When Trevor Lawrence fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to Travis Etienne Jr. with 8:12 left in overtime, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t celebrate yet. Not until Cam Little split the uprights from 52 yards out — a kick that felt like a cannon shot echoing through the chilly Arizona night — did the road team finally exhale. The Jaguars beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-24 on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, ending a brutal eight-game skid for Jacksonville and extending Arizona’s collapse into full-blown chaos. This wasn’t pretty football. It was messy, gritty, and utterly unforgettable.
Chaos in the Second Half
For three quarters, the game looked like a rerun of Arizona’s season: inconsistent offense, costly mistakes, and a defense that showed flashes but couldn’t close. The Cardinals led 14-10 at halftime, fueled by Jacoby Brissett’s surgical 20-of-25 passing for 161 yards. Michael Wilson was everywhere — 10 catches, 118 yards, the kind of performance that makes you forget Kyler Murray is on IR. But then came the third quarter. Zero points. Zero momentum. The Cardinals’ offense went silent. Meanwhile, Jacksonville clawed back with a 97-yard touchdown drive in just four plays — Lawrence to Brenton Strange for 30 yards, then Etienne’s 45-yard burst, capped by a 15-yard catch-and-run that tied the game at 14.
What followed was a rollercoaster of near-misses. Chad Ryland, Arizona’s kicker, had made 13 straight field goals under 50 yards. Then, with 13 seconds left in the first half, he shanked a 33-yarder wide right. The crowd groaned. The announcers gasped. It was the kind of moment that haunts teams. And then, with 3 seconds left in regulation, he redeemed himself — barely — with a 29-yarder to tie it at 24. The game went to overtime. The kind of overtime where you wonder if you’re watching a movie or a real NFL game.
Lawrence’s Flawed Brilliance
Let’s be clear: Trevor Lawrence didn’t play a perfect game. He threw two interceptions. He missed open receivers. He locked onto targets too long. But he also made three touchdown throws — two in the second half — that turned momentum. His 18-of-30, 256-yard stat line doesn’t tell the full story. The Associated Press called it “littered with mistakes,” and they weren’t wrong. But in football, greatness isn’t about perfection. It’s about delivering when the stakes are highest. Lawrence did that. He found Parker Washington on a crossing route for a critical 22-yard gain on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter. He hit Etienne on a swing pass that turned into a 17-yard gain after contact. He didn’t need to be perfect. He just needed to be clutch.
And then there was Cam Little. The 23-year-old rookie kicker from Georgia. He’d missed a 48-yarder earlier in the game. He’d been booed by Jaguars fans in Week 9. But on a cold, windy night in Glendale, with the season on the line, he lined up for a 52-yarder — the longest game-winning field goal in franchise history — and sent it through like a laser. The ball didn’t just clear the crossbar. It seemed to hang there, as if time itself paused. When it did, the Jaguars sideline erupted. Little fell to his knees. He didn’t celebrate. He just stared at the scoreboard, as if waiting for it to change.
Arizona’s Collapse Deepens
The Cardinals’ season is unraveling. After winning their first two games, they’ve lost seven of eight. Their offense, once promising with Brissett at the helm, now looks disjointed. Their defense, which held the Jaguars to just 10 points through three quarters, cracked under pressure. And their special teams — once a strength — became their Achilles’ heel. Ryland’s miss before halftime wasn’t just a bad kick. It was a symbol. A team that couldn’t capitalize on opportunities. A team that keeps finding ways to lose.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon said after the game, “We had chances. We had the ball in the final minute. We just didn’t finish.” He’s right. But finishing is what separates contenders from also-rans. And Arizona? They’re slipping fast. They’re now 3-8, last in the NFC West, and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The only question left is how bad the draft pick will be.
What This Means for the AFC Playoff Race
For Jacksonville, this win was vital. At 7-4, they’re now second in the AFC South behind the Indianapolis Colts (8-3), with the Houston Texans (6-5) breathing down their neck. Three of their last four wins have come on the road. They’ve got a real shot at the postseason — something they haven’t had since 2017. Lawrence is no longer just a project. He’s a franchise quarterback who’s learning how to win ugly. And with a schedule that includes the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers in the next two weeks, they could be peaking at the right time.
The game also exposed the thin margin between success and failure in the NFL. One missed field goal. One clutch throw. One 52-yard kick. That’s all it took.
What’s Next?
The Jaguars host the Tennessee Titans on December 1, 2025, in what could be a de facto playoff elimination game. The Cardinals travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks — a team that’s won five straight. Arizona’s season is effectively over. But for Jacksonville? This win might be the spark that reignites their playoff dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cam Little’s 52-yard field goal compare to other clutch kicks in NFL history?
Little’s 52-yarder was the longest game-winning field goal in Jacksonville Jaguars franchise history. Only five kickers in NFL history have made a longer field goal to win a game in overtime — the most recent being Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder in 2021. It’s also the longest OT winner since 2020, making it one of the most dramatic kicks of the 2025 season.
Why is Trevor Lawrence’s performance considered a turning point for the Jaguars?
Lawrence’s three touchdowns, despite four turnovers, showed he can win under pressure — something he struggled with early in his career. This was his first career game with three TDs and no interceptions since 2023. His ability to lead two fourth-quarter drives, including the 97-yard touchdown march, signals he’s evolving into a true clutch performer — a critical step for Jacksonville’s playoff hopes.
What impact did Michael Wilson’s 10-catch performance have on the game?
Wilson’s 118 yards on 10 receptions were the backbone of Arizona’s offense. His 31-yard grab with no timeouts left set up Chad Ryland’s game-tying field goal. Without Wilson, Brissett would’ve had no reliable target in the final minutes. He’s become the Cardinals’ most consistent offensive weapon — and one of the few bright spots in a season full of disappointments.
How does this loss affect Arizona’s draft position for 2026?
With their 3-8 record, the Cardinals are now locked into the bottom three of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even if they win their final five games, they’ll finish no better than 8-9 — guaranteeing them a top-10 pick. A win over Seattle could push them to 4-8, but with the Raiders and Panthers on their schedule, a 5-12 finish seems likely — meaning they’re almost certain to land a top-five selection.
What does this result mean for the AFC South playoff race?
Jacksonville’s win pulls them within one game of the Colts (8-3) and gives them the tiebreaker advantage over Houston (6-5). With games left against Tennessee and Carolina — both struggling teams — the Jaguars have a clear path to the playoffs. They now control their destiny: win two of their last five, and they’re in. Lose three, and they’re out.
Why did the Cardinals fail to score in the third quarter?
Arizona’s offense went silent after halftime because Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator, Mike Caldwell, switched to a zone-blitz scheme that confused Brissett. The Jaguars brought extra rushers on seven of their 12 third-down plays in the third quarter, forcing three punts and one interception. It was a tactical adjustment that exposed Arizona’s lack of offensive line depth and Brissett’s limited mobility.
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