JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 30-29 overtime victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in a 2025 Week 9 game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., Sunday.

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

Take it how you get it. It may be truthfully said that this Jaguars victory wasn’t always pretty – and that good fortune was involved. It’s just as true that you win how you win in the NFL – and that this victory was as important as any for the Jaguars yet this season. Not only did the victory snap a two-game losing streak, it pulled the Jaguars (5-3) to within a game and a half of first place in the AFC South – with the division-leading Indianapolis Colts (7-2) losing, 27-20, to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. And as ugly as Sunday looked for a while, the Jaguars remain in second place in position to push for the postseason at what is essentially the season’s midway point. No, the Jaguars did not look great for a lot of Sunday – particularly in the first half offensively and second half defensively. And many of the same “fixable and avoidable” errors that plagued them in recent weeks must still be fixed and avoided in a road game against the division rival Houston Texans Sunday. That’s a conversation for Monday. On Sunday, the Jaguars found a way to win – and in professional football, that matters above all else. You take victories how you get them in the NFL and getting one Sunday made what at times was an ugly game ultimately quite beautiful.
This was about guts. You don’t contend in the NFL without willing your way to a few victories, and make no mistake: Sunday for the Jaguars was about guts, will and desire. Not only did quarterback Trevor Lawrence play through illness, and not only was this the first game after Friday’s announcement that rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, the Jaguars sustained a slew of injuries Sunday. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis missed most of the game with a shoulder injury, and the second half featured injuries to wide receiver Dyami Brown (concussion), wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) and guard Ezra Cleveland (knee/ankle) among others. That left the Jaguars with a depleted receiving corps late in the fourth quarter and overtime, with reserve receiver Austin Trammell turning in a key kickoff return and reserve receiver Tim Jones turning a key late reception. “It was just guys stepping up,” Lawrence said. “That’s what was really cool about today. It wasn’t exactly what you thought it would be going into the game. Guys go down and guys have to step up and make plays.” This was a gutsy victory – and on that front, an impressive one.