No. 12: Jacksonville Jaguars win 19-7 over Cleveland Browns

Make sure you subscribe to our Keep Choppin’ Wood newsletter! We’ll be talking all things about this team as well as Q&A’s with readers, editorials, opinions, stuff you won’t see on the homepage, and more!

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. 12? A truly terrible win in a truly terrible game against a truly terrible Cleveland Browns team.

Week 11 — November 19, 2017

Could the Jaguars dominate the Browns like they should?

Yes. Well, sort of.

It did not take long for the Jaguars defense to flex their muscles. The first Browns drive was ended by a Mailk Jackson sack and the second Browns drive began with DeShone Kizer throwing an interception to Telvin Smith.

The Jaguars took advantage of the turnover, scoring a touchdown on the short drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to Marcedes Lewis. Josh Lambo made the extra point, giving the Jaguars their first lead of the day at 7-0.

And then a surprise onside kick? Ruled back because Donald Payne was offsides on the kickoff? Our Jaguars!

After forcing another three and out on defense, the Jaguars were able to get into Browns territory once again, this time lead by a 29-yard run by Leonard Fournette. The drive was stalled though, forcing a 38-yard field goal attempt from Lambo, which he made. This extended the Jaguars lead to 10-0.

The Browns responded however, driving down the field in a rather easy matter, with Duke Johnson catching a 28-yard touchdown pass on a miscommunication by the Jaguars defense. Zane Gonzalez notched the extra point, cutting the Jaguars lead to 10-7.

With under five minutes to go in the second quarter, the Jaguars got decent field position at their own 40-yard line, looking to add some more points on the board. The drive was not ideal for them, as a combination of mistakes cost them points. Dede Westbrook dropped a pass inside the red zone, as well as fumbling it on the sideline on another play. T.J. Yeldon fumbled as well, with Chris Reed also getting called for a holding penalty on the drive.

All of this set the Jaguars up for a tough 41-yard field goal in this weather, which Lambo missed.

The second half was a blur of terrible football. The Browns muffed a punt, followed by Bortles fumbling the ball. Both teams trading punts, with neither offense able to get anything going.

With a little over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars defense made a much-needed big play, as A.J Bouye picked off DeShone Kizer. The play was reviewed, but upheld, as the Jaguars finally got a break.

With good field position, the Jaguars hoped to put the game away with a touchdown drive, but were held short, settling for a 39-yard Lambo field goal. With a 13-7 lead, this forced the Browns to come up with a touchdown to take the lead.

In an attempt to take the lead with a touchdown, the Browns got into Jaguars territory, but were stifled by the Jaguars defense once again. Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue combined for a sack fumble, which was recovered by Dante Fowler, who looked to have a scoop and score for a touchdown. Instead, the whistle was blown dead, with the officials ruling that Kizer was down. The play was reviewed, and the Jaguars were granted the ball.

The Jaguars went three and out the following drive, as the Browns used all their timeouts to keep time on the clock for their last ditch effort.

That last ditch effort was ruined quickly, with Yannick Ngakoue coming up huge again late in the game with a strip sack of Kizer. The ball tumbled back, was knocked into the end zone by a Browns player, and ultimately recovered by Telvin Smith.

Go Jaguars.

Why the ranking at No. 12?

This game gave me more false hope than any other in the decade, which makes it very Jaguars. Also, Blake looking a lot better in the box score because of yards after the catch than he actually was is also very Jaguars.

Up tomorrow?

Winning against the Miami Dolphins back in 2018. Cody Kessler starts. Blake Bortles comes in in relief. “I’m back, boys.” Awful.