Jaguars falter late, lose home finale
JACKSONVILLE — Josh Johnson’s Madden rating should get a bump after his first NFL start in seven years.
Johnson, who played Madden NFL 19 to learn his new teammates’ names, led Washington on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 16-13 on Sunday.
With a lot of help from running back Adrian Peterson, Johnson drove the Redskins (7-7) into field-goal range in the closing minutes and set up Dustin Hopkins’ 36-yard field goal on the final play. Hopkins drilled it, ending Washington’s four-game losing streak and keeping it on the fringe of the NFC playoff picture.
It was the first victory of Johnson’s professional career — he had been 0-5 as a starter — and the first for the Redskins since quarterback Alex Smith broke his right leg last month.
The 32-year-old Johnson, the franchise’s fourth starting quarterback in as many weeks, completed 16 of 25 passes for 151 yards and the score. He also ran for 49 yards.
“I know every opportunity I get could be my last one,” said Johnson, who played collegiately at the University of San Diego for Jim Harbaugh. “It’s the reality of my situation, so I just wanted to leave it all on the field. I owe the game that much because I love it that much. For me to go out there and not leave it on the field, I would be disrespecting it. If I had the opportunity to go out and make a play, I’m going to do it.”
His 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Sprinkle with 5:47 remaining tied the game. The Redskins got the ball back with an interception on the ensuing possession, and Peterson carried five times for 28 yards and had a 7-yard reception to get the team close enough for FSU alum Hopkins to win it.
“Josh made enough plays, and people around him made enough plays to get us the victory,” said Redskins coach Jay Gruden, who twice served as head coach of the Arena league’s Orlando Predators.
Peterson finished with 51 on the ground, more than half of those coming on the winning drive.
“It was a situation where it was do or die,” Peterson said. “It was not that serious, but obviously for our season and what we’re trying to accomplish, we needed this W to get out of this funk by any means necessary. One point, two points, we didn’t care.”
The Jaguars (4-10) have dropped nine of 10, raising more questions about the future of coach Doug Marrone, top decision-maker Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell as the team heads into its final two games at Miami and at Houston.
Jacksonville managed 192 yards, another anemic performance under Marrone. The Jags now have double-digit losses for the seventh time in the last eight years.
Cody Kessler was 9 of 17 passing for 57 yards with an interception in his third start since replacing Blake Bortles. He has directed one touchdown drive in 31 possessions.