After a ho-hum first half that will be remembered for a record-breaking field goal and little else, the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars exploded for 31 total points in the fourth quarter, leading to a thrilling 30-29 Jaguars victory in Las Vegas.
After the score was tied at 23 at the end of regulation, the Raiders matched a Jaguars touchdown in overtime but failed on the 2-point conversion in front of their home crowd.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, dealing with illness, finished 23-of-34 through the air for 220 yards and one interception and rushed for two touchdowns.
“Pale as a ghost throughout the whole game,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said of Lawrence. “A frustrating interception down at the goal line, but I’m proud of the way he responded, the way that he played, especially later on when the game was really on the line.”
Lawrence’s performance helped the Jaguars improve to 5-3 — second in the AFC South and the seventh seed in the AFC playoff picture.
“He competed his tail off,” Coen said. “Very proud of him.”
The Raiders, meanwhile, fall to 2-6, despite a 29-of-39 performance from quarterback Geno Smith that included four touchdown passes. Tight end Brock Bowers, returning for the first time in three games after a knee injury, caught three of those touchdowns and finished with 12 receptions and 127 yards on 13 targets.
“It couldn’t be more obvious what a great player that he is,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said.
“Great efficiency,” Carroll added. “His run-after-catch was excellent. His playmaking was excellent.”
Carroll called the game “really positive,” pointing to the fact the Raiders had the chance for a walk-off win had they completed the 2-point conversion in overtime.
The highlight of the game, however, was the NFL record 68-yard field goal kicked by Jacksonville’s Cam Little as the first half expired. It was the Jaguars’ first score of the game.
“How cool was that, guys?” Coen asked reporters. “That was what ignited us, I think.”