season since 2019. Also, it shows that they have a realistic shot to qualify for the playoffs after all.