The Jacksonville Jaguars continued their dominant start against the run by limiting the Philadelphia Eagles to 22 rushing yards on 18 carries in a 19-17 last-second victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The performance marked the second consecutive game in which the Jaguars held an opponent to 25 rushing yards or fewer. Jacksonville allowed the Cincinnati Bengals 23 rushing yards on 15 carries the previous week, helping the Jaguars extend their winning streak to three games and remain atop the AFC South through five games.
“It’s about us imposing our will as a team,” Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Dennis Gardeck said.
Jacksonville Jaguars Continue to Control the Run
The Jacksonville Jaguars rank No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 63.8 rushing yards per game through five games. They also have allowed a league-low 2.9 yards per rushing attempt this season, making run defense a central part of the team’s identity.
Jacksonville did not allow a run longer than six yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cincinnati Bengals also had a longest run of six yards, and the Jaguars have not allowed an opposing running back to exceed 40 rushing yards in a game during the first five games of the season.
That makes the Jaguars the second team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish the feat and the first since the 1969 Dallas Cowboys.
“It’s just in the detail,” Gardeck said. “The way you kind of bake that into your identity is doing it in practice, talking about it in meetings, finding different ways to attack the blocks or to key, to have your eyes in the right spot.”
Gardeck said the emphasis carries into every defensive series. “It’s part of our identity as a defense; it’s something every time we take the field that we’re planning on doing,” he said.
Liam Coen Highlights Defensive Buy-In
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said the team entered the game against the Philadelphia Eagles believing it would have a strong chance to win if it ran for at least 100 yards and held Philadelphia below that mark. The Jaguars’ run defense became especially important in the second half of the close game.
“For us to be able to do that again was huge,” Coen said. “We went into the game saying if we could run it for 100-plus and hold them under that, we would have a good chance at winning the football game.”
“Our defense kept us in the game without a question, especially in the second half,” Coen said. He also credited the players up front for getting off blocks, fighting through blocks and pursuing the football.
“It’s such a cool deal to see the guys get off blocks and fight blocks and strain and buzz around to the football,” Coen said. “From a culture standpoint and from what we’re trying to build, it really speaks volumes of the buy-in.”
The Jaguars were the NFL’s No. 1 run defense in 2025, when they allowed 85.6 rushing yards per game. They currently rank first again through five games.
Penalties Remain a Concern
The Jaguars’ penalty totals have increased during the past two games. Jacksonville had 13 accepted penalties for 100 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles after recording 13 accepted penalties for 125 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jaguars had 15 accepted penalties for 111 yards during the first three weeks. Coen said the team must improve its hand placement, perimeter technique and fundamentals inside the formation.
“The penalties are concerning when you start the season off in the first three weeks as the second-least penalized team in the NFL, and now over the last two weeks, we’re arguably one of the most penalized teams in the NFL,” Coen said.
Coen called the increase alarming and said the Jaguars are continuing to work through the issue. The penalty problems remain a clear area for improvement while Jacksonville’s defense continues to limit opposing rushing attacks.
Parker Washington Makes Two Key Touchdown Plays
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington caught six passes for 124 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles and scored both of the team’s touchdowns. His first score came on a 51-yard catch-and-run from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, giving Jacksonville a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
Washington later made a 27-yard one-handed diving reception in the end zone to give the Jaguars a 16-14 lead with 3:20 remaining. He has 22 receptions for 352 yards and four touchdowns this season.
“You’re amazed because of the moment and because of how big of a time it was, but to look back and to continue to see this guy make plays for our team – especially in some of these critical moments – it just speaks to the dude and to make critical plays in critical moments, he’s showing that he can step up and do that stuff,” Coen said.
FSB Take
The Jacksonville Jaguars have established a clear defensive identity through five games. They have held the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles to 25 rushing yards or fewer in consecutive weeks while ranking first in the NFL in rushing defense.
The next area to address is penalty control. Jacksonville’s ability to preserve its run-defense production while reducing its accepted penalties will be important as the Jaguars continue their season atop the AFC South.
Source: Original report