Jacksonville Jaguars vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats (Nov 17, 2024)
Quick Answer: The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Detroit Lions 52-6 on November 17, 2024, at Ford Field. It was Jacksonville’s worst defeat in franchise history and Detroit’s largest margin of victory ever.
Six months after the Jacksonville Jaguars got demolished 52-6 in Detroit, the wreckage is still visible. Doug Pederson? Gone. The coaching staff? Cleaned out. The playoff hopes? Dead on that November afternoon at Ford Field.
The historic beatdown didn’t just end a game. It ended an era.
Table of Contents
The Massacre by the Numbers
Before diving into individual performances, understand the sheer scale of this demolition:
- 645 yards – Lions total offense (franchise record)
- 170 yards – Jaguars total offense
- 475 yards – The difference (3rd largest in NFL history)
- 7 straight TDs – Lions scored on first seven possessions
- 38-9 – First down advantage for Detroit
“The team that was out there yesterday was not us. That’s not what we stand for.” – Doug Pederson, day after the loss
Quarterbacks: Perfection Meets Disaster
Jared Goff’s Masterclass
Just one week after throwing five interceptions against Houston, Goff delivered a flawless performance. The numbers tell only part of the story:
24/29, 412 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 158.3 rating
What made it special? Goff became the only quarterback in NFL history with multiple 400-yard games featuring a perfect passer rating. He watched the fourth quarter from the sideline, his job complete by the third.
Mac Jones Unravels
Starting his second game for injured Trevor Lawrence, Jones never found his footing. The backup quarterback struggled from the opening snap:
17/29, 138 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 56.4 rating
“It just wasn’t our day today. That’s the NFL. We have to keep working.” – Mac Jones
His defining moment came late in the third quarter. Floating a pass toward the end zone, Jones watched helplessly as Kerby Joseph snagged his seventh interception of the season. The pick essentially ended any mathematical hope of a comeback.
The Air Attack: Records Fall in Detroit
While Jones struggled through the air, Jacksonville’s ground game fared even worse against Detroit’s “Sonic and Knuckles” duo.
Lions Receivers Feast
Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t just have a good game. He had a historic one:
- 10+ receptions
- 161 yards (career high)
- 2 touchdowns
- Became just the third Lion ever to post this stat line
Jameson Williams provided the dagger with 4 catches for 124 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown that turned a crossing route into six points. Brock Wright added a touchdown. Even Shane Zylstra got involved early.
Jaguars Passing Game Flatlines
Brian Thomas Jr., who would eventually make the Pro Bowl as a rookie, managed just scattered targets. Evan Engram disappeared after one early conversion. The entire passing attack netted 138 yards – less than what St. Brown had by himself.
Ground Game: Total Domination
Detroit’s backfield tandem combined for 218 total yards:
Jahmyr Gibbs: 11 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD, plus a 54-yard catch
David Montgomery: 15 carries, 55 yards, 2 TDs
Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s rushing attack produced these pitiful numbers:
- 41 total yards on 17 carries (2.4 average)
- Zero touchdowns
- Longest run: 11 yards
Travis Etienne Jr. had nowhere to go. By halftime, the Jaguars abandoned the run completely.
Defense and Special Teams: Small Victories in a Blowout
Za’Darius Smith, fresh off the plane from Cleveland, introduced himself with a sack in his Lions debut. Kerby Joseph’s seventh interception made him the first Lions safety since 1976 to reach that mark with a pick-six in the same season.
Alex Anzalone dominated before breaking his forearm. He’d miss 6-8 weeks but returned for Detroit’s playoff run.
For Jacksonville, the defense allowed:
- 645 total yards (franchise record)
- Touchdowns on first 7 Lions possessions
- Zero sacks
- Zero turnovers forced
The lone bright spot? Rookie kicker Cam Little’s 59-yard field goal that tied the franchise record. That 3-0 lead lasted exactly one Detroit possession.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Little’s 59-yarder gave Jacksonville brief hope at 3-0. Montgomery answered immediately.
Second Quarter: The floodgates opened. Gibbs nearly broke a 54-yard screen pass. St. Brown hauled in his first touchdown. By halftime: 28-3.
Third Quarter: Any hope died when Williams turned a simple crossing route into a 64-yard touchdown on Detroit’s first play.
Fourth Quarter: Dan Campbell pulled his starters. Hendon Hooker finished up while Goff watched from the sideline.
“Normally, this doesn’t happen. It’s a good problem to have.” – Dan Campbell on pulling starters early
The Aftermath: Two Franchises, Two Directions
Jacksonville’s Collapse
The numbers from this game still shock:
| Jaguars Records Set (Wrong Kind) | The Numbers |
|---|---|
| Worst loss in franchise history | -46 points |
| Most points allowed ever | 52 |
| Most yards allowed | 645 |
| Previous worst loss | 44-0 vs Detroit (1995) |
Doug Pederson couldn’t survive. “I can’t control that,” he said about his job status after the game. Seven weeks later, on January 6, 2025, Shad Khan fired him after a 4-13 season.
Detroit’s Rise… and Fall
The Lions rode this momentum to an 11-game winning streak and a 15-2 record. They earned the #1 seed, looked Super Bowl bound, then suffered a shocking 45-31 playoff loss to Washington.
Still, their rise from 3-13-1 to division champions proved the rebuild worked.
Looking Forward: 2025 Season Implications
Jacksonville’s Rebuild
- New head coach search underway
- Trevor Lawrence returning from injury
- Brian Thomas Jr. emerging as legitimate star
- Questions about roster construction after “best team ever” claim
Detroit’s Window
- Core intact for another run
- Goff signed long-term
- Defense needs reinforcement
- Super Bowl expectations remain
Fantasy Football Lessons Learned
From This Game:
- Goff proved matchup-proof (400+ yards, 4 TDs after 5-INT game)
- St. Brown remains elite target (double-digit catches)
- Both Lions RBs offer weekly upside
- Avoid all Jaguars in blowout risk games
The Stats That Still Matter
Historical Context
Lions joined exclusive company:
- 3rd team in Super Bowl era with three 35+ point wins in first 10 games
- First team since 2007 Patriots to score TDs on first 7 possessions
NFL Records approached:
- 475-yard differential (3rd largest ever)
- 645 yards by Lions (3rd most in past 20 years)
What We Learned Six Months Later
This game revealed fundamental truths about both franchises. Jacksonville’s organizational flaws ran deeper than one bad Sunday. The Jaguars went 2-6 after this loss, never recovering.
Detroit proved they could dominate inferior opponents while keeping stars fresh for bigger games. That efficiency served them well until their playoff disappointment.
For Pederson, his postgame comments proved prophetic: “I’ve been around this game a long time.” He knew what was coming. The 52-6 score represented more than just one game – it symbolized everything wrong with Jacksonville’s 2024 season.
FAQs
Q: Was this really Jacksonville’s worst loss ever?
A: Yes. The 46-point margin surpassed their previous worst of 44-0 to Detroit in 1995.
Q: What happened to Doug Pederson?
A: Fired January 6, 2025, after finishing 4-13. The Lions loss was a major factor.
Q: How did Detroit’s season end?
A: 15-2 regular season, lost 45-31 to Washington in Divisional Round.
Q: Is Mac Jones still with Jacksonville?
A: His future remains uncertain as the Jaguars undergo another rebuild in 2025.
Q: What records from this game still stand?
A: All of them. No team has lost by more or allowed more yards to Detroit since.
For more current NFL coverage, check out our Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings match player stats and Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Detroit Lions match player stats from November 17, 2024, tell a story of two franchises heading in opposite directions – one toward contention, one toward another rebuild.
