Fallen Patriots wave white flag in mauling by hungry Jaguars

Jacksonville take advantage of a porous New England defense to keep playoff hopes alive

How the mighty have fallen. The New England Patriots, a name that once struck fear in the core of an opposition, now can only strike out as their gossamer defense allowed the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars to deliver a stunning 32-16 victory full of scorching runs from the impressive stand-in running back Tank Bigsby. He may now move up the depth chart permanently after punishing the Patriots with two touchdowns and 118 yards on the ground.

Stunning not in how brilliant the quarterback Trevor Lawrence performed, though the former No 1 overall pick played well enough with one touchdown, no interceptions and 193 yards passing, but in how easy it came after the Patriots had taken the lead. Jacksonville could do as they pleased while the Patriots defense waved the white flag in a defeat that has all but ended their season at 1-6. Conversely at 2-5 the Jags' postseason chances remain paper-thin but not done just yet. Of the 163 instances of a club being 2-5 after seven games since 1990, 10 have made the playoffs.