No. 22: Jacksonville Jaguars win 17-16 over Chicago Bears

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We’re counting down to the 2020 NFL preseason opener what would have been the Jacksonville Jaguars preseason opener by ranking all 51 regular season wins over the past decade.

Today at No. 22? The Jalen Ramsey breakout game against the Chicago Bears.

Week 6 — October 16, 2016

Things started off well for the Jaguars, as they forced a punt from the Bears on the first drive, then proceeded to drive down the field to the one yard line with an opportunity to get an early score. They then proceeded to go full on Jaguars, as the ran a failed fade attempt to Mercedes Lewis, followed by a false start, then a interception from Blake Bortles, which bounced off the hands of Allen Robinson into the hands of Tracy Porter.

The Bears capitalized off the turnover, turning it into a 36-yard field goal by Connor Barth to take a 3-0 lead.

The Jaguars looked lackadaisical coming off of the interception, and followed the Bears possession with a three-and-out. The Bears then proceeded to drive the ball down the field on the next drive, converting four straight third downs on the way to a score. The Bears capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Jordan Howard, giving the Bears a 10-0 lead.

After the half, the Jaguars got the ball back looking to finally score, and lets just say it didn’t go that way. They then proceeded to go three and out three consecutive drives, continuing their trend of looking lackadaisical as they game went on.

The Bears finally broke the third quarter offensive disaster by both teams, driving down the field with a 11-play, 74-yard drive in which they fell short in the red-zone, settling for a 24 yard field goal giving them 13-0 lead.

The Jaguars offense finally woke up on the following drive in which they drove down the field and scored a touchdown on the back of two 25-yard Allen Hurns catches. The drive was capped off by a one-yard Chris Ivory touchdown run, putting the Jaguars back in the game down 13-7.

The Bears were forced to punt on the next drive, and just when things were going the Jaguars’ way, Willie Young strip-sacked Blake Bortles, which gave the Bears the ball at the Jaguars’ 28-yard line. But the defense stepped up (again) and forced the Bears into another field goal and the score was 16-7.

In close to desperation mode, the Jaguars drove down the field on the ensuing possession. The Jaguars made it all the way to the 12-yard line, but were unable to convert on a third-and-six, in which Allen Hurns dropped a slant pass from Bortles. The Jaguars settled for a field goal form Jason Myers, cutting the lead to 16-10.

With the defense stepping up again and forcing a three and out, the Jaguars got the ball back hoping to drive down the field and take the lead.

On one weirdest plays of the season, Arrelious Benn caught a 51-yard pass in which he and Tracy Porter both slipped, but he was never touched, so he got up and sprinted in the end-zone to give Jacksonville a 17-16 lead.

With one last chance to win the game, the Bears attempted to drive down the field and get their kicker in field goal range. Forced into a fourth-and-10 with the game on the line, Brian Hoyer attempted to throw it to Alshon Jeffrey who was having a good game, but Jalen Ramsey was right there, as he deflected the pass, giving the Jaguars the ball on a turnover on downs.

With an incredibly smart play by Bortles to run around and force the play clock to run out, the Jaguars secured their second victory of the season.

Why the ranking at No. 22?

We’re getting into pretty Jaguars territory with this one — a low-scoring game, a defensive standout play to win it, and a fluke Arrelious Benn touchdown.

Up tomorrow?

That time Blaine Gabbert threw a game-winning pass to Cecil Shorts against the Indianapolis Colts.