JACKSONVILLE — If we’re being honest, there was never any realistic path to victory for the Jets against the Jaguars Sunday at EverBank Stadium.

There wasn’t a single element in this matchup that favored the Jets. Even the best part of their team, special teams, was nullified by the Jaguars’ equally-elite units.

Not surprisingly, the result was as most everyone expected — an all-too-easy Jacksonville 48-13 victory to drop the Jets to 3-11 and inch them a little bit closer to the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.

It was the most points the Jets have allowed since 2021 and the most points the Jaguars have scored in a game since 2007.

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Eric Murray (29) sacks New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. AP

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) tackles New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) during the third quarter at EverBank Stadium. Travis Register-Imagn Images

There was one feel-good moment in the game for the Jets, which was a 9-yard scoring pass to receiver Adonai Mitchell by Brady Cook, the Jets’ undrafted rookie quarterback, in the first quarter.

For Cook, who was making his first NFL start, it was his first career TD pass. His parents and girlfriend were in the stands, caught on camera going ballistic in celebration.

Cook comported himself well in the game, finishing 22-of-32 for 176 yards with a TD and two interceptions.

Cook’s scoring pass, however, would be all the celebrating done by anyone associated with the Jets on this day as the game bled away from them thanks to their defense allowing Jacksonville (10-4) to score on five of their six offensive possessions in the first half en route to a 31-10 lead at the intermission.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw five TD passes and rushed for another in the first half alone. He finished 20-of-32 for 330 yards.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. runs for a touchdown against New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (56) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. AP

 There was one other Jets play worth celebrating in the game, and that was punt returner Isaiah Williams returning a punt for a TD. This one a 50-yarder after he took one back last week. 

 It was Williams’ third punt return for a touchdown this season … until it wasn’t.

The apparent score, which would have cut the Jaguars’ lead to 21-14 at the time, was nullified by an illegal block out of bounds by Tre Brown, a practice-squad defensive back who’d been elevated to the game-day roster on Sunday.

The rest of this game is exactly what it figured to be: A gross mismatch.

The Jaguars were favored by 13 ½ points, which was the most they’d been favored by since 2007.

 A week ago, the Jets were down 21-0 to Miami before they could take a breath.

 On Sunday, it was 14-0 just 8:26 into the game thanks to a textbook start.

 The Jags won the coin toss, took the ball and took a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard Lawrence TD pass to Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Running back Breece Hall lost six yards when the Jets went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 44 and 2:22 later the Jaguars went up 14-0 on a 15-yard Lawrence scramble for a TD.

 After the Cook TD pass cut it to 14-7, the Jags quickly answered with a 16-yard Lawrence scoring pass to Bhayshul Tuten for a 21-7 lead.

After the apparent Williams punt return for a TD was nullified, the Jets got a 41-yard Nick Folk field goal to make it 21-10.

The Jets made 24-7 on a Cam Little field goal with 1:33 remaining in the first half, and that was followed by Cook’s only real blemish of the day — an underthrow that turned into an INT for Jags’ cornerback Montaric Brown.

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The turnover directly led to a 20-yard Lawrence scoring pass to running back Travis Etienne Jr. for the 31-10 lead with 21 seconds remaining in the half.

The slaughter continued in the second half.

 After the Jets cut the lead to 31-13 on a 51-yard Folk field goal, the Jaguars again answered immediately, this time with an 8-yard Lawrence TD pass to Etienne for a 38-13 lead.

It was Lawrence’s fifth TD of the game, his fourth passing, and it was the sixth Jaguars’ score on seven offensive possessions.

Inexcusable and embarrassing.

Two eminently applicable descriptions of the 2025 Jets.