Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars Box Score on Dec 20, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 20, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Shayne Graham kicked three field goals, including a pair in the fourth quarter, to lift the Atlanta Falcons to a 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, ending the Falcons six-game losing streak.

The game was tied at 17-17 entering the fourth quarter before Graham connected on a 33-yard effort with just over 10 minutes left. He then increased the lead to six points when he hit from 46 yards out with 1:42 left in the game.

Jacksonville had a final chance to score the winning touchdown but turned the ball over on downs in the closing seconds from its own 41-yard line.

Atlanta took the opening drive and marched 80 yards in eight plays with quarterback Matt Ryan completing six passes for 72 yards. Running back Devonte Freeman completed the scoring drive with a 5-yard run, the Falcons first rushing touchdown since Week 6.

The Falcons were held in check in their next three series, but midway in the second quarter, they put together another lengthy drive. It covered 81 yards in 11 plays with Ryan teaming with wide receiver Julio Jones from 11 yards out for the score. It was Jones' first touchdown in four games.

Jacksonville's offense, which had scored 90 points the last two weeks, showed little spark for much of the first half. Their only score came on a 42-yard field goal by Jason Myers.

The Jaguars looked like they would score their first touchdown of the half when they marched down to the 1-yard line with 11 seconds remaining. But on the next play, quarterback Blake Bortles' pass was intercepted by Kemal Ishmael at the goal line. He returned the ball 84 yards before Bortles tripped him up to prevent a touchdown.

After reviewing the play, officials ruled there was two seconds left in the half. Graham kicked a 34-yard field goal as the half ended with the Falcons up 17-3.

Jacksonville scored on the opening possession of the second half, using pass completions of 25, 22 and 17 yards to three different receivers in marching down to the 1-yard line. Bortles then rolled to the left and went into the end zone untouched for the score to reduce the Falcons lead to 17-10.

It didn't take the Jaguars long to tie it up. Linebacker Paul Posluszny intercepted a tipped pass by Ryan on Atlanta's next possession, and the Jaguars took over at the Atlanta 39. Six plays later Bortles teamed with wide receiver Allen Robinson on a 10-yard scoring pass.

NOTES: Atlanta's touchdown on its initial drive was the first time that the Falcons had scored a touchdown on its opening drive this season. ... Jaguars QB Blake Bortles' third-quarter touchdown pass added to his team record of 31 TD passes in a season. The previous high had been 23 by David Garard in 2010 ... Falcons WR Julio Jones established a franchise record for receptions in one season by grabbing nine passes to increase his season total to 118, three more than Roddy White's previous high. ... Jason Myers' 42-yard field goal in the second quarter was his 11th consecutive made field goal. But Myers also leads the NFL in missed extra points with seven.