Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 // Regular Season Week 8
MINSHEW MANIA CONTINUES: Rookie QB Gardner Minshew II completed 22 of 34 passes (64.7 comp. pct.) for 279 yards and three TDs for a passer rating of 119.6 in today’s victory over the Jets. Minshew is the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 13 TDs with two or fewer INTs through a player’s first eight career games played. Minshew joins Patrick Mahomes, Marcus Mariota and Marc Bulger as the only QBs in NFL history to post a passer rating of at least 95.0 through their first eight career games (min. 250 pass attempts). Minshew became the first Jaguars rookie to throw for at least three TDs in a single game in franchise history.
This season, Minshew has completed 161 of 260 passes (61.9 comp. pct.) for 1,976 yards, 13 TDs and two INTs for a passer rating of 98.8. Minshew’s 1,976 passing yards and 13 TDs are both the most through eight career games in franchise history. In the first quarter, Minshew evaded a sack and connected with WR Chris Conley on a 70-yard TD pass. The 70-yard play was the longest catch of Conley’s career and the longest pass of Minshew’s career.
EIGHT-SACK PERFORMANCE: The Jaguars defense totaled 8.0 sacks in today’s victory, including 2.0 from DE Josh Allen (one sack-fumble), 2.0 from DE Yannick Ngakoue, 1.5 from DL Calais Campbell, 1.0 from S Ronnie Harrison, 1.0 from DE Dawuane Smoot and a half-sack from DT Abry Jones. Today marked the fourth time since Head Coach Doug Marrone took over in 2017 that the Jaguars totaled at least 8.0 sacks in a single game, the most such games over that span. No other team in the NFL has posted at least 8.0 sacks on three occasions since 2017.
YANNICK NSACKOUE: Fourth-year DE Yannick Ngakoue posted 2.0 sacks in today’s victory over the Jets. Ngakoue has now posted 33.5 career sacks, the most through four seasons in franchise history. His 33.5 career sacks are the third-most in franchise history and he is now 1.0 sack shy of surpassing former DE Joel Smeenge (34.0) for the second-most in Jaguars annals. In three career games against the Jets, Ngakoue has posted 5.0 sacks. Ngakoue has registered eight career multi-sack games (at least 1.5 sacks) for the Jaguars, tied for the most in franchise history with former DL Tony Brackens.
JOSHIN’ AROUND: First-round rookie DE Josh Allen posted 2.0 sacks, including a sack-fumble, in today’s victory over the Jets. Allen has now posted 7.0 sacks this season, the most among rookies in the NFL this year. Allen joins Bradley Chubb (2018), Mark Anderson (2006) and Julius Peppers (2002) as the only players over the last 20 seasons to post at least 7.0 sacks through eight career games played. Allen’s 7.0 sacks are the most through eight career games in franchise history, and Allen has now posted a sack in four consecutive games, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history. Allen is the first Jaguars rookie since DE Yannick Ngakoue in 2016 to post at least 1.0 sack in four straight games. Allen has totaled 5.0 sacks in his last four games.
FOURNETTE FLOURISHES: Third-year RB Leonard Fournette totaled 136 scrimmage yards (76 rushing, 60 receiving) in today’s game and continues to lead the AFC in rushing yardage (791) and scrimmage yardage (1,054). Fournette’s 1,054 scrimmage yards and 791 rushing yards are both the most in Jaguars history through the team’s first eight games of a single season. Fournette has totaled at least 85 scrimmage yards in eight consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. He is now the first player in franchise history to post at least 85 scrimmage yards in each of the first eight games of the season.
On the second play from scrimmage in today’s game, Fournette posted a 66-yard rush, which led to WR Keelan Cole’s TD reception. Fournette has now posted four runs of at least 45 yards this year: 69, 81, 48 and 66. Since entering the league in 2017, Fournette has posted five runs of at least 60 yards. No other player in the NFL has three such runs over that span, per ESPN Stats and Research.
For his career, Fournette has rushed 564 times for 2,270 yards (4.0 rush avg.) and 15 TDs and caught 93 passes for 750 yards and two TDs. Overall, Fournette has posted 3,020 scrimmage yards and 17 scrimmage TDs (4.6 yards per touch) in 29 career games. Fournette, playing in his 29th career game, became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 3,000 career scrimmage yards (RB Fred Taylorpreviously held the record after reaching 3,000 career scrimmage yards in his 31st career game). Fournette joins Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott (2016-18) as the only NFL players over the last five seasons to total at least 3,000 career scrimmage yards in 29 or fewer career games.
In today’s game, Fournette moved past QB Mark Brunell into fourth on the Jaguars’ all-time rushing list. He now trails only RBs James Stewart (2,951), Maurice Jones-Drew (8,071) and Fred Taylor (11,271) for the most rushing yards in franchise history.
HERNDON DOUBLES UP: Second-year CB Tre Herndon posted two INTs, the first two of his career, in today’s victory over the Jets. Herndon, who was making his sixth career start in today’s game, became the first Jaguars player since CBJalen Ramsey on Nov. 18, 2018 against Pittsburgh to post multiple INTs in a single game.
WINNING THE TURNOVER MARGIN: The Jaguars registered three takeaways – two INTs from CB Tre Herndon and an INT from CB A.J. Bouye – and finished with a +2 turnover margin in today’s victory. The Jaguars are 4-0 this season when they post a positive turnover margin. For the season, the Jaguars are now +1 in the turnover differential with nine takeaways (seven INTs, two fumble recoveries).
LAMBO LEGEND: K Josh Lambo converted all three FG attempts today – from 29, 43 and 24 yards – and has now made 23 consecutive FGs dating back to 2018, the second-longest streak in franchise history and one shy of the franchise record (24), which he previously set. Lambo has now made 59 of 62 FG attempts with the Jaguars since he signed with the team on Oct. 17, 2017. Overall, his 95.2 FG pct. is the highest in franchise history and the highest by any player in the NFL since 2017 (min. 10 FGA). Lambo has also made 36 of 36 FG attempts in home games since joining the Jaguars in 2017, including all 32 at TIAA Bank Field.
CONLEY WITH THE CAREER-HIGH: Fifth-year WR Chris Conley, appearing in his 61st career game and eighth with the Jaguars since signing as an unrestricted free agent in March 2019, posted four receptions for a career-high 103 yards (25.8 rec. avg.) and one TD in today’s victory.
