FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It appears the best remedy for a losing streak is the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 2-14 Jags came into Gillette Stadium on Sunday with 17 players on the Reserve/COVID list. It felt like the perfect time for the Patriots to get back on track and lock up a spot in the NFL playoffs.
That's exactly what transpired.
Jacksonville never stood a chance against the Patriots on Sunday. Coming off back-to-back losses, the Pats snapped their skid with a dominating 50-10 win over the Jaguars. The Patriots improve to 10-6 and with the Miami Dolphins' losing to Tennessee, clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2019.
On offense, Mac Jones was automatic, completing 22/30 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. His day was over with 10:53 left in the game. On defense, the Pats stifled Trevor Lawrence and the depleted Jaguars offense. On the sideline, even Bill Belichick cracked a smile.
Here's how it all went down:
Patriots offense has record-setting day
The Patriots talked offense dismantled the Jaguars defense on Sunday scoring 50 points for the second time this season and first since Oct. 24 against the Jets. As the game went on and the points piled up, several Patriots players etched their names in the record books or set career bests.
Damien Harris was the star early, scoring two touchdowns in the first half. The Pats came out firing, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive with Harris finishing the series off with 2-yard touchdown run at 5:49 of the first quarter. The Patriots second drive saw a second touchdown for Harris with a 7-yard touchdown run at 12:02 of the second quarter.
That marked his 14th rushing touchdown of the season, which tied him with Curtis Martin for the second most in Patriots franchise history.
Mac Jones also got into the fun. The rookie quarterback was near perfect in the first half, completing 12/14 passes for 107 yards with two touchdowns. He hit Kristian Wilkerson for a 6-yard score at 4:40 of the second quarter and ended the half with a 4-yard touchdown to Jakobi Meyers with 48 second left in the half.
Those two touchdown passes gave Jones 20 on the season, setting a new Patriots rookie record, breaking Jim Plunket's 1971 record of 19. Jones extended that record to 21 with another touchdown pass to Wilkerson in the third quarter.
Meyers (eight catches and 73 yards) exited this game with a career-high in receiving yards (796) on the season. Kendrick Bourne (five catches and 76 yards) set a career-high in receptions (52) and added to his personal best with 776 receiving yards. He clinched a $250,000 bonus by surpassing 50 receptions. He could get another if he hits 800 receiving yards next week.
Defense gets it's groove back
The Patriots defense came into this game needing to rebound after allowing 60 combined points over the last two games. You could tell from the beginning that it was going to be a rough day for Jacksonville as the group opened up the afternoon with a three-and-out, thanks to a Dont'a Hightower sack.
As the game went on Trevor Lawrence never stood a chance as the Pats got turnover happy finishing the game with three interceptions.
The Patriots defense gave up three points on a 29-yard Matthew Wright field goal at 2:18 of the first quarter, but the unit turned it around after that. On the next series, Lawrence was intercepted by Bryant at 8:30 of the second. The pass bounced off the hands of Ryquell Armstead and Bryant ended up with his first interception of the season.
The defense followed suit on the next Jaguars drive. At 2:02 of the second quarter, J.C. Jackson got into the fun by intercepting Lawrence. That marked pick No. 8 for the first-time Pro Bowler and the 25th career-interception in his career. Jackson tied the NFL record for most interceptions in a player's first four seasons joining Lester Hayes and Everson Walls.
Kyle Dugger got into the fun, intercepting Lawrence at 2:42 of the third quarter. He has a career-high four picks this season.
Kristian Wilkerson shines while N'Keal Harry busts
Sunday wasn't a good one for N'Keal Harry.
The Patriots 2019 first-round pick was a healthy scratch in favor of practice squad receiver Kristian Wilkerson. As the day went on, the worse it got for Harry.
Wilkerson started his first NFL game on Sunday. That coincided with him getting his first NFL reception in the Patriots first series. By the second quarter, Wilkerson had his first NFL touchdown. By the third quarter, he had another score and in one game out-produced Harry.
Wilkerson finished with four catches on four targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
At 4:40 of the second quarter, Jones rolled out to his right and hit Wilkerson in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass. He added a second with a 20-yard touchdown receptions at 11:14 of the third quarter. Wilkerson's four receptions are more than double Harry's season high of two. Wilkerson's two touchdown receptions on Sunday ties Harry's career-high (in 2020 and 2019).
Harry caught just two passes on six targets for 15 yards last week. He also dropped a would-be first down. The next play was an interception to make the drop even more costly.
On Sunday, Harry's not only a healthy scratch, but outplayed by Wilkerson, who spent this season on the practice squad and started his first NFL game.
