JACKSONVILLE - Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdowns and the Jaguars’ defense forced three turnovers Sunday, routing the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots 35-6 at EverBank Stadium to improve to 2-1 on the season.
The victory was Jacksonville’s 10th in its last 11 regular-season games and its sixth consecutive regular-season home win - a sharp rebound after a 20-13 loss at Denver the previous week. The Jaguars maintained their early lead in the AFC South standings.
Lawrence completed 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His second touchdown pass of the game - a 10-yarder to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the second quarter - moved him past Blake Bortles into second place on the franchise’s career touchdown passing list with 104. Lawrence’s first score went to wide receiver Josh Cameron on a 12-yard reception, and his third went to wide receiver Parker Washington on a 17-yard grab late in the third quarter despite pass interference on the play.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye struggled throughout, completing 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble. A second-quarter fumble by Maye, recovered by tackle DaVon Hamilton, directly set up Cameron’s touchdown reception and gave Jacksonville a 7-0 lead it never relinquished.
Cornerback Travis Hunter recorded his first career interception - an end-zone pick off Maye - to preserve a 14-3 halftime lead with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter. Cornerback Jarrian Jones added a 32-yard interception return on the first play of the fourth-quarter sequence, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Chris Rodriguez that pushed the lead to 28-3. Running back Bhayshul Tuten capped the scoring with a 1-yard run for the final margin of 35-6.
The Jaguars’ defense registered three sacks: a team sack on Maye’s fumble, a second-quarter sack by defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, and a shared third-quarter sack by rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. and Hamilton. Kicker Andy Borregales connected on field goals of 35 and 40 yards for New England’s only scoring.
Quinn Ewers, acquired by Jacksonville via trade shortly before the season, was active for the first time this year and served as Lawrence’s backup. Ewers had been inactive for each of the first two games, with the Jaguars elevating Nick Mullens from the practice squad in those contests. The Jaguars host their next game at EverBank Stadium as they look to build on their AFC South position heading into Week 4.