NFL 2024 London games: Jacksonville Jaguars beat New England Patriots in front of record crowd at Wembley Stadium

The Jacksonville Jaguars may have temporarily eased the pressure on head coach Doug Pederson after they came from behind to storm to a 32-16 victory over the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium.

Parker Washington produced the longest punt return in Jaguars history and the longest touchdown in NFL London games history as he ran back a 96-yard return to give the Jaguars a 22-10 lead at the break.

Brian Thomas Jr continued his impressive rookie campaign with five catches for 89 yards and a touchdown while Tank Bigsby produced 26 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the absence of the injured Travis Etienne.

Victory marked just the Jaguars’ third win in 13 games dating back to last season as they swerved successive defeats following last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears to improve to 2-5 on the year ahead of a tough run of fixtures.

Wembley, meanwhile, played host to an all-time record crowd for an NFL London game with an official attendance of 86,651 as the league’s annual trip to the UK came to a close.

Trevor Lawrence finished 15 of 20 for 193 yards and a touchdown, while Patriots rookie Drake Maye went 26 of 37 for 276 yards and two scores in his second start since taking over from Jacoby Brissett.

Jacksonville had offered the Patriots a potential route back into the game when their decision to go for it on fourth-and-one at the six-yard line in the fourth quarter backfired as Bigsby was stuffed to bring up a turnover on downs at the end of a 17-play drive lasting over 11 minutes.

The Patriots subsequently cut the lead to 25-16 with eight minutes to play when Maye tossed a 22-yard touchdown strike to KJ Osborn to cap a nine-play 94-yard drive that had included throws of 32 yards to Hunter Henry and a beautiful back-shoulder fade to Kayshon Boutte for a gain of 33.

The possession had almost been derailed a play earlier when diving Jags safety Andre Cisco was unable to complete the interception after getting both hands on a wayward throw from Maye at the goalline.

Travon Walker then saw to blowing up a late Patriots drive when he sacked Maye for a loss of 14 yards before the Jags forced a turnover on downs, paving the way for Bigsby to ice the game with a four-yard rushing score inside the final two minutes.

Stats leaders

New England Patriots

• Passing: Drake Maye, 26/37, 276 yards, 2 TDs
• Rushing: Drake Maye, 3 carries, 18 yards
• Receiving: Hunter Henry, 8 catches, 92 yards

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Passing: Trevor Lawrence, 15/20, 193 yards, 1 TD
• Rushing: Tank Bigsby, 26 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs
• Receiving: Brian Thomas Jr, 5 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD

The Patriots struck first to threaten more Jacksonville misery when JaMycal Hasty scored a 16-yard touchdown catch-and-run to cap an 11-play opening drive and punish the latest example of poor Jags tackle. Joey Slye’s 41-yard field goal then made it a 10-point advantage after Maye had been inches from connecting with Kendrick Bourne on third-and-seven that would have left the Patriots wideout in position to scurry for the end zone.

But back came the Jags as Lawrence fizzed a 24-yard strike to Christian Kirk on a deep over route, moving the chains on a drive that would end in a six-yard touchdown catch from the outstanding Thomas Jr.

A momentum swing was confirmed when Lawrence launched deep in the direction of his rookie receiver, Thomas Jr beating Christian Gonzalez in one-on-one coverage to haul in a stunning 58-yard catch that would flip the field.

The Jaguars finished the drive in style four plays later when Tank Bigsby punched in a one-yard touchdown run to put the hosts on top.

Cisco blunted New England’s ensuing drive with a thumping pass break-up on Ja’Lynn Polk at the sideline on third down, paving the way for Washington’s electric punt return touchdown and Thomas Jr’s two-point conversion catch to mark 22 unanswered points.

What becomes of Pederson in Jacksonville remains to be seen in light of the team’s disappointing start to the campaign. a win in London, however, no doubt lifting spirits significantly as the Jaguars return to Florida following their extended stay in the capital.

Scoring summary

What’s next?

Week Eight will see the Jaguars return to EverBank Stadium as they host Jordan Love’s Green Bay Packers, while the Patriots are back at home in an all-AFC East match-up against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

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