Turning Point: Dante Fowler Jr. Tips The Pass To Yannick Ngakoue
Dante Fowler tips an Andrew Luck pass into the hands of Yannick Ngakoue marking the turning point of the game for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Winning football games have been difficult for the Jacksonville Jaguars in head coach Gus Bradley’s tenure. Giving away games have been rather easy, too, for Bradley’s teams.
In a must-win game for the Jaguars, Bradley’s defense stepped up with a huge play.
The defense played extremely well in Week 4 by pressuring Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck. The Jaguars recorded six sacks against a young and ineffective Indianapolis offensive line. The Colts receivers dropped passes which contributed to the Jaguars momentum on defense.
The Jaguars defense forced a punt on Indianapolis’ first drive after the opening kick off. The Jacksonville offense again started slow. After three plays, the Jaguars punt the ball back to the Colts.
Then, like lightning, the game changed with a twist and a major turning point in the 2016 season.
Defensive pressure was the key that turned the game for Jacksonville.
Third down and eight on the Indianapolis 42 yard line, the Jaguars lined up to force a fourth down punt. The Colts sent three receivers right and two receivers left, leaving only Luck in the backfield. Jacksonville looked to be in man coverage with a safety in the middle of the field.
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As the ball is snapped, the five Colt receivers go downfield which left five linemen to block. Fowler twists inside toward Luck. The pressure is beginning to surround the Colt QB. Just as Luck was trying to throw the ball to the tight end on a crossing route, Fowler tips the pass.
Yannick Ngakoue is rushing towards Luck and Fowler from the right side. In just a split second, the ball is floating towards Ngakoue. The Jaguar defense has made a big play.
Ngakoue catches the ball at the 32 yard line and begins the defensive lineman’s dream of scoring a TD. He is dragged down by Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo at the 22 yard line.
Five plays later, the Jacksonville Jaguars lead 7-0, with 8:23 in the first quarter. It marked the first time this season that the Jaguars scored first. The Jags never looked back, but at times looked bad.
In this must win game, the turning point was a positive one, the Jaguars get a win.