Jaguars Claim Overtime Victory Against Cardinals
The Jacksonville Jaguars secured their seventh win of the season in a thrilling Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, showcasing their prowess on both offense and defense. The game culminated in a dramatic overtime, where the Jaguars’ defense stepped up for a crucial fourth-down stop, sealing the victory with a score of 27-24.
Defensive Highlights
It was a game marked by significant contributions from all three facets of the Jaguars’ team. The defense, however, played a pivotal role in the closing moments. In a surprising twist, it was veteran backup cornerback Christian Braswell who was tasked with covering the final pass attempt, rather than starting cornerback Greg Newsome. Throughout the second half, Newsome found himself sidelined, participating primarily on special teams while Braswell took the lead on defense.
Questions Surrounding Newsome’s Limited Role
Newsome’s limited involvement has raised eyebrows, particularly as he has appeared on the injury report in recent weeks. The cornerback was substituted out for Braswell during the latter half of the game, ultimately logging just 27 defensive snaps, which accounted for only 32% of the team’s total plays. This marked one of his lowest snap counts since joining the Jaguars. The only occasions where he played fewer snaps were during his Week 6 debut shortly after arriving with the team and in Week 11 when he exited early due to an injury.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen addressed the situation post-game, explaining the decision-making process behind Newsome’s diminished role. “Yeah, it was both injury and – he tweaked it last week. (I) felt like he didn’t practice a ton this week, and we just made a decision there for the best thing for the team,” Coen stated.
As the Jaguars continue their push for the playoffs, the dynamics surrounding player health and positioning will be critical to their success moving forward.
