Score Patriots vs. Jaguars: Jax's ground game outscores the Patriots in a 32-16 win and gives Doug Pederson breathing room

At the end of their two-week stay in London, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave their embattled head coach Doug Pederson a gift that money can't buy: air to breathe.

The Jaguars defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL finals in London, earning a much-needed 32-16 win that will lower the temperature on Pederson's increasingly hot seat.

But it didn't start that way. In the first quarter it was just the Patriots. Drake Maye, starting just his second NFL game, was calm and cool, leading the team down the field behind a solid offensive line that gave Maye the time he needed. The Pats scored on their first drive for the first time this season, and after a quick, futile Jags possession, they scored a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.

The Jags finally answered in the second quarter when Lawrence came alive and led a 68-yard touchdown drive. With that, Jacksonville’s offensive engine finally started. On their next possession, Lawrence threw the ball downfield for a great 58-yard pass, and a few plays later the Jags scored a TD for their first-ever lead of the game.

But the second quarter wasn't over, and neither were the Jags. They had a punt return 96 yards for a touchdown, their first punt return TD in four years and the longest in Jacksonville history. Adding in the successful two-point conversion at the end of that touchdown, the Jags scored 22 unanswered points against the Patriots in just a single quarter.

The intensity of the second half was toned down a bit, but the Patriots continued to be thwarted in all areas by the Jaguars. The Pats couldn't stop Jacksonville's ground-heavy offense from scoring, and Jax's defensive line was impossible to break through.

The Pats finally managed to put a hole in the Jags' defensive wall in the fourth quarter and had a chance to make it a one-possession game. After Maye scored a touchdown with KJ Osborn, head coach Jerod Mayo opted for two points. If successful, the Pats would have gotten within seven points of the Jags, but they couldn't, remaining nine points behind Jacksonville.

New England didn't have enough time or fight to compete against Jacksonville in the final minutes. And to put an exclamation point on the end of this game, the Jags scored another touchdown in the final minute to double the Patriots 32-16 and ensure the entire team had a very pleasant flight back to Jacksonville.

This game concludes the London portion of the NFL's international schedule. The last international match of 2024 will be Giants vs. Panthers in Munich on November 10th.

How to watch the Patriots vs Jaguars: NFL London game