Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence dodged a free rusher by sliding left, took a big step to his right and released the ball as he got hammered in the chest by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss.
Thirty yards downfield, receiver Calvin Ridley stood all by himself in the end zone while cornerback A.J. Terrell sprinted to close the gap.
But the throw got there first, and Ridley plucked it out of the air for a touchdown, giving the Jaguars a seven-point first-quarter lead in their eventual 23-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in front of 85,716 fans at Wembley Stadium in London.
It was the third touchdown the Jaguars have scored in their last three games, and the first they’ve scored in the first half.
Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen registered three of the team's four sacks for his second three-sack game of the season, with his sack/fumble ending the Falcons' final drive.
"They played together as a team," Pederson said. "That's the sign that we're headed in the right direction where we're getting some things fixed. We've still got some work to do, obviously, but very, very pleased with today's win."
A defensive stand midway through the fourth quarter secured the victory with Atlanta turning the ball over on downs at the Jaguars 6 with 6:01 remaining and Jacksonville leading 20-7.
"That's a heck of a way to fight," Allen said.
Lawrence explained afterwards that although the victory wasn’t the prettiest, he and his team “just found a way” to get over the finish line.
“It still wasn’t all that clean at times but we’re a gritty group and we just found a way to win,” the 23-year-old – who will celebrate his birthday in London during the Jags’ two-week stint in the UK – told ESPN on the field at Wembley Stadium.
“That’s what I told the guys at the beginning of that last drive. ‘Let’s finish the game on our terms right now. Let’s put a drive together and feel good about it.’ And that’s what we did.
“Obviously didn’t score [a touchdown] but four minutes there, to be able to go 60 or 70 yards and eat up that clock and get a field goal is big.”
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