By Hays Carlyon
I am so happy for Trevor Lawrence.
I am so happy for all of you Jaguars fans.
After a brutal season, the finale gave us the one thing we craved: Lawrence looking like a superstar, leading the team to a huge victory.
The Jaguars knocked Indianapolis out of the playoffs with an improbable 26-11 victory at TIAA Bank Field on Sunday. Despite the win, the Jaguars (3-14) still held onto the No. 1 pick in the draft with Detroit beating Green Bay. The Colts season ended in clownish fashion at 9-8.
Lawrence was sharp from the outset. The rookie started the game completing 15 of 16 passes for 164 yards with a touchdown.
However, it was his second touchdown pass of the game that fans will be reliving for all offseason. Heck, maybe for decades if Lawrence is an elite franchise quarterback.
The Jaguars faced third-and-goal from the Colts 3. Lawrence lined up in shotgun and center Tyler Shatley’s snap was high. Lawrence got his right hand on it, knocking the ball up in the air. He then turned his back to the defense to secure the ball.
Colts safety Khari Willis had a shot at Lawrence off the edge, but the former Clemson phenom ran right escaping the sack. Lawrence retreated all the way to the 20 before throwing a perfectly placed pass to receiver Marvin Jones in the back of the end zone. The ball travelled 29 yards in the air and was lofted to the precise spot for Jones to jump up and make a comfortable catch.
The touchdown gave the Jaguars a 23-3 lead with 3:08 to play in the third quarter.
The play still gives me goosebumps because it represents the greatness we all hoped the Jaguars had gained by drafting Lawrence with the first-overall pick.
Even true believers had to have their confidence shaken a bit by Lawrence’s first 16 games: 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The environment around him in terms of coaching instability and a general lack of talent around him excused much of it, but you still had to wonder.
Sunday’s performance was the clearest indication that Lawrence will be ready to blossom into a great player next season. The supporting cast will be better because the bar is so low. The head coach will be an upgrade after the Urban Meyer debacle. Hopefully, there’s an upgrade at general manager too but I won’t spoil our afterglow to get into that.
The drops were still a factor on Sunday and a big reason Lawrence finished the game 23 of 32 for 223 yards. His passer rating of 111.8 was by far a season-best, eclipsing his mark of 96.5 against Cincinnati.
I’m thrilled Lawrence got to end his miserable rookie campaign with this high note. He was the ultimate pro through a remarkably challenging season.
This looked like a star-making performance.
That’s at least what I will take into the offseason with a smile on my face: a belief that better days are ahead.
Because we have Trevor.
(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon).
