Travis Hunter's spectacular 44-yard reception and four other crucial plays that shaped the Jaguars' prime-time victory over the Chiefs

 Travis Hunter's spectacular 44-yard reception and four other crucial plays that shaped the Jaguars' prime-time victory over the Chiefs

Senior writer John Ohser analyzes five key plays from the Jaguars' 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2025 Week 5 matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Monday.

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1. Patience and Guts. The play that will forever be remembered in one of the most memorable victories in Jaguars history was one of the most unexpected, uncontrollable, and strange plays in franchise history: quarterback Trevor Lawrence's 1-yard, sliding twice, falling once, and break-a-tackle run with 23 seconds remaining that gave the Jaguars their final lead and their third consecutive victory. On first-and-goal from the 1, Lawrence's foot landed on guard Patrick Mekari's foot. He got up, broke a tackle from Chiefs defensive lineman Jerry Tiller, and dived into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

"Honestly, I was nervous," Lawrence said when asked what was going through his mind when he fell. "I was trying to get up to get the ball out of my hands. We didn't have any timeouts. I was literally going to stand up and throw it from the back of the end zone. But I had a little lane, so I took it and scored from there. I couldn't stay down because we didn't have any timeouts."

Lawrence completed clutch passes of 33 yards to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and 13 yards to wide receiver Dyami Brown on the first leg of the drive. "What an individual effort," head coach Liam Coen said of Lawrence's touchdown.

"A tough moment. I can only imagine the state he must have been in on the field at that moment. Getting up and leaving a player behind... it's an incredible individual effort. Ultimately, it's about winning, and I'm proud of the tenacity he showed at the end of that game."

2. All.The.Way. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September. He started October with his biggest play of the season so far, intercepting Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the 1-yard line and returning it 99 yards for a touchdown, giving the Jaguars a 21-14 lead with 2:19 remaining in the third quarter. "I had a couple of blocks, which was really big," Lloyd said.

"I don't know if I would have been able to play if I hadn't caught them. I'm grateful to everyone who helped me get to the end zone."

The play not only gave the Jaguars a 7-point lead, but also prevented the Chiefs from taking a 7- or 3-point lead.

"It was one of our zero blitzes," Coen said. "He was one of those guys who was adept at tightening up the offensive line, then he demonstrated his passing strength and made another incredible play at a crucial moment."

Lloyd broke two tackles during the game, evaded a potential tackle from tight end Travis Kelce, and secured a clinching block on the sideline from defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. "He had nothing to say," rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter said of what Lloyd said when he reached the sideline. "He was so tired."

3. What? A. Catch. The Jaguars spent much of the second and third quarters trying to get back into the game – and a remarkable play from the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft played a key role in tying the game. With the Chiefs leading 14-7, Lawrence bided his time in the pocket and threw deep to new wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter. He leaped over two defenders and caught the ball for a 44-yard gain, giving the Jaguars a first down at the Chiefs' 28. "He (Hunter) is a special player," said Lawrence, whose 10-yard effort tied the game 14-14 after four plays with 8:40 remaining in the third quarter.

4. Good reaction, good result. The Chiefs had momentum and a double-digit lead in the second quarter - and then the Jaguars kept the game close at halftime with a powerful, impressive drive. The Chiefs were leading 14-0 and had driven 97 yards in five plays for a touchdown. The Jaguars responded with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that cut the Chiefs' lead in half. They gained 16 yards for a first down on second-and-9 from the Jaguars 39 and 14 yards on third-and-5 from the Chiefs 29, putting the Jaguars in the red zone as the half approached.

5. Good reaction, bad outcome. The Jaguars missed a chance to tie the game early in the second quarter – by inches – on a play that came after an impressive drive by the Jaguars. After driving from the Chiefs' 39-yard line after the Chiefs' first touchdown, the Jaguars faced fourth-and-goal at the Chiefs' 1 with 13:41 remaining in the second quarter. During the play, Lawrence attempted to leap and pass the ball across the goal line, but linebacker Nick Bolton knocked the ball out of his hands, allowing defensive end George Karlaftis to pick up the first down for the Chiefs. The Chiefs took a 14–0 lead on Mahomes' nine-yard run, driving out of their own end zone on the next play with Kareem Hunt's 33-yard run.