Game recap: Washington Commanders deny Jacksonville Jaguars rally in season opener
The Jacksonville Jaguars opened the 2022 NFL season on Sunday afternoon, taking on the Washington Commanders in an AFC vs. NFC clash.
Sunday's game was be the first for former Super Bowl champion Doug Pederson on the Jaguars' sidelines, and it marked the start of the second year for former No. 1 NFL Draft selection Trevor Lawrence at quarterback for Jacksonville. The Jaguars completed the preseason at 0-4, including a loss in the Hall of Fame game to the Oakland Raiders in Canton.
At quarterback for Washington was Carson Wentz, the same quarterback the Jaguars defeated in the 2021 season finale while Wentz was playing for the Indianapolis Colts.
Follow along for live updates from Times-Union reporters at the game.
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Better, but not enough: Trevor Lawrence rallied the Jaguars' offense in the second half
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Veteran leader: Marvin Jones' leadership needed more than ever in Jaguars' younger wide receiver room
The Zay Factor: Trevor Lawrence's connection with free agent Zay Jones getting stronger
Into the fire: Luke Fortner set to become first rookie center in Jaguars team history to start Week 1
Quick starts: How have the Jaguars fared in Week 1s over their history? You might be surprised
Jaguars football in 2022: Schedule, predictions and Trevor Lawrence: Everything you need to know
A Twitter List by DanRorabaugh
6:30 p.m. | Grading the Jaguars: Mixed bag in Commanders loss
Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette grades the Jaguars’ performance against the Washington Commanders based on execution, effort and game circumstances. | Read more --Gene Frenette
5:50 p.m. | Better, but not enough: Trevor Lawrence rallied the Jaguars' offense in the second half
After a first half in which everything that could wrong did go wrong, Jaguars second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence played substantially better in the second half Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
It wasn't enough. | Read more --Garry Smits
4:50 p.m. | Takeaways from a heartbreaker: Jaguars lose Week 1 in Washington
So close to a win for the Jaguars - but the same familiar losing feeling after Week 1 in Washington. See the quick takeaways from Sunday's loss. | Read more --Demetrius Harvey
4:33 p.m. | Trevor Tracker: How does Trevor Tracker's Week 1 performance stack up compared to 2021?
Trevor Lawrence's 2022 debut against Washington was a mix of highlights and miscues. Here is a side-by-side comparison of his first games from 2021 and 2022. | Read more --Tim Walters
4:22 p.m. | FINAL: Washington 28, Jacksonville 22
The Jaguars commit encroachment on third down and Washington takes a knee.
The Doug Pederson era opens at 0-1 for the Jaguars.
4:18 p.m. | Darrick Forrest picks off Trevor Lawrence
That might do it. Trevor Lawrence goes long on third down but Darrick Forrest, Washington safety, intercepts it. The Jaguars do have two timeouts, but Washington, up 28-22 with just over a minute to play, are close to wrapping this one up.
4:15 p.m. | Pass interference jump-starts Jaguars' drive
The Jaguars are on the move. Ball to the Jacksonville 45 after pass interference on Washington. Still 90 seconds to go.
4:10 p.m. | Touchdown Washington: Jahan Dotson one-handed grab
The Jaguars might have expected the Commanders to drain the clock for the field goal. Instead, Carson Wentz went for the end zone, and Jahan Dotson reached out with one hand to bring the ball in against Tyson Campbell's coverage. A stunning catch, and now the Jaguars are in trouble.
Washington went for two and converted, Wentz to J.D. McKissic.
Washington 28, Jacksonville 22, 1:46 4th.
4:02 p.m. | Washington on the march
Can the Jaguars' defense hold on? Carson Wentz has the Washington offense moving with several short passes, advancing to midfield on a pass to Logan Thomas.
The Jaguars, up 22-20, can't allow many more yards before the Commanders get into field goal range. Three and a half minutes to go.
3:56 p.m. | Trevor Lawrence sacked, Washington takes over
The Jaguars are stopped for the first time in a while. Trevor Lawrence led the offense across midfield, thanks in large part to a speedy run from Travis Etienne, but the Commanders got a third-down sack. Logan Cooke punted to the 10.
Washington will have 6:48 left. The Jaguars lead 22-20.
3:55 p.m. | Could Jaguars reverse trend of Week 1 woes?
The Jaguars are attempting to do something they haven't often achieved lately -- winning in Week 1. | Read more --Tim Walters
3:52 p.m. | Travon Walker: Learn more about the Jaguars' No. 1 draft pick
He's got a sack. He's got an interception. Travon Walker is having a magical NFL debut. Now, learn more about the Jaguars' No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection. | Read more --John Reid
3:49 p.m. | Touchdown as Wentz, Washington strike back; Jaguars deny 2-point try
The Commanders aren't through yet. Carson Wentz needed just two passes, a strike to midfield and then a 50-yard bomb down the right sideline to Terry McLaurin. A once-sputtering Washington offense came back to life.
Washington went for two and the tie, after Jacksonville's unsuccessful two-point attempt earlier. But Devin Lloyd broke through and sacked Wentz on the two-point try, preserving the Jaguars' edge for now.
Jacksonville 22, Washington 20, 9:36 4th.
3:45 p.m. | Meet Riley Patterson, the new Jaguars kicker
Who is Riley Patterson, the kicker who just booted the Jaguars into the lead against the Washington Commanders? Learn more about the newest place-kicker on the First Coast. | Read more --Garry Smits
3:43 p.m. | Touchdown Jacksonville: James Robinson dances to end zone
This game has turned around in a hurry. One play after the Travon Walker pick, James Robinson zigzags into the end zone from 9 yards. The Jaguars are winning the turnover battle 3-0 and they're eight points up on the scoreboard.
Jacksonville 22, Washington 14, 11:45 4th.
3:42 p.m. | What a moment: Jaguars' Travon Walker interception in NFL debut
There's a big play! Travon Walker reaches up in the line and intercepts a Carson Wentz pass, returning it inside the 10. A highlight moment for the No. 1 NFL Draft pick in his first game.
3:39 p.m. | Jaguars 15, Commanders 14: Riley Patterson boots Jags into lead
The Jaguars won the challenge and advanced inside the 30 after a Trevor Lawrence pass to Christian Kirk. Washington slapped down the third-down pass but the offense was in range.
The result was the return to Riley Patterson, and a 45-yard field goal to boot the Jaguars in front. A much better second half for the Jaguars so far.
Jacksonville 15, Washington 14, 12:04 4th.
3:34 p.m. | Commanders challenge possible Jaguars fumble
Was that a fumble by Trevor Lawrence? Officials called intentional grounding, Lawrence's second IG flag of the game, but Washington coach Ron Rivera is throwing the challenge flag and claiming Commanders possession.
The officials are going to the monitors. Here in the fourth quarter, this is a big decision.
3:31 p.m. | Tyson Campbell makes the pick
There's a big play from the Jaguars defense. Carson Wentz telegraphed the outside pass to Jahan Dotson, and Tyson Campbell was all over it. That's a pick and the Jaguars take over just across the midfield stripe.
3:27 p.m. | END OF THIRD QUARTER: Washington 14, Jacksonville 12
Oops. Darious Williams appeared to have an interception for the Jaguars, but the play was wiped out because lineman Roy Robertson-Harris was offside. Carson Wentz and Washington are still on the move after a first down.
3:22 p.m. | Commanders 14, Jaguars 12: Riley Patterson converts field goal
It looked like the best drive of the game for the Jaguars - for a while.
Trevor Lawrence connected with Marvin Jones for a sizable gain to midfield, and then Jamal Agnew took off for an end-around pass that picked up a first down when coupled with an unnecessary roughness flag. James Robinson continues to look sharp in the second half, too.
The drive stalled out, though, after a batted pass on third down. On came Riley Patterson for the 42-yard boot and a field goal.
Washington 14, Jacksonville 12, 1:16 3rd.
3:12 p.m. | Jaguars D makes another stop
Is the momentum shifting in Washington?
The Jaguars slammed the door quickly on the Commanders that time. A third-down Carson Wentz pass deflected incomplete and, after a punt for a touchback, the Jaguars will take over on their own 20 with a chance to take
3:03 p.m. | Commanders 14, Jaguars 9: Trevor Lawrence finds James Robinson for TD
That's a touchdown, first of the year: Trevor Lawrence to James Robinson from 3 yards on the roll-out.
The Jaguars started by going back to the run game, with Robinson rushing for his fourth and fifth times today to gain nearly 20 yards in all as he continues his return from last year's Achilles tendon injury. Then, Lawrence turned to the air, launching a 49-yard strike to Christian Kirk. Another pass to Kirk brought the Jags to the Washington 3.
Doug Pederson went for the two-point conversion and it didn't work, with Washington knocking it down.
Commanders 14, Jaguars 9, 8:50 3rd.
2:53 p.m. | Travon Walker gets first sack, Washington goes 3-and-out
Circle that moment in the young career of No. 1 NFL Draft pick Travon Walker. The edge rusher toasted the Washington right tackle on his way to a sack of Carson Wentz, ruining that Commanders possession before it got started.
Jaguars fans will be hoping to see a lot more of that in the years to come. The result is a Commanders three-and-out and a punt.
2:50 p.m. | Second half kicks off
Back to the action in Washington. The Jaguars had a few positives in half number one, but way too many negatives, from missed tackles to red-zone misery. (Look for some of these to appear in Gene Frenette's Up-Down Drill after the game.)
2:36 p.m. | HALFTIME: Commanders 14, Jaguars 3
That's halftime as Carson Wentz takes a knee, and it's a frustrating first half again for the Jaguars.
2:34 p.m. | Missed opportunity, again, for Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence launched a nice two-minute drill after Foye Oluokun's fumble recovery, mixing up passes to Zay Jones and Marvin Jones to advance inside the Washington 10.
Then... a combination of incompletions and a Travis Etienne fumble out of bounds derailed further progress. On came Riley Patterson for the 37-yard field goal... which clanked off the goalpost.
In three possessions inside the Washington 10, the Jaguars have a grand total of 10 points.
2:24 p.m. | Fumble! Jaguars take possession
Washington was on the move until... Josh Allen time. Allen slapped the ball from the hand of Curtis Samuel, and eventually Foye Oluokun emerged from the pile with the ball.
The Jaguars take over with a chance to narrow the gap, 82 seconds until the half.
2:13 p.m. | Dismal drop: Jaguars' drive ends inside Washington 5
Ouch. Even with a little help from Washington, the Jaguars couldn't score. Trevor Lawrence was sacked on third down inside his own 20, apparently ending the possession, but the Commanders bailed out the Jaguars with illegal contact and later pass interference to begin a march of nearly 80 yards.
Travis Etienne took over for a while, rushing inside the 40 and then catching a pass from Lawrence inside the 10. Lawrence's third-down pass glanced off the fingertips of Zay Jones, and after Doug Pederson elected to go for fourth down, Etienne dropped a near-certain touchdown from Lawrence in the flat. It's still 14-3 Commanders.
2:02 p.m. | Quick stop for Jaguars D
Washington didn't make much progress on that possession. The Jaguars halted the drive for a three-and-out, including Roy Robertson-Harris knocking down a Carson Wentz pass on second down. A much-needed stop for the Jags.
1:57 p.m. | Three-and-out for Jags
Another fruitless possession for the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence came under heavy pressure again, unloading the football to escape a sack on first down and misfiring toward Marvin Jones on the deep ball on third down. That's another punt.
1:52 p.m. | Commanders 14, Jaguars 3: Carson Wentz floats TD pass to Jahan Dotson
Now that was a frustrating drive for Jaguars fans. A flurry of missed tackles, including two on a single pass to Terry McLaurin to lunge for a first down. Then, just when the Jaguars had Washington stopped on an off-target pass by Carson Wentz, officials flagged Dawuane Smoot for roughing the passer.
Wentz made them pay, lofting a touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson in the end zone. The Jaguars are now down two scores in the nation's capital. That drive chewed up more than seven minutes.
Washington 14, Jacksonville 3, 11:47 2nd.
1:42 p.m. | END OF FIRST QUARTER: Commanders 7, Jaguars 3
That's the end of the first quarter. After an encouraging start for Jacksonville, including a pair of excellent throws by Trevor Lawrence, the old problems have resurfaced: Poor pass protection from the O-line, inconsistent accuracy from Lawrence and missed tackles from the defense. Despite a 10-yard loss forced by Josh Allen's TFL on a reverse, Carson Wentz has Washington moving across midfield once more as the second quarter approaches.
1:33 p.m. | First grounding, then a sack: Heavy Washington pressure on Trevor Lawrence
Two stats tell you all you need to know about how that drive went for the Jaguars: An intentional grounding penalty on Trevor Lawrence, followed by a Jonathan Allen sack on third down. The Commanders are getting big-time pressure on the second-year QB, and that's bad news for the Jags. Punt time.
The drive was marred by an injury to Washington defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, who was carted from the field.
1:22 p.m. | Commanders 7, Jaguars 3: Carson Wentz throws TD to Curtis Samuel
That didn't take long. Carson Wentz made that look easy, picking apart the Jaguars' pass defense. He found converted QB Armani Rogers on a short pass that turned into big yards into Jacksonville territory, then aimed a strike downfield to running back Antonio Gibson inside the 10.
The drive ended with a 4-yard toss to Curtis Samuel in the flat, flipping into the end zone to squeeze inside the pylon. For Jaguars fans, that felt like the bad old days for the Jacksonville pass defense. Wentz completed 4 of 5 on that drive and faced little pressure from the pass rush.
Washington 7, Jacksonville 3, 7:36 1st.
1:12 p.m.| Jaguars 3, Commanders 0: Riley Patterson boots field goal
Good news for Jaguars: James Robinson is back. The running back zoomed through the Washington defense inside the 15 on a run that showed off the speed and elusiveness of his rookie season.
No touchdown for the Jaguars, though. Trevor Lawrence couldn't connect on passes on second and third down, missing an open Travis Etienne in the end zone on the former play. So Doug Pederson summoned Riley Patterson for a 33-yard field goal right down the middle, the first points for the new kicker and the first score of a new season.
Jags lead Washington 3-0, 11:52 1st.
1:07 p.m. | Jaguars across midfield on pass to Christian Kirk
After two flags to start the game, the Jaguars' first non-penalty play of the new season is a good one: Trevor Lawrence fires a strike over the middle to Christian Kirk to advance the Jags to midfield. That's the kind of highlight Jags fans are hoping to see from the free agent receiver.
1:04 p.m. | Kickoff time!
Washington kicks off and the 28th NFL regular season in Jacksonville Jaguars history is underway.
Trevor Lawrence and the offense are going to work.
1:00 p.m. | Star-Spangled Banner in Washington
Almost time now. The Jaguars and Commanders are on the field for the national anthem, on the 21st anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
12:45 p.m. | Devin Lloyd ready for his close-up: Rookie linebacker and first-round pick fully recovered
Jaguars fans got an early glimpse at the impact their top overall draft pick could have on the defense when outside linebacker Travon Walker blew up the Las Vegas offensive line several times in the first preseason game.
They had to wait a bit longer to get a preview of their second first-round pick. | Read more --Garry Smits
12:35 p.m. | Few coaches are more battle-tested against great QBs than Commanders' Jack Del Rio
One of the most interesting and overlooked matchups in the NFL season opener Sunday is former Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator, trying to match wits with the tag team of first-time offensive coordinator Press Taylor and Jags’ head coach/play-caller Doug Pederson at FedEx Field. | Read more --Gene Frenette
12:25 p.m. | Luke Fortner set to become first rookie center in Jaguars team history to start Week 1
Luke Fortner won't be afforded a mulligan season in Jacksonville as he gets set to become the first rookie in Jaguars history to start at center in Week 1 of the regular season.
The only player that comes close to that feat was Luke Bowanko in 2014, who started at center during Week 3 of his rookie season. | Read more --Demetrius Harvey
12:15 p.m. | Jaguars notes & quotes ahead of Week 1
Doug Pederson's eyes peered from the shadow of his visor as he started speaking. Months ago, in the same room, he spoke about a team that needed healing. On Wednesday, he credited the players for their part in the process. | Read more --Juston Lewis
12:02 p.m. | Trevor's Time — Jaguars QB has makeup, resiliency to rebound from 2021 disaster
A year after what many thought would be the most anticipated Jaguars season in well over a decade, which turned into a dumpster fire, the start of a real payoff is about to commence.
Whether it’s right out of the gate Sunday in the season opener against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field, or at some other point in 2022, the generational quarterback this franchise thought it was getting in Trevor Lawrence is going to surface on a more consistent basis. | Read more --Gene Frenette
11:50 a.m. | Jaguars offense looks to control line of scrimmage, faces tough challenge vs. Commanders
The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 1 of the regular season with a reworked offensive line. They'll also face off against one of the toughest defensive lines in the league in the Washington Commanders. | Read more --Demetrius Harvey
11:35 a.m. | Marvin Jones' leadership needed more than ever in Jaguars' younger wide receiver room
The Jaguars wide receiver room has undergone the most turnover of any offensive position group. The constant from last season is Marvin Jones Jr. | Read more --Garry Smits
11:25 a.m. | Jaguars look to put offenses 'on their heels' with versatile duo on defensive line
There's always a method to the madness, and the Jaguars are set to see it play out in 2022 under new leadership, including defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, who will help usher in a new identity in Jacksonville.
The team has re-shaped its roster to align with the ideas brought in by Caldwell, and that includes philosophies that appear unique on its surface when it comes to the team's configuration on defense. | Read more --Demetrius Harvey
11:15 a.m. | Times-Union staff predictions for Jaguars-Commanders
See what Times-Union writers are expecting for Sunday's 2022 NFL season opener for the Jaguars in Washington. | Read more --The Times-Union
11:05 a.m. | Jaguars to begin Pederson era with opportunities to break losing streaks vs. Commanders
It's been a busy offseason, but now it's time to see how far the Jacksonville Jaguars have come.
The Jaguars will hope to break at least two losing streaks on the day — a 16-game road losing streak and a 17-game losing streak against the NFC. | Read more --Demetrius Harvey
What time do the Jaguars play?
1 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2022
Where is the Jaguars vs. Commanders game?
FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
What channel is the Jaguars game on?
TV: FOX (in local markets), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)
How to watch the Jaguars game on streaming?
Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket, FoxSports.com (cable subscription needed), NFL+ (7-day free trial)
How can I listen to Jaguars vs. Commanders on radio?
Radio: WJXL 1010AM/92.5 FM, 99.9 FM, SiriusXM Channel 388
Online radio: 1010xl.com, TuneIn, SiriusXM.com (Channel 814)
What's the latest betting line for Jaguars vs. Commanders?
Washington is a 3-point favorite over Jacksonville, according to Oddsshark.com, a betting odds aggregator. The over-under is 44 points.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Game recap: Jaguars vs. Commanders score, analysis
