If you didn’t set your alarm clock this morning, you may have missed the most exciting finish of the NFL season so far.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost 19-17 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London after a fourth quarter filled with twists worthy of an M. Night Shyamalan movie.
The first three quarters were already filled with theatrics: three fourth-down stops, multiple fumbles and an interception. Philadelphia ultimately took a 14-10 lead into the final 15 minutes.
On the third drive of the fourth quarter, Jacksonville looked poised to take the lead, driving all the way to the 1-yard line. Then chaos ensued.
The Jaguars committed three penalties instead of punching the ball in from three feet out and ended up facing fourth-and-goal from the 5. They couldn’t convert — the second time in the game the Jaguars turned the ball over on downs in a goal-to-go situation.
Jacksonville’s defense quickly forced a three-and-out. On the Jags’ next possession, the offense was once again faced fourth down, and this time Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Washington made the play of the game with a slick, one-handed grab to give Jacksonville the lead. But the Jaguars, playing without their starting long snapper because of injury, missed the extra point after a high snap spoiled the kick.
The Eagles went backwards on their next possession and punted, giving Jacksonville the ball at the two-minute warning. The Jaguars went three-and-out, however, and thanks to an incomplete pass, Philadelphia still had a timeout remaining.
Jalen Hurts then led a nine-play, 32-yard drive that ended with a 48-yard field goal from Jake Elliott. Philadelphia led 17-16 with just eight seconds to go.
Keen NFL fans will remember a similar situation from Week 4, when the Dallas Cowboys tied the Baltimore Ravens at 31 with seven seconds left. Dallas kicked the ensuing kickoff out of the end zone, which allowed the Ravens to run one play and get into field-goal range for the game-winning kick.
The Eagles, likely aware of that exact scenario and knowing Jacksonville had no timeouts, decided to keep the ball in play.
But Ameer Abdullah returned the kickoff 53 yards to Philadelphia’s 39-yard line and was tackled with one second left on the clock. That set up a 57-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game, and kicker Cam Little, after another high snap, drilled the game winner.
It was an absolutely shocking loss for Philadelphia, which had a 99.9% win probability after the go-ahead field goal, according to ESPN Analytics. The Eagles — already dealing with injuries and the sudden retirement of star tackle Lane Johnson — have now lost back-to-back games in which they led during the final two minutes.
Philadelphia fell to 2-3 with the loss. Jacksonville, meanwhile, improved to 4-1.