If the Jaguars are the team that played in the second half Sunday in Denver, they'll be a tough group to deal with. Leonard Fournette set a personal best with 225 yards rushing and Gardner Minshew threw two touchdown passes as the Jaguars overcame a two-touchdown first-half deficit to beat the Broncos 26-24 Sunday.
The Jaguars trailed 17-3 before their first big play of the game. Ronnie Harrison stepped in front of a Joe Flacco pass. The Jaguars converted the turnover into a field goal to draw to within 17-6 at halftime.
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The Jaguars owned the third quarter. Jacksonville ran 19 plays in the quarter compared to just six by the Broncos. The second-half opening drive lasted 16 plays and 10:24 on the clock, the fifth-longest in franchise history. The drive was capped by a Minshew to rookie running back Ryquell Armstead. After forcing a three-and-out, the Jaguars took over at their own seven-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage on the drive, Fournette went 81 yards to set up a Minshew to James O'Shaughnessy 18-yard touchdown pass, giving the Jaguars the lead for the first time in the game, 20-17.
THE MINSHEW MAGIC IS REAL.
— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2019
He avoids the sack multiple times and throws for the TD! @GardnerMinshew5 #JAXvsDEN #DUUUVAL
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The fourth quarter saw more of the same from the Jaguars running game and Minshew's playmaking. Fournette and Armstead combined for 247 total rushing yards in the game, the second-best performance in Jaguars history. But with 2:54 remaining, the Jaguars settle for a field goal to add to the lead, 23-17. That was more than enough time for Joe Flacco to cut through the Jaguars' defensive backfield on a drive that took just 1:22 and resulted in a touchdown pass to Cortland Sutton that gave the Broncos a 24-23 lead.
Minshew continued his magical rookie season, completing 19 of 33 passes for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the Jaguars needed a Josh Lambo 33 yard field goal as time expired to earn the victory.
The Jaguars struggled with pass protection much of the game. The Broncos came into the game without a sack on the season. Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and company totaled five sacks on the game.
