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The Jacksonville Jaguars are AFC South champions for the first time in five years, a title secured when Josh Allen returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. This helped them seal a 20-16 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night.
Rayshawn Jenkins forced Josh Dobbs’ fumble. Allen then scooped up the ball and ran, untouched, the other way for a lead that held up against the Titans in a win-and-in game in the regular-season finale for both.
Dobbs fumbled again on the ensuing possession, and the Jaguars (9-8) started to celebrate their most significant regular-season victory in franchise history.
"This was one of those games where our defense had to win it for us," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "Us guys on offense, we’re a little frustrated because we left a lot out there, But in these games, just win. Our defense picked us up today. They played great."
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Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) returns a fumble for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville earned the No. 4 seed in the conference playoffs and will host either the Los Angeles Chargers or Baltimore in the wild-card round next weekend.
It’s the 18th time in the last 20 seasons that at least one NFL team won its division after finishing last or tied for last the previous year.
Jacksonville closed the regular season with its fifth consecutive victory and became the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a five-game losing streak and a five-game winning streak in the same season.
"We just kept believing," Lawrence said. "Nobody ever lost faith. Everybody believed in one another. We never started pointing the finger. We lost five games straight and we just got tighter."
Tennessee (7-10) lost its final seven games, a skid that had just about everyone writing them off before Saturday’s finale.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) celebrate their hit that forced a fumble and their return for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raou)
JAGUARS, TITANS COME TOGETHER FOR GROUP PRAYER FOR DAMAR HAMLIN AT MIDFIELD BEFORE DO-OR-DIE GAME
The Titans rested several starters last week and essentially created a 10-day break to get healthy. They returned to their bruising brand of football and looked like they would pull an improbable turnaround — until Dobbs’ turnover changed the game.
The Jaguars were 6 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and a near-sellout crowd was on hand to witness what many thought would be more of a coronation than a scratch-and-claw nail-biter.
The Titans didn’t do anything spectacular. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill (ankle) out for the season, they leaned on Dobbs — an aerospace engineer who has bounced around the league — to be smart with the ball and Derrick Henry to grind out tough yards. And they relied on a defense that’s been stout against the run all year.
It worked for 37 minutes — and then it unraveled.
Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates with Christian Kirk #13 of the Jacksonville Jaguars after Kirk's receiving touchdown during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field on January 07, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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Henry finished with 109 yards on 30 carries. Dobbs completed 20 of 29 passes for 179 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and the fumble.
Lawrence completed 20 of 32 passes for 212 yards, with a touchdown and a fumble. Lawrence had two would-be touchdowns in the second half fall incomplete. He overthrew Zay Jones in the end zone and underthrew Christian Kirk.
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