Field Level Media
Dec 26, 2021
Rookie Zach Wilson scored the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in franchise history, helping the host New York Jets to a 26-21 win over the reeling Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
Wilson completed 14 of 22 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 91 yards -- including a 52-yard touchdown run. Michael Carter added 118 yards rushing and Braxton Berrios had a 102-yard kickoff return for the Jets (4-11).
Rookie Trevor Lawrence completed 26 of 39 passes for 280 yards for the Jaguars (2-13), who extended their losing streak to seven games. Jacksonville drove to the Jets' 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs after Lawrence's incomplete pass with eight seconds left.
The Jaguars also had a chance to tie the game after Dare Ogunbowale's 1-yard run pulled Jacksonville to within 23-21 with 5:25 remaining. But Lawrence's pass to Jacob Hollister was incomplete on an attempted two-point conversion.
Ogunbowale, who rushed for 57 yards and a score, was in the game because James Robinson was carted off the field and sustaining an Achilles injury.
The Jets countered with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Eddy Pineiro's 20-yard field goal for a 26-21 lead with 1:47 remaining.
After the Jaguars pulled to within 16-15 following Matthew Wright's 40-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the third quarter, the Jets responded on their ensuing possession to push the lead to 23-15.
Wilson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to offensive tackle Conor McDermott, who made a leaping catch near the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 9:16 left in the game to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive.
After Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead on Wright's 21-yard field goal with 8:15 left in the first quarter, the Jets found the end zone on their ensuing possession.
On a third-and-5 from the Jets' 48-yard line, Wilson evaded the rush and weaved his way down the sideline for a 52-yard touchdown run. New York's lead remained at 6-3 after Pineiro's extra-point was blocked with 3:54 remaining in the quarter.
Wilson's run was the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in Jets history, topping Sam Darnold's 46-yard score against the Denver Broncos last season.
Offensive lineman Will Richardson recovered Lawrence's fumble in the end zone for a 9-6 lead with 13:08 left in the half. Ogunbowale was stopped short of the goal line on his two-point conversion rush.
The Jets regained the lead seconds later when Berrios returned the ensuing kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown and a 13-9 lead with 12:57 left in the quarter.
--Field Level Media