LONDON — In a thrilling matchup at Wembley Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured a 32-16 comeback victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Tank Bigsby was a standout performer for the Jaguars, rushing for 118 yards and scoring two touchdowns, while Parker Washington electrified the crowd with a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Despite an early 10-0 deficit, the Jaguars (2-5) rallied in the second half, with rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. catching a touchdown pass. This marked a challenging moment for the Patriots, as their rookie quarterback Drake Maye, in his second start, was only able to lead one scoring drive in the fourth quarter. The Patriots now find themselves on a six-game losing streak, with a record of 1-6.
Bigsby found the end zone with a 4-yard run right after the Patriots’ failed to convert on fourth down with just under two minutes left in the game. This win not only showcased the Jaguars’ ability to fight back but also alleviated some pressure from head coach Doug Pederson.
After stumbling early, the Jaguars managed to score on four consecutive possessions. Thomas caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on a vital third-and-goal situation, getting Jacksonville on the scoreboard. He later set up a 58-yard pass that advanced the Jaguars to the New England 21-yard line, leading to Bigsby’s 1-yard touchdown plunge that put Jacksonville ahead 14-10.
Washington’s impressive 96-yard punt return for a touchdown extended the lead to 22-10, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence connecting with Thomas for a successful 2-point conversion following an offside penalty on New England during the extra point attempt. Lawrence completed 15 of his 20 passes, accumulating 193 yards alongside a touchdown, while Thomas recorded five catches for 89 yards.
However, the Jaguars found it challenging to widen their lead in the second half. They reached New England’s 3-yard line but could only manage a field goal, pushing their lead to 25-10, after Christian Kirk could not get both feet in bounds in the end zone on a third down attempt. Later on, Jacksonville’s 17-play drive was thwarted when Bigsby was stopped at the line of scrimmage on a crucial fourth-and-1 from the 6-yard line.
Maye responded by finding K.J. Osborn for a 22-yard touchdown pass less than three minutes later, which reduced the Jaguars’ lead to 25-16, though the Patriots failed on their 2-point conversion attempt after a dropped interception by Andre Cisco.
In a remarkable first for the Patriots this season, they scored on their opening drive when JaMycal Hasty caught a 16-yard touchdown pass, evading two defenders to make it into the end zone. Maye finished the game with impressive stats, completing 26 of 37 passes for 276 yards, achieving two touchdowns without throwing any interceptions.
In the stands, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez donned an England jersey featuring star striker Harry Kane, who is not only a celebrated footballer but also a passionate supporter of the Patriots. Kane previously attended the Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl victory in 2019. Additionally, U.S. national team goalkeeper Matt Turner was also seen in the Wembley crowd.
In the injury department, the Patriots faced some setbacks with wide receiver DeMario Douglas briefly leaving the game due to illness. Running back Antonio Gibson went down after a reception, and offensive lineman Layden Robinson limped off with an ankle injury. Rookie receiver Javon Baker was also inactive after missing practice due to an illness.
On the Jaguars’ side, lineman Cam Robinson was ruled out in the second quarter due to a concussion, and running back Travis Etienne did not participate due to a hamstring issue.
Looking ahead, the Patriots are set to face the New York Jets next Sunday, while the Jaguars will prepare to host the Green Bay Packers.