JACKSONVILLE – The NFL is offering fans free access to its Game Pass platform, making any game available dating to 2009. In the coming weeks, we at jaguars.com will highlight Jaguars games from that era. In this story, we highlight a 2019 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the final game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum …
The teams: Jaguars versus Oakland Raiders.
The date: December 15, 2019.
The site: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The setup: This was among the most-discussed games of the 2019 NFL season's final month, but not because of the teams' records. With the Raiders set to move to Las Vegas for 2020 and beyond, this was the historic franchise's final game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum – a.k.a, the Black Hole. Both teams entered the game struggling, with the Jaguars having lost five consecutive games to fall from playoff contention after a promising 4-4 start and the Raiders nearing elimination having lost three consecutive games after a 6-4 start. The Jaguars hadn't won on the West Coast since 2004.
The gist: The Jaguars for much of the game appeared headed for a sixth consecutive loss, with the offense stagnant and the defense struggling to keep the game relatively close throughout the first three quarters. The Raiders took an early 7-0 lead – and after the Jaguars cut the lead to 7-3, the Raiders pushed it to 16-3 at halftime with three first-half field goals by kicker Daniel Carlson. Jaguars rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II, after a largely ineffective first half, rallied the Jaguars for scores on their final three possessions – including two touchdown passes to wide receiver Chris Conley in the final 5:20.
Images from the Jaguars week 15 matchup with the Oakland Raiders.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (75) during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders go up for a pass thrown by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Stadium workers pick up trash after an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. The game was the Raiders final scheduled game in Oakland. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Players go up for a pass thrown by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr late in the second half of an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is greeted by fans in "The Black Hole" after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is greeted by fans in "The Black Hole" after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders middle linebacker Marquel Lee (52) is greeted by fans in "The Black Hole" after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
A stadium worker, right, picks up trash after an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The game was the Raiders final scheduled game in Oakland. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden during a news conference at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr gestures during a news conference at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr walks off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden gestures during a news conference at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders fans in "The Black Hole" watch their team walk off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars n Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is met by Gorilla Nilla in "The Black Hole" at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Chris Conley (18) is greeted by quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) after scoring a touchdown late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson misses the first of two field goal attempts late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. Holding the ball was the Raiders' A.J. Cole and at right is Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Michael Walker (13). (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) stands on the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew runs with the ball away from Oakland Raiders inside linebacker Will Compton (51) and linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Fans stand for the National Anthem and flyover before an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The game is the final scheduled Raiders game in Oakland. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Quotable I: "It was definitely an awesome experience to be here and play in the last game. Probably saw more middle fingers today than I have in my whole life. They have a good time. It was fun to ruin that for them." – Minshew
Getting their kicks: After a season in which many breaks went against the Jaguars, much went in their favor late in this one. One such notable sequence came just after the two-minute warning when Carlson missed first from 50 yards and followed a Jaguars running-into-the-kicker penalty with a second miss from 45 yards. That kept the Jaguars within three points and gave them possession at their 35 to start the game-winning drive.
Quotable II: "I used to play in Kansas City, and I used to play Oakland a lot. There's a rich history that this organization has and a lot of history here in this stadium. To be able to not only be a part of the last game played here but to come out and win in that fashion is a story I'll be able to tell my kids. It's a proud place to be." – Conley
The clincher: The Jaguars, after a late third-quarter field goal and a touchdown pass from Minshew to Conley with 5:20 remaining, drove 65 yards in the final 1:44 for the victory. Minshew completed passes of 8 yards to wide receiver C.J. Board, 11 and 4 yards to running back Leonard Fournette and 21 yards to Conley before capping the drive with a four-yard touchdown to Conley with :31 remaining.
Quotable III: "We definitely needed this." – Jaguars defensive tackle Abry Jones
The statistics: Jaguars – Minshew (17-29 passing, 201 yards, two touchdowns, zero interception), Leonard Fournette (15 carries, 42 yards), Minshew (five carries, 27 yards), Keelan Cole (three receptions, 76 yards), Chris Conley (four receptions, 49 yards); Raiders – Carr (22-36 passing, 267 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions), Josh Jacobs (24 carries, 89 yards), Darren Waller (eight receptions, 122 yards).
Quotable IV: "We just wanted to get the game close to give us an opportunity to win the game and we were able to do that. The year hasn't gone well for us. Today we will at least have something that you might tell your grandchildren about one day. It is a pretty good memory." – Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone
The key series: Carlson's back-to-back misses weren't the only thing going right for the Jaguars late. After Minshew drove the Jaguars 79 yards to cut the deficit to 16-13 with a six-yard touchdown pass to Conley, the Raiders appeared headed for a drive that could drain much of the clock and leave the Jaguars little time to rally. The Jaguars saved a timeout when officials ruled that Carr was out of bounds when he slid while trying to stay inbounds. Carlson's misses then gave the Jaguars possession with 1:44 remaining – enough time for a game-winning drive.
