With a 10-point lead, playing away from home, late in the third quarter, and driving deep into the opponent’s territory, everything seemed to be going well for the Jaguars. All they needed to do was avoid making a crucial mistake.
Then the crucial mistake happened.
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne fumbled the ball just a step from the goal line late in the third quarter. Miami recovered the fumble in the end zone, and the game shifted instantly.
Miami scored on the very next play with an 80-yard touchdown catch by Tyreek Hill, starting their comeback. The Dolphins went on to win 20-17 in the season opener for both teams on Sunday.
“Just kind of tale of two halves, really,” Jaguars coach Doug Pedersen said. “We made plays in the first half. They made plays in the second half. Credit them.”
Jacksonville was ahead 17-7 at halftime, with a field goal by Cam Little on the last play of the second quarter giving them a 10-point lead.
The Jaguars had won 13 straight games when leading at halftime and had a 17-1 record since the 2017 season when leading by 10 or more points at the break.
Everything looked promising. Until it didn’t.
The Jaguars had 16 fumbles in 2023, the second most in the NFL, just behind the New York Jets with 18. Etienne wasn’t to blame for this; he hadn’t fumbled since December 18, 2022 — over 300 carries before this one on Sunday.
Etienne had no defenders in front of him, just the goal line and the chance for a three-score lead with 17 minutes left. Miami’s Jevon Holland came from Etienne’s left and knocked the ball loose just inside the Miami 2-yard line, and it rolled into the end zone.
“That had to be the play of the game,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said about Holland’s recovery. “You’re talking about a gigantic flip in points and momentum. It was really cool to see a guy, when the opportunity came, he made his play and the team desperately needed it.”
