NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Decimate Chicago Bears in Season Home Opener

Published

9 years ago

September 17, 2017

TAMPA (FNN SPORTS) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers' William Gholston (92) tackles Chicago Bears' Tarik Cohen (29) during the Bucs' decisive season home opener at Raymond James Stadium Sunday. Photo: Willie David/Florida National News.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were rearing to go after Hurricane Irma delayed their season opener against the Miami Dolphins, and their fans were thirsty for a showdown. After a slow-performing preseason which Head Coach Koetter dismissed since the games don’t count, today was the team’s reality check. The team’s starters included all the fan favorites: Jameis Winston (QB), Mike Evans, Gerald McCoy, Kwon Alexander, Vernon Hargreaves III, William Gholston, Clinton McDonald, Lavonte David, Brent Grimes, and Robert Ayers, Jr.

1st Quarter

Tensions were flying from the start. The first penalty came within the first minute of the game: during Winston’s pass to Evans, Cleveland was hit with holding, netting a five-yard penalty and automatic first down. At 9:34 left in the quarter, Winston got sacked on the second down of the first scoring drive by Cleveland’s Willie Young in the red zone, at which point Tampa Bay kicker Nick Folk successfully kicked a 42-yard field goal, getting the Buccaneers on the board first with a score of 3-0.

Kwon Alexander intercepted the pass intended for tight end Dion Sims for a 22-yard gain with 2:32 left in the quarter.

Chicago’s Tarik Cohen fumbled the return kick, Tampa Bay’s Cameron Lynch recovered the ball at the Chicago 13-yard line. Winston then took advantage of a rare opportunity and fired a touchdown pass to Mike Evans for the team’s first touchdown and Folk got the extra point, making the score 10-0 Tampa Bay.

Upon the punt return, with only ten seconds left in the quarter, Cleveland’s #19 was charged with unnecessary roughness.

2nd Quarter

Despite being in possession of the ball, the Bears’ #12 was charged with holding and lost ten yards as a result.

With 11:26 left in the half, Chicago’s Glennon got sacked by Noah Spence, causing a fumble that led to a loss of 11 yards for Chicago. Lavonte David recovered the ball, giving the Bucs a first down on Chicago’s 38-yard line. At 7:41, Winston was forced to rush three yards and Chicago was flagged for holding again, which gave the Bucs an automatic first down. Tampa Bay netted their second touchdown on the next play with Jacquizz Rogers’s one-yard run, bringing the score to 17-0 Tampa Bay.

Kwon Alexander sustained a hamstring injury in the quarter, and his return was judged doubtful.

With five minutes left in the half, Tampa Bay’s Robert McClain intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for Tampa Bay’s third touchdown. After review, the play was confirmed, but Folk’s extra point kick went wide left, bringing Tampa Bay’s lead to 23-0.

With less than 10 seconds left in the half, Winston who went 10 for 18 in completed passes in the first half, passed to Mike Evans for a 17-yard gain, which lined Folk up for a 27-yard field goal. The Bucs were flagged for not being fully lined up and lost five yards, but chose to attempt the 50-yard field goal nonetheless and was successful, making the score 26-0 at the half.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers was the Bucs’ shot run man and netted 33 rushing yards in the first half.

3rd Quarter

At 8:15, with the Bucs in the red zone on a first down, Winston completed the pass to Charles Sims, who then fumbled the ball. The Bears’ Leonard Foy recovered it, though their scoring drive yielded no score.

On the Bucs’ next scoring drive, OJ Howard completed a first down pass, and Mike Evans kept it going on the next play with an 11-yard gain. Between Peyton Barber and Cameron Brate with carries and a completed pass respectively, the Bucs quickly made it back to the red zone, a fitting way to end the third quarter.

4th Quarter

Nick Folk successfully made a 23-yard field goal at the end of the Buccaneers’ scoring drive, extending Tampa Bay’s lead to 29-0.

At 3rd and 10 on the 14-yard line, the Bears made two field goal attempts but the passes were incomplete in both cases, netting them no score.

With 6:40 left in the game, Lavonte David was down on the field with a leg cramp.

The Bears made it all the way to the 3-yard line on their next drive, and on the fourth down attempted a touchdown pass, but Tampa Bay’s Chris Conte broke up the pass. However, in the final two minutes of the game, the Bears managed to get on the board with a clutch touchdown pass play and extra point, bringing the final score to 29-7.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers next face the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m. and return to Raymond James Stadium in October for a two-game homestand against the New York Giants (Sunday, October 1 at 4:05 p.m.) and the New England Patriots (Thursday, October 5 at 8:25 p.m.).

_______________________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com

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Jacksonville

Jaguars Lose to the Bills 27-24 in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Published

3 months ago

January 11, 2026

Mike Brodsky

Jaguars vs. Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (13-5) lost to the Buffalo Bills (13-5) 27-24 at EverBank Stadium today in the AFC Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. The Jaguars finished with nine more victories than last season, but fans are still disappointed that the miracle season has come to an end.

On Jacksonville’s second drive of the game, QB Trevor Lawrence threw a pass intended for WR Parker Washington that was intercepted by Bills LB Shaq Thompson. A couple of plays later, Bills QB Josh Allen was tacked by Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen, and Allen went to the Bills’ blue tent to be evaluated for a concussion, but was cleared to return. On the fourth down, K Matt Prater kicked a 50 yard field goal to put the Bills on the board 3-0, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Trevor Lawrence completed a 3 yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr. and K Cam Little added the extra point, putting the Jaguars ahead 7-3. On the kickoff, the Jaguars benefited from a fumble by Bills RB Ray Davis that LB Devin Lloyd recovered. The Jaguars were on Buffalo’s 9 yard line when Trevor Lawrence tried to dive for a first down on 4th and 2, but came up a little short on the officials’ review. The Bills took possession and ended up scoring on Josh Allen’s two yard touchdown run, followed by Prater’s XP. The Jaguars managed to get into field goal position just before the half, but Cam Little missed a 54 yard field goal that hit the left upright, ending his streak of 20 consecutive field goals made, including a 67 yarder just last week which set the NFL outdoor record. The Bills were up 10-7 at halftime.

Matt Prater kicked a 47 yard field goal on the Bills’ first drive of the third quarter, extending their lead to 13-7. Cam Little redeemed himself with a 43 yard field goal on the Jaguars’ next drive, to narrow the Jags’ deficit to 13-10, which remained the score at the end of the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, Trevor Lawrence found Parker Washington in the end zone for a 6 yard touchdown pass, and after Cam Little’s XP, the Jags were ahead 17-13. But Josh Allen’s 15 yard touchdown pass to TE Dalton Kincaid, followed by Matt Prater’s XP, put the Bills up 20-17. The Jags responded with a 14 yard Lawrence touchdown pass to RB Travis Etienne Jr., and a Little XP, to put the Jaguars ahead 24-20. Josh Allen ran into the end zone for another Bills touchdown, followed by Prater’s XP with just over a minute left in the game, putting the Bills up 27-24. Trevor Lawrence threw a pass that was intercepted by Bills S Cole Bishop, effectively ending the season for the Jaguars.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 207 passing yards and 3 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 67 yards. Parker Washington was the leading receiver with 107 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 70,250.

Today marked the Jaguars’ 17th playoff game in history. With today’s loss, they are now 5-3 in the Wild Card round, and 4-2 at home in the playoffs. Jacksonville beat the Bills in the 1996 AFC Wild Card round to win their first playoff game in franchise history.

The AFC Divisional Playoff schedule will be announced after the completion of this weekend’s playoff games. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

Jacksonville

Jaguars Topple the Titans 41-7

Published

3 months ago

January 4, 2026

Mike Brodsky

Jaguars Topple the Titans (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) beat the Tennessee Titans (3-14) 41-7 at EverBank Stadium today. With today’s victory, Jacksonville won a 13th game for only the second time in franchise history. Head Coach Liam Coen also became the seventh first-year coach in NFL history to win at least 13 games.

The Titans were the first to score, as rookie QB Cam Ward ran 7 yards for a touchdown, followed by the extra point from K Joey Slye. Ward injured his right shoulder on that play and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and was replaced by QB Brandon Allen. The Jaguars responded on their next drive, with a 23 yard touchdown pass from QB Trevor Lawrence to WR Parker Washington, followed by the XP from K Cam Little, to tie the game at 7-7, which remained the score at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, WR Brian Thomas Jr. left the game after a defensive pass interference, and was evaluated for a concussion. Fortunately, Thomas cleared concussion protocol and returned later in the game. On the next play, Lawrence completed a 7 yard touchdown pass to TE Brenton Strange, with Little providing the XP. The Titans next drive ended as S Antonio Johnson intercepted a Brandon Allen pass intended for WR Elic Ayomanor, returning it 59 yards for a touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, extending the Jaguars lead to 21-7. Lawrence added another TD pass for 5 yards to TE Quinton Morris, followed by Little’s XP. Little also added a 67 yard field goal as the clock expired heading into halftime, to put the Jaguars ahead 31-7. With those three points, Cam Little also broke the franchise record for most points in a season, which had previously been held by K Mike Hollis with 134 points in 1997.

Late in the third quarter, Cam Little added another field goal, this one for 52 yards, extending the Jaguars lead to 34-7, the only points scored in the quarter.

Early in the 4th quarter, Trevor Lawrence reached more than 4,000 passing yards for the season with a 23 yard pass to Parker Washington. The Jaguars replaced Lawrence with QB Nick Mullens for the remainder of the game, to ensure Trevor would be healthy for the playoffs. Midway through the quarter, Travis Etienne Jr. also surpassed 1400 scrimmage yards for the third season in his career. RB Bhayshul Tuten later added a 5 yard touchdown run, and Little kicked the XP, to put the Jaguars ahead 41-7. After the two minute warning, the Titans attempted, but missed, a 52 yard field goal by Joey Slye. The Jags then ran down the clock to secure their victory.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 255 passing yards and 3 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 32 yards. Parker Washington was the leading receiver with 87 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 66,015.

Trevor Lawrence breaks the franchise record for total touchdowns in a single season. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Trevor Lawrence also set the Jaguars franchise record for the most single season touchdowns with 38, breaking the previous record of 37 set by Blake Bortles in 2015. Since the beginning of the Jaguars win streak in week 11, Lawrence has led the league with 24 total touchdowns. Lawrence also moved into second place in passing yards in franchise history, exceeding Blake Bortles’ mark of 17,646 yards. First place is held by Mark Brunell with 25,698 yards.

The Jaguars will advance to the AFC Playoffs, which begin next weekend. The schedule will be announced after the completion of week 18 games. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.comfor more.

Jacksonville

Jaguars Down the Jets 48-20 in Jacksonville

Published

4 months ago

December 14, 2025

Mike Brodsky

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) beat the New York Jets (3-11) 48-20 at EverBank Stadium today. Jets QB Brady Cook made the first start of his career. Cook was the first undrafted rookie QB to start for the Jets in 50 years.

On the first drive of the game, QB Trevor Lawrence found WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for a 4 yard touchdown pass, followed by the extra point from Cam Little, giving the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead. The Jaguars second drive ended with a 15 yard touchdown run by Lawrence, followed by another Little XP, to put the Jags up 14-0. But Brady Cook completed his first career TD pass to WR Adonai Mitchell for 9 yards, followed by the XP by K Nick Folk, to put the Jets on the board. At the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars were ahead 14-7.

Early in the second quarter, Trevor Lawrence completed a 16 yard touchdown pass to RB Bhayshul Tuten, and Little added the XP to put the Jags up 21-7. Several minutes later, Jets WR Isaiah Williams appeared to score a touchdown returning Logan Cooke’s punt, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty nullified that TD. Several plays later, the Jets settled for a 41 yard Nick Folk field goal, to narrow the Jets deficit to 21-10. Cam Little added a 33 yard field goal for the Jags shortly before the half, extending their lead to 24-10. Just two downs later, CB Montaric Brown intercepted a Brady Cook pass intended for Adonai Mitchell, and the Jags moved the ball down the field, with Lawrence ultimately hitting RB Travis Etienne Jr. in the end zone for a 20 yard touchdown pass, followed by Little’s XP. This completion put Trevor Lawrence ahead of David Garrard for third place on the Jaguars all-time franchise record for passing TDs with 90. The Jaguars went into halftime up 31-10.

Nick Folk kicked a 51 yard field goal on the Jets’ first drive of the third quarter. The Jaguars responded with another touchdown pass by Lawrence to Etienne, this one for 8 yards. After Little’s XP, the Jaguars led 38-13. This was Travis Etienne Jr.’s 30th touchdown of his career. Late in the third, Cam Little added a 22 yard field goal, which was the 50th of his career, making him the youngest player in NFL history to kick 50 field goals. The Jaguars were up 41-13 at the end of the third quarter.

The Jets scored early in the fourth on a 24 yard touchdown run by RB Isaiah Davis, followed by Folk’s XP, to make the score 41-20. Two plays later, the Jaguars added another Lawrence to Etienne touchdown pass, this time for 45 yards, followed by Little’s XP, extending their lead to 48-20. The Jaguars brought QB Nick Mullen in to relieve Lawrence soon after as a precautionary move. Midway through the fourth, the Jets were threatening to score, but Jags LB Ventrell Miller intercepted a Brady Cook pass intended for WR Allen Lazard in the end zone. Late in the fourth, Brady Cook was once again picked off, this time by S Antonio Johnson. The final score remained 48-20.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 330 passing yards and 5 TDs. Trevor Lawrence also led the Jaguars’ rushing with 51 yards and 1 TD. Travis Etienne Jr. was the leading receiver with 73 yards and 3 TDs. Today’s attendance was 60,815.

Trevor Lawrence reached 3,000 passing yards for the fourth time in his five year career. In Jaguars franchise history, only Mark Brunell has had more such seasons, with five.

The Jaguars have two games on the road against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 21 and the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 28, before returning home for the final game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. That game will be held either Jan. 3 or 4, but the date and time have not yet been confirmed. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.