Trevor Lawrence proved why he’s the cornerstone of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ resurgence, engineering a clutch comeback in a pulse-pounding 27-24 overtime triumph over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night. Despite a turnover-riddled first half that saw three interceptions and a fumble, Lawrence’s three touchdown passes—including game-sealing drives in the fourth quarter and OT—propelled the Jags to their second straight overtime victory, boosting their record to 7-4 in the 2025 NFL season. This Jaguars vs Cardinals thriller, a Week 12 staple of high drama, solidified Jacksonville’s grip on the AFC South playoff chase.
In a contest defined by resilience and redemption, Lawrence’s crunch-time magic turned potential disaster into dominance. “Trevor’s got that it factor—he shakes off the bad and locks in when it counts,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said postgame. The win not only avenged a midseason skid but also marked Jacksonville’s third OT decision this year, going 3-0 in extras. For Cardinals fans, it’s another gut-wrenching close call, dropping Arizona to 5-6 and extending their road woes to 2-4.
First-Half Struggles: Turnovers Test Jaguars’ Mettle
The Jaguars vs Cardinals matchup kicked off with fireworks, as Jacksonville struck first on a 97-yard opening drive. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. burst for 45 yards before hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence, igniting the crowd at State Farm Stadium. But Arizona’s opportunistic defense pounced immediately, with safety Jalen Thompson’s strip-sack forcing Lawrence’s fumble, which rookie Walter Nolen III returned seven yards for a score. Tied at 7-7 early, the tone was set for a battle of attrition.
Lawrence’s woes mounted in the second quarter. Cornerback Garrett Williams’ end-zone interception—tipped by veteran Calais Campbell—halted a Jaguars threat, and Budda Baker’s pick-six setup gave Arizona a brief 14-10 halftime edge via Zonovan Knight’s one-yard plunge. Kicker Cam Little’s 52-yard field goal kept Jacksonville in it, but the three picks had fans questioning if Lawrence’s Week 11 heroics were a fluke. Yet, as Lawrence reflected, “Mistakes happen, but you can’t dwell. The second half is where games are won.”
Third-Quarter Pivot: Lawrence’s Arm Ignites Rally
Post-intermission, the Jaguars vs Cardinals script flipped. Lawrence, dialed in against Arizona’s blitz-heavy scheme, connected with Jakobi Meyers for a 10-yard touchdown on third down, erasing a 21-17 deficit with 8:10 left in the third. Punter Parker Washington’s 43-yard return set the table, highlighting Jacksonville’s special teams spark. Lawrence’s poise under pressure—evading edge rusher Dennis Gardeck for the score—signaled the shift.
Arizona clawed back briefly on Greg Dortch’s 39-yard touchdown from backup QB Jacoby Brissett, who stepped in for the sidelined Kyler Murray. But Jacksonville’s defense, fresh off six sacks in the game, clamped down, limiting the Cardinals to field position purgatory. Lawrence’s stat line began to shine: 18-of-30 for 256 yards by game’s end, his three TDs showcasing pinpoint accuracy in traffic.
Crunch Time Mastery: Fourth Quarter and OT Heroics
The fourth quarter became Lawrence’s symphony of redemption in this NFL Week 12 epic. Trailing 21-17, he orchestrated a six-play, 65-yard march, threading a nine-yard dagger to Washington for a 24-21 lead with 3:47 to play. But Arizona, no strangers to late magic, answered with Brissett’s 80-yard, no-timeout drive, capped by Chad Ryland’s 29-yard field goal to force OT.
In overtime, Lawrence delivered the dagger. After the Jaguars’ defense stuffed Arizona on three plays, he coolly handed off to set up Little’s 52-yard game-winner at 7:46. Safety Andrew Wingard’s fourth-and-4 breakup on Brissett’s hail mary to Xavier Weaver sealed it. Lawrence’s zero turnovers in the final frame—and his 3-for-3 TD clip in crunch time—echoed his 2024 playoff poise, now a staple of Jacksonville’s identity.
“We feed off Trevor’s energy,” wideout Meyers said. “When he locks in like that, we’re unstoppable.” This second straight OT victory—following a Week 10 stunner against the Colts—has the Jags riding a 3-1 wave, their one-score games now 5-3.
Key Stats Spotlight Lawrence’s Dual-Edged Sword
Lawrence’s performance was a microcosm of the Jaguars vs Cardinals chaos: brilliance amid blunders. His 256 passing yards and three scores outweighed the turnovers, while the defense’s six sacks (led by Travon Walker) neutralized Arizona’s ground game.
| Player/Team | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | TDs | INTs | Rushing Yards | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Lawrence (JAX) | 18/30 | 256 | 3 | 3 | – | – |
| Jacoby Brissett (ARI) | 33/49 | 317 | 1 | 0 | – | – |
| Travis Etienne Jr. (JAX) | – | – | 1 Rec TD | – | 45 | – |
| Michael Wilson (ARI) | 10 Rec | 118 | 0 | – | – | – |
| Jaguars Defense | – | – | – | 0 | – | 6 |
| Cardinals Defense | – | – | – | 4 TOs Forced | – | 2 |
Brissett’s 317 yards kept Arizona alive, with Michael Wilson’s 10 catches for 118 yards earning NFC Player of the Week buzz. Tight end Brenton Strange, returning from injury, added five grabs for 93 yards, his best since the opener.
Playoff Implications: Jags’ OT Streak Fuels AFC South Fire
This Jaguars vs Cardinals overtime victory catapults Jacksonville within striking distance of the 8-3 Indianapolis Colts, setting up a seismic Week 13 divisional showdown. Lawrence’s crunch-time delivery—now 7-2 in fourth-quarter comebacks since 2024—positions the Jags as legitimate AFC contenders, their +12 point differential in OT a league anomaly.
For Arizona, the 5-6 mark amplifies questions around Brissett’s long-term role and special teams reliability. Coach Jonathan Gannon lamented, “We had ’em on the ropes—gotta close.” As NFL Week 12 fades, Lawrence’s redemption arc dominates headlines, a testament to why the Jags are no longer underdogs.
What does this second straight OT victory mean for Jacksonville’s playoff odds? Drop your thoughts below and follow for more Trevor Lawrence updates.
