The physical style of the game proved once again that the Jaguars can go toe-to-toe with the best in the NFL , and come out on top . The end-ofgame skirmishes on the field ? That is part of the deal when you punch the bully of the NFC over the last five years in the mouth nearly all game . The “ Victory Formation ” against them does not sit well with that group .
Give the Jaguars credit , they did not back down from a team that has intimidated opponents and won a lot of football games over the years , especially in games late in the season .
The win added to a laundry list of winning teams that the Jaguars have taken down this year , including the Baltimore Ravens ( 7-6 ), Pittsburgh Steelers ( 11-2 ), Los Angeles Chargers ( 7-6 ) and Seattle Seahawks ( 8-5 ).
The offense got back to basics in the win over Seattle , starting with the offensive line . With left guard Patrick Omameh back in the lineup , the original starting five on the front were back on the field together for the first time since Week 4 at the New York Jets .
They paved the way for 156 rushing yards , including 101 yards on 24 carries from rookie running back Leonard Fournette . Chris Ivory added 48 yards on six punishing carries .
Then there was the play of the fourth-year quarterback …
Blake Bortles finished 18 of 27 passing for 268 yards and two touchdowns . When the game was in doubt at 10-10 in the third quarter , Bortles completed arguably the most important pass of his career , a 75-yard deep ball to wide receiver Keelan Cole for a touchdown .
What a moment , in a season that continues to stack up moments for Bortles .
Defensively , the Jaguars are the best all-around unit in the NFL .
They lead the league in a number of categories , including points allowed per game , yards per play , passing yards , takeaways and sacks . They rank second in overall defense , interceptions and first downs per game , and rank fourth in thirddown conversions . The run defense improved after the bye week acquisition of Marcell Dareus from 32nd in the league to the current ranking of 22nd .
The Jags intercepted Wilson three times last week , with one from Jalen Ramsey and two more from A . J . Bouye . Bouye increased his interception total to six , tied for the league ’ s best in 2017 . Ramsey ’ s total is four , not far off
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