When the final whistle blew at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday, November 24, 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t just win—they survived. Trailing by three with under two minutes left, down two key cornerbacks, and nursing four turnovers from their own quarterback, the Jaguars clawed their way into overtime and walked out with a 27-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t clean. But it was classic NFL chaos—and the kind of win that can change a season.
Lawrence’s High-Wire Act
Trevor Lawrence didn’t just play quarterback—he played gambler. Three touchdown passes. Four turnovers. A fumble on the goal line. An interception in the red zone. And yet, when the clock hit zero in overtime, he was the one holding the ball after the game-winning drive. "You got to be able to overcome it and keep playing," Lawrence said in his post-game interview. "The other 10 guys out there with me... they had my back." The defining moment came on third-and-8 in overtime. With the Jaguars facing a must-score situation, Lawrence rolled right, saw Parker breaking free on a sail route, and launched a 22-yard dart into the end zone. It wasn’t perfect. The ball wobbled. But Parker, a rookie wideout with ice in his veins, adjusted mid-air and came down with it. "He has the big sail route and then the keeper at the end," said Head Coach Liam Coen. "It’s just his presence... the look in his eye that gives our offense a spark."Defense That Refused to Break
The real story, though, wasn’t on offense. It was on the other side of the ball. The Jaguars were missing their three best secondary players: safety Eric Murray, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and rookie phenom Travis Hunter. Yet, when the Cardinals had the ball in overtime, down by three, with a chance to win it all, the defense held. On third-and-5, Cardinals quarterback Jayden Daniels dropped back, looking for Ryan on a crossing route. Dewey McDonald, the backup safety, slipped into the zone. Christian Matthew, the nickel corner, overlapped from the outside. The ball sailed high. McDonald leapt, tipped it. Matthew caught it. Turnover. Game over. "I’m like, ‘Get him. Get him,’" Coen recalled. "Ball was up in the air. Dwey did a nice job of overlapping to help Christian. Um, and we get the ball down. So, uh, made a stop, made a play when we needed it at the end."
Tactical Mastery in the Red Zone
The Cardinals’ offense, led by Ryan—a 34-year-old veteran who caught 11 passes for 142 yards—wasn’t supposed to be contained. But Coen’s defensive game plan was surgical. "We played vision zone, sticky zone, rerouted him within five yards," Coen explained. "We doubled him on third downs. Got a lot of respect for that guy." One play stood out: a red zone opportunity in the third quarter. Jacoby Jones, Jacksonville’s tight end, was wide open in the back corner of the end zone. Lawrence saw him. Threw it. But Jones dropped it. The Cardinals took over—and scored a touchdown on the next drive. "Issues, especially the one down in the red zone cuz Jacob’s wide open for a touchdown," Coen said, shaking his head. "But then he turns around and makes a huge throw to Parker to start off overtime."Resilience Over Perfection
This wasn’t a statement win. It was a survival win. The Jaguars, now 6-5-1, are clinging to playoff hopes. Their offense, ranked 28th in the league entering the game, turned the ball over four times—yet still scored 27 points. Their defense, missing three starters, held Arizona to 3-of-12 on third down and forced a turnover in overtime. "Nobody flinched," Coen said. "That’s the thing. We’ve been through so much this year. Injuries. Close losses. People writing us off. But this team? They believe." Lawrence echoed it: "We ran the ball well on the perimeter. Receivers made critical plays on third down all day." The Jaguars now head into their final four games with a pulse. Their next test? A road game against the Tennessee Titans—a team they beat in Week 5, but one that’s now surging. The AFC South is a mess. One win can turn into three. Three wins can turn into a playoff berth.
What’s Next?
The Jaguars’ schedule doesn’t get easier. After Tennessee, they face the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts—both playoff contenders. But if this team can keep playing like it did in Glendale, with grit, guts, and zero panic, they might just make noise. For now, the message from the locker room is clear: it’s not about how clean you play. It’s about who’s left standing when the clock hits zero.Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Jaguars win despite four turnovers?
The Jaguars’ defense stepped up with three critical stops in the red zone and forced a game-sealing turnover in overtime. Despite Trevor Lawrence’s four turnovers, the offense capitalized on every scoring chance, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Parker in overtime. The defense held Arizona to just 3-of-12 on third down and limited their scoring efficiency despite Ryan’s 11 catches.
Who were the key defensive players in overtime?
Backup safety Dewey McDonald and cornerback Christian Matthew made the decisive play. McDonald tipped a pass intended for Arizona’s Ryan, and Matthew intercepted it. With Murray, Lewis, and Hunter sidelined, their ability to communicate and execute under pressure was the difference-maker.
Why was Parker’s touchdown so critical?
Parker’s 22-yard catch in overtime was the first score of the extra period and directly led to the game-winning field goal. It was a high-risk, high-reward play—Lawrence threw it early on a cover-zero look, trusting Parker’s route. The rookie, who had just two career touchdowns before this game, became the unlikely hero, proving his value in clutch moments.
How did Coach Coen adjust his defensive strategy?
Coen shifted to a combination of vision zone and sticky zone coverage, especially against Ryan, rerouting him within five yards and doubling him on third downs. He also mixed in blitz packages disguised as coverage, which confused Jayden Daniels. The result: only one touchdown allowed in the second half, despite Arizona’s 427 total yards.
What’s the impact of losing Murray, Lewis, and Hunter?
Losing those three—arguably the Jaguars’ top three secondary players—left the defense vulnerable, especially against quick-slant routes. But the win proved depth matters. McDonald and Matthew, previously backups, delivered under pressure. It also raises concerns for the rest of the season, as the secondary has now lost four key players to injury in the past six games.
Does this win improve the Jaguars’ playoff chances?
Yes. At 6-5-1, the Jaguars are now tied for third in the AFC South and just one game behind the Tennessee Titans. With three of their final four games against division rivals, this win provides momentum and confidence. If they win out, they’ll likely clinch a wild-card spot—even with their offensive inconsistencies.
