In a nail-biting NFL Week 12 showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a gritty 27-24 overtime victory against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Despite quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s uncharacteristically sloppy night with four turnovers—including three interceptions and a fumble—the Jaguars’ resilience shone through, capped by kicker Cam Little’s clutch 52-yard field goal in OT. This Jaguars vs Cardinals thriller not only improved Jacksonville’s record to 7-4 but also highlighted their growing knack for one-score games, now 5-3 this season.
The game, part of the high-stakes 2025 NFL season, was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, defensive heroics, and late-game drama. For Cardinals fans hoping for a turnaround in their 3-8 slump, the defeat stung especially hard after forcing those four turnovers. Yet, as Jaguars head coach Liam Coen put it postgame, “We’re not going to apologize for winning around here.”
Early Fireworks: Etienne’s Spark and Lawrence’s Costly Fumble
The Jaguars wasted no time asserting dominance in the first quarter, marching 97 yards on four plays for an early 7-0 lead. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown reception from Lawrence, showcasing Jacksonville’s explosive play-action game. Etienne’s 45-yard scamper earlier in the drive set the tone, reminding everyone why he’s a cornerstone of the Jaguars’ offense.
But Arizona’s defense, hungry for momentum, struck back swiftly. On the ensuing possession, safety Jalen Thompson’s strip-sack blitz forced Lawrence’s fumble, which rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen III scooped and returned seven yards for a touchdown. Just like that, it was 7-7 at the 2:26 mark, injecting chaos into the Jaguars vs Cardinals matchup.
As the second quarter unfolded, Cam Little steadied the ship for Jacksonville with a 52-yard field goal—his second of the half—to nudge the Jags ahead 10-7. The Cardinals responded with a nine-play, 65-yard drive, punching in a one-yard touchdown run by Zonovan Knight to flip the script and take a 14-10 halftime lead. Arizona kicker Chad Ryland’s earlier miss on a 33-yard field goal loomed large, a special teams blunder that would haunt the home team later.
Third-Quarter Chaos: Interceptions Fuel Cardinals’ Comeback
The second half exploded into turnover central, with Lawrence’s picks handing Arizona golden opportunities. On Jacksonville’s opening drive, cornerback Garrett Williams snagged an interception in the end zone—tipped by Calais Campbell—stifling a potential score. Moments later, the Cardinals capitalized on Budda Baker’s third-quarter pick, marching three plays for a 39-yard touchdown reception by Greg Dortch from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Arizona surged to a 21-17 lead, their offense clicking with Brissett under center in place of the injured Kyler Murray.
Lawrence, however, refused to fold. Beating a blitz on third down, he connected with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for a 10-yard touchdown strike, reclaiming a 17-14 edge with 8:10 left in the third. Meyers’ score, set up by returner Parker Washington’s 43-yard punt return, underscored the Jaguars’ special teams edge in the Jaguars vs Cardinals battle.
Yet the turnovers kept coming. Lawrence’s third interception, snared by linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, nearly derailed Jacksonville entirely. The Jaguars’ defense, though, stepped up with six sacks—including 1.5 from edge rusher Dennis Gardeck—to keep Arizona’s drives in check.
Fourth-Quarter Thriller: Ties, Stops, and OT Drama
The fourth quarter delivered pure NFL Week 12 pandemonium. Lawrence engineered a six-play, 65-yard drive, finding Washington for a nine-yard touchdown to put the Jaguars up 24-21 with 3:47 remaining. But on fourth-and-1 with 1:44 left, Lawrence’s pass fell incomplete, gifting Arizona the ball deep in Jaguars territory.
With no timeouts, Brissett orchestrated an 80-yard masterpiece, highlighted by a 31-yard dart to Michael Wilson. Chad Ryland’s 29-yard field goal as time expired knotted it at 24-24, forcing overtime in this epic Jaguars vs Cardinals clash.
OT belonged to Jacksonville from the jump. The Jaguars’ defense stuffed Arizona on their first possession, and Little’s booming 52-yard field goal—his second of the game and following his NFL-record 68-yarder earlier this season—gave the visitors a 27-24 lead at 7:46. Arizona drove to the Jaguars’ 42, but safety Andrew Wingard’s breakup of Brissett’s fourth-and-4 heave to Xavier Weaver sealed the win. Brissett later lamented, “We’re trying to win the game… I’ve got to make a better throw.”
Standout Stats and Performances in Jaguars vs Cardinals
Lawrence’s stat line told a tale of highs and lows: 18-of-30 for 256 yards, three touchdowns, but those three picks and the fumble—all on him, as he admitted postgame. “Had some tough plays out there… I’ve got to be smart with the ball,” Lawrence said. Tight end Brenton Strange, back from a five-game hip injury absence, led Jacksonville with five catches for 93 yards.
For the Cardinals, Brissett shone in relief, going 33-of-49 for 317 yards and a touchdown. Wilson exploded for 10 receptions and 118 yards, while Baker’s interception marked his first since 2022. Arizona’s defense owned the takeaway battle 4-0, but as coach Jonathan Gannon noted, “When you win the takeaway battle 4-0, you should have a really good chance of winning… We got knocked out of being in the points zone.”
| Key Player Stats | Team | Completions/Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Lawrence | JAX | 18/30 | 256 | 3 | 3 | 1 Fumble (returned for TD) |
| Jacoby Brissett | ARI | 33/49 | 317 | 1 | 0 | Led 80-yard tying drive |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX | – | 45 rush yds | 1 rec TD | – | Sparked opening TD drive |
| Michael Wilson | ARI | 10 rec | 118 | 0 | – | 31-yd key gain in 4Q |
| Cam Little | JAX | – | – | – | – | 2/2 FGs, incl. 52-yd OT winner |
Resilience Defines Jaguars’ OT Win: What It Means for NFL Week 12
This Jaguars vs Cardinals overtime victory marks Jacksonville’s second straight OT road win this season, pulling them within one game of the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts (8-3). The Jags, now 3-1 in their last four, have transformed from last year’s 3-10 one-score record into a playoff contender built on grit.
“We just keep going, no matter what,” tight end Brenton Strange said. “That’s the important thing in a football game.” For Arizona, the loss drops them to 1-8 in their last nine, underscoring special teams woes and the cost of missed opportunities.
As the 2025 NFL season heats up, Lawrence’s bounce-back ability and the Jaguars’ defensive sacks (now boosted from 29th in the league) signal trouble for opponents. Next up for Jacksonville: a pivotal divisional clash. For Cardinals faithful, it’s back to the drawing board—but with Brissett’s poise and Wilson’s emergence, hope flickers.
Stay tuned to NFL Week 12 highlights for more from this unforgettable Jaguars vs Cardinals thriller. What are your takeaways from Lawrence’s turnover nightmare turned triumph? Sound off in the comments.
Keywords: Jaguars vs Cardinals, NFL Week 12 2025, Trevor Lawrence turnovers, Cam Little field goal, overtime win, Jacksonville Jaguars news, Arizona Cardinals loss, Travis Etienne TD, Jacoby Brissett stats
