Monday 11 December 2017 06:08, UK
The Jacksonville Jaguars took sole possession of the AFC South with a hard-fought 30-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Blake Bortles threw two touchdown passes, while the much-celebrated Jaguars (9-4) defense intercepted three passes by Russell Wilson. The victory, coupled with the Tennessee Titans' loss to the Arizona Cardinals, moves Jacksonville one game ahead of their rivals in the South.
The loss did not sit well with the Seahawks (8-5), who had two players ejected in the final minute. Sheldon Richardson was ejected for throwing a punch, while Quinton Jefferson tried to climb into the stands in an ugly confrontation with a fan after himself being tossed from the game after another melee between the two teams.
A cagey first half ended with Jacksonville leading by a lone Josh Lambo field goal, while Wilson's early mistakes left Seattle in a deeper hole, as Bortles floated an 18-yard TD to rookie Dede Westbrook early in the third quarter after Wilson's second pick.
That sparked a sudden scoring frenzy, with the Seahawks quickly tying things up at 10-10 as Wilson connected with Doug Baldwin for a 26-yard score soon after the Jaguars fumbled the kick-off following a Seattle field goal.
But, Bortles' second TD, a deep 75-yard connection with Keelen Cole, and a one-yard Leonard Fournette TD run - after a 72-yard Jaydon Mickens punt return - helped the Jaguars into a two-score lead by the end of the third quarter.
While Wilson threw a third pick, the game proved far from over as, soon after, the Seattle QB hit Paul Richardson for a 61-yard score and Tyler Lockett for a 74-yarder to suddenly bring the Seahawks back into the contest.
But, two further Josh Lambo field goals for Jacksonville in the fourth quarter helped the home side just about keep Seattle out of reach and ensure a sixth win in their last seven games.
As well as the late ejections of Richardson and Jefferson, Seattle, more worryingly, lost influential linebacker Bobby Wagner with a hamstring injury earlier in the third quarter. He did not return.
Elsewhere, in the other late games in the NFL....
Eagles 43-35 Rams
Carson Wentz passed for four touchdowns before being injured and leaving the game late as the Eagles (11-2) earned a crucial win over the Rams (9-4) to clinch the NFC East title.
Wentz did not play after suffering a knee injury in the third quarter. Nick Foles replaced him and got the Eagles in position for Jake Elliott's go-ahead field goal.
Titans 7-12 Cardinals
Arizona's Phil Dawson kicked four field goals and Tennessee's Marcus Mariota was intercepted twice in the Cardinals' victory.
Arizona (6-7) got two field goals from Dawson in the fourth quarter, the last after Mariota's second interception, as the Titans (8-5) had their two-game winning streak snapped, seeing them slip into second spot in the AFC South.
Redskins 13-30 Chargers
A win by the Chargers (7-6) over the Redskins (5-8) set up a battle for first place in the AFC West next week when they face the Kansas City Chiefs. The teams are currently tied for first.
The Chargers have won seven of their last nine games after starting the season 0-4.
Jets 0-23 Broncos
The Broncos (4-9) snapped their longest losing streak (nine games) since joining the NFL in 1970 with a 23-0 shutout of the Jets (5-8), thanks to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas' big game.
Trevor Siemian threw for 200 yards and his favorite target was Thomas, who caught eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.