Simmons’ goal-line interception flipped momentum
The seven-point swing proved difference in the four-point win
In the Broncos’ 21-17 win over the Jaguars on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, Justin Simmons made a key play to prevent Jacksonville from taking a 14- 0 lead in the first half. Here’s a breakdown of what happened.
THE SITUATION >> With 12:38 left in the second quarter, the Jaguars faced first-andgoal from the 1-yard line following a pass-interference call on Pat Surtain II.
THE FORMATION >> Jacksonville came out in shotgun with two receivers spaced out to the right, and a receiver and tight end on the left side of the line, bunched. Tailback Travis Etienne set up to Trevor Lawrence’s right in the backfield.
THE PLAY CALL >> Designed roll- out to the right. Tight end Evan Engram stayed home to block on the left side. Etienne stepped up to help seal the right side of the rolling pocket. Zay Jones and Marvin Jones Jr. ran jammed, broken routes along the back of the end zone. Christian Kirk ran a flat route to the right pylon.
THE RESULT>> Lawrence had time but was running out of space as he rolled toward the right sideline. The Broncos’ secondary had blanket man coverage with Pat Surtain II on Zay Jones, K’waun Williams on Kirk and rookie Damarri Mathis on Marvin Jones, who finished his route in the back right of the end zone.
Marvin Jones appeared to be Lawrence’s intended target, but Simmons had other ideas. The safety spied on Lawrence, reading his eyes and moving laterally along the goal line as the QB rolled out. When Lawrence tried to gun it to Marvin Jones at the last moment, Simmons leapt up and grabbed his first interception of the season and 22nd of his career.
THE FALLOUT>> Lawrence’s poor decision to force a pass into coverage cost Jacksonville, which never truly regained the momentum of the game.
The QB could’ve thrown the ball away and Jacksonville still had two (maybe three) more chances to score from the 1-yard line for a 14- 0 lead. Instead, Simmons’ pick set the Broncos up at the 20 (it was ruled a touchback after he came down with the ball in the end zone) and gave Denver’s sputtering offense more buffer to settle into the game.
Lawrence and the Jaguars would score again but never looked like a cohesive unit, and the Simmons-induced momentum shift was capped by Williams’ gamesealing interception in the fourth quarter. The sevenpoint swing provided by Simmons’ takeaway proved the difference in the fourpoint win.