NFL Week 18 highlights: Jags prime Titans, win AFC South; Chiefs beat Raiders

Week 18 of the NFL season kicked off Saturday with a double-header, because the Jacksonville Jaguars narrowly took down the Tennessee Titans at residence to assert the AFC South title and earn the AFC’s fourth seed within the playoffs.

Earlier, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs took down the Las Vegas Raiders on the highway within the first recreation of the day, 31-13, locking down the No. 1 seed within the AFC within the course of.

Listed here are Saturday’s highlights!

Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Tennessee Titans 16

Prolonged FG drive

After going three-and-out to start out the sport, the Titans put collectively a 17-play drive on their subsequent possession, which noticed them convert two fourth downs. The drive resulted in a 51-yard discipline objective.

Titans take benefit

With the ball in Tennessee territory, Trevor Lawrence fumbled on a botched trick play, and the Titans recovered at their very own 31-yard line.

Making an announcement

Seven performs later, Titans third-string QB Joshua Dobbs hit tight finish Chigoziem Okonkwo for a 21-yard landing — however not earlier than a mean stiff arm from Derrick Henry. Identical to that, Tennessee led 10-0 halfway via the second quarter.

Bouncing again

The Jaguars answered with a 54-yard kick return from Jamal Agnew, topped off by a 25-yard landing from wideout Christian Kirk on Jacksonville’s subsequent drive to maintain issues shut, 10-7.

Then, the Titans added a discipline objective as the primary half expired to make it a six-point recreation headed into the break, 13-7.

What may have been!

Lawrence was this shut to knotting issues up early within the third quarter, however he wasn’t capable of join with a wide-open Zay Jones ultimately zone. The Jaguars settled for a discipline objective as an alternative, making it a three-point recreation as soon as once more, 13-10.

No stop

Lawrence redeemed himself a bit on Jacksonville’s ensuing possession, connecting with Kirk for a clutch 33-yard achieve to maneuver the chains. Nonetheless, the second-year QB wasn’t capable of get it executed on third down, and the Jaguars punted the ball away.

Flip of occasions

Jacksonville bought a giant increase after selecting off Dobbs close to midfield and returning it to Tennessee’s 25-yard line.

Denied

Nonetheless, Lawrence & Co. got here up brief as soon as once more when making a play for the top zone. Identical to that, it was a three-point recreation for the third time Saturday after the Jaguars settled for an additional discipline objective early within the fourth quarter.

Huge-time cease

The Jaguars protection got here up with an important cease on third down, sacking Dobbs and forcing the Titans to go three-and-out on their subsequent drive. The rating remained 16-13 because the fourth quarter bought underway.

Jags take first lead

Jacksonville took a 20-16 lead late within the fourth quarter, due to a defensive landing from linebacker Josh Allen.

That is a wrap!

The Titans turned it over on downs on their ensuing drive, and it was victory formation for the Jaguars.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 31, Las Vegas Raiders 13

Love for No. 3

Each groups had been sporting “Love For Damar” shirts forward of kickoff. The shirts had been made to indicate help for Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin, who collapsed throughout Monday Evening Soccer in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Hamlin is now respiratory on his personal and capable of discuss after having his respiratory tube eliminated, his agent shared Friday.

Going deep!

Mahomes and the Chiefs wasted little time on offense, as Justin Watson got here up with an enormous 67-yard achieve on simply the second play of the sport.

Chiefs on the board

On third-and-goal, Mahomes flipped a shovel move to Jerick McKinnon for a 2-yard rating, giving Okay.C. an early 7-0 lead.

Chiefs capitalize

Daniel Carlson knocked via a 54-yard discipline objective for the Raiders on the following possession to shut the hole. Then, Las Vegas pressured Okay.C. to punt on its subsequent possession with the latter pinning the previous at its personal 5-yard line. 

After showing to work out of hurt’s manner, Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham was intercepted by Chiefs security Juan Thornhill.

Making strikes

Taking up on the Las Vegas 44-yard line, Mahomes hit huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 28-yard pickup, adopted by a 14-yard carry from Kadarius Toney. Then, Ronald Jones ran in Kansas Metropolis’s second landing.

On a roll

After the Raiders failed to attain from two yards out, the Chiefs took over and put collectively a 98-yard drive, which concluded with an 11-yard landing run by Toney. The rating gave the Chiefs a 21-3 lead.

Premature turnover

On the following possession, Stidham was strip-sacked by Chiefs defensive finish Mike Danna, and George Karlaftis recovered the free ball with 9 seconds remaining within the second quarter.

Two performs later, Harrison Butker made a 44-yard discipline objective. Identical to that, Kansas Metropolis led 24-3 at halftime.

In complete management

Kansas Metropolis stretched its result in 4 scores early within the fourth quarter. Working again Isiah Pacheco took off for a 31-yard run to the Las Vegas 2-yard line. 

Three performs later, the operating again punched within the goal-line rating. The Chiefs led 31-6 early within the fourth quarter.

Too little, too late

The Raiders discovered the top zone for the primary time with 6:38 remaining within the fourth quarter when Stidham hit huge receiver Hunter Renfrow for an 11-yard rating, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to spark a comeback.

Kansas Metropolis went on to win by double digits, securing the No. 1 seed within the AFC within the course of.

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