Trevor Lawrence out-Patrick Mahomes’d Patrick Mahomes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off the home upset over the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 on Monday Night Football to close Week 5.
Kansas City opened to a 14-0 lead for most of the first half and appeared prime for a comfortable road victory to jump back over .500 following a rare 0-2 start under Mahomes. But this hasn’t been the Chiefs of years past recently, and Jacksonville capitalized.
Following a Kareem Hunt two-yard score with 1:45 on the clock, Lawrence led a game-winning drive that took seven plays and 60 yards, helped with some key defensive penalties against the Chiefs.
In the end, Lawrence sealed the win for Jacksonville on the most thrilling one-yard rush in some time.
Jacksonville is now 4-1 under first-year head coach Liam Coen, while Kansas City is back under .500 at 2-3. The 4-1 Detroit Lions are next on Sunday Night Football.
But before looking ahead, here are winners and losers from the Jaguars’ significant win:
WINNER: Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence has had a rollercoaster of a career in the NFL so far. Sometimes he shows flashes of his potential from his Clemson days, while other times he plays massively disappointing for someone on a $275 million deal.
But today he made his money’s worth, getting the job done through the air and on the ground when it mattered most.
Lawrence threw for 221 yards, one touchdown and a pick (including a lost fumble) on 18 of 25 completions while rushing for 54 yards on 10 carries and two scores. On the day of his 26th birthday, the Jaguars star provided some hope for the future as his team looks to be a playoff contender at 4-1 now.
LOSER: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Would the Mahomes from previous seasons allow this type of loss to transpire? While the star quarterback had solid numbers on the stat sheet — 29 of 41 completions, 318 yards and one touchdown through the air and 60 rushing yards and a score on six carries — the offense went cold in the third quarter when it needed a momentum swing.
But the key momentum swing went against Mahomes on the night. His lone pick came at the one-yard line as a touchdown stared within reach. Instead, that moment leads to the next section…
WINNER: Devin Lloyd, Jaguars
If the Jaguars can sustain a playoff push, there should be serious noise for Devin Lloyd being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
The 27-year-old linebacker was the reason behind Mahomes’ pick, stunningly returning it 99 yards for a touchdown late in the third.
That play changed the direction of the game as Jacksonville was facing a 21-14 deficit, only to flip the script in an instant.
Lloyd now has four picks on the season, two coming last time out against the San Francisco 49ers — a team that is yet to record a single pick this season.
LOSER: Harrison Butker, Chiefs
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker lately, a skid that has extended into this season. He didn’t attempt a field goal today and went 4-for-4 on extra points, but has a 10-for-13 field-goal rate and 7-for-9 on PATs.
However, a key moment didn’t involve any of that. On the kickoff following Hunt’s second touchdown, Butker’s kick didn’t hit the landing zone, allowing the Jaguars to start at their own 40.
Kickoffs — kicking in general — have been more important than ever with the new changes and every margin matters even more now. If the Chiefs prevented Jacksonville from starting so high up the field, maybe things would’ve ended differently.
WINNER: Travis Hunter, Jaguars
The No. 2 overall pick had some key moments as he looked to impress under the lights and against a major contender.
Travis Hunter continued to play both sides of the ball, recording two tackles and a pass defended as a cornerback while catching three passes on three targets for 64 yards as a wideout.
His game-high reception went for 44 yards in the early stages of the third quarter, exhibiting a big-time leap with two defenders lurking.
With Brian Thomas Jr. under more scrutiny in Jacksonville’s offense, Hunter’s ability to make highlight plays in the passing game will only elevate the franchise’s ceiling.
Travis Hunter Jr. is ready to play both ways during the Jaguars preseason opener vs. the Steelers. Here’s what to know about the two-way star.