By Hays Carlyon
We will be talking about this performance for a long time.
Take a bow, Trevor Lawrence. You just made NFL history.
And, oh yeah, this partnership with coach Liam Coen is starting to flourish in a massive way.
The Jaguars quarterback turned in his best regular-season effort of his five-year career as the Jaguars took care of business with a 48-20 home win over the lowly New York Jets on Sunday. The Jaguars (10-4) were a 14-point favorite over the Jets (3-11) and remain in sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
The game was never in doubt. A great sign for a young team learning to win and learning how to play with an edge even against a struggling foe.
Lawrence led touchdown drives on the team’s first three possessions. The Jets simply had no answer for him.
The final numbers: Lawrence was 20 of 32 passing for 330 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions for a career-high passer rating of 136.7. The 26-year-old Lawrence also ran five times for 51 yards and touchdown.
If that sounds like rare air, it’s because it is.
What Lawrence accomplished Sunday was a first in NFL history. Lawrence became the first player to ever throw for five touchdowns, rush for another and gain over 50 yards rushing.
Lamar Jackson hasn’t done it.
Josh Allen hasn’t done it.
“I thought he was very accurate with the football,” Coen said. “Started hot, allowing these guys to be able to catch and run, especially over the middle of the field. The vertical throws I thought were very impressive. Six total touchdowns, scrambling, very proud of Trevor and his preparation, the way that he’s practiced, the way that he’s continued to lead our offense and do what we’re asking him to do at a high level. He’s playing at a high level right now.”
Lawrence’s finest play was an easy call, despite there being several prime exhibits.
Lawrence dazzled the crowd when he scrambled left, immediately had pressure and backed up 13 yards before throwing against his body for a 33-yard beautifully-placed pass to receiver Parker Washington. The ball travelled 47 yards in the air.
“That’s him being special,” Coen said. “That’s him being a football player and making a play.”
Lawrence shrugged at Coen after the completion. He pulled off a similar completion to Tim Patrick in last week’s win over Indianapolis.
“We had an issue in the protection where they had an extra guy and it was a good disguise by New York on that one,” Lawrence said. “They held it pretty late, brought cover zero, so I knew right away at the snap I was going to be hot, so just trying to create some time and let Parker get down the field. I knew that would be my answer, and it’s kind of similar to last week. Just kind of shrugging like I probably should have fixed that one, the protection, but we made a play again, so just playing ball.”
Stars make plays above the X’s and O’s. Lawrence certainly did that against the Jets.
Lawrence made sure to credit his offensive line, which did not allow a sack for the fifth time this season. That’s the second-most in the NFL, an impressive achievement considering the multitude of lineup changes because of injuries. Again, great coaching by Coen and his staff.
“We were protected so good up front,” Lawrence said. “You got a lot of time back there to distribute and let guys get open. Our group up front did a great job. Again, no sacks today. That just doesn’t happen often and we’ve done it a lot this year. Proud of those guys up front. They’ve been playing great.”
Three of Lawrence’s touchdown catches went to running back Travis Etienne. The two have been teammates for eight years, going back to their college days at Clemson which included a national championship.
Etienne made it clear. He’s never seen THIS version of Lawrence.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Trev like this,” Etienne said. “We won a national championship together and I feel like he’s just out there on fire. He rolled out again and he just kind of stopped and just, Parker’s down there somewhere, you know? He launched it and Parker made a great catch. I’m just grateful I’m on his team and the growth that I’ve seen from him is just unbelievable. It forces everybody else to step up their game as well.”
Since a turnover-filled, but victorious effort at Arizona a few weeks ago, Lawrence has elevated his play.
He’s now thrown for nine touchdowns with no picks in the last three games.
Sunday was MVP-level stuff from Lawrence in terms of statistical dominance.
I can’t wait to see how Lawrence continues this run next Sunday. The Jaguars take a five-game winning streak into Mile High Stadium against the AFC-leading Broncos (12-2) and one of the best defenses in the NFL.
I can’t wait to see how the Lawrence-Coen partnership continues to grow.
“The pre-snap operation has definitely settled for him,” Coen said. “That’s really helped and allowed them to just go play. Once the ball is snapped, go use his traits and his skill set. … We’re protecting at a high level. He trusts the group in front of him protecting and trusting the guys out in the perimeter to go make plays when the balls in the air.”
Bring on the Broncos.
(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on X/Twitter @HaysCarlyon).
