Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton admitted to a memory lapse.
The Jaguars had just given up a touchdown pass from Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith to Brock Bowers in overtime on Nov. 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the third time the two had connected in the end zone. The play cut the Jaguars’ lead to 30-29 and the Raiders could either kick the conversion for the tie or go for a two-point conversion for the win.
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After the Vegas offense stayed on the field, the Jags called a timeout for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile to go over the defense against the two-point play. But Hamilton admitted less than 24 hours later that he could recall few specifics about the conversation.
He may have been too tired to think. The defense was gassed, injuries had depleted the unit and it had given up touchdowns on three of the Raiders’ previous four possessions.
“Super-, super-tired,” Hamilton said.
“To be completely honest with you, I have no idea,” Hamilton said when asked during a video conference on Nov. 3 about his recollection of any conversations among the defense and Campanile before the two-point play. “I was just out there trying to play. He just basically told us to really lock in, focus and do what you have to do in order to win.”
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What happened was the defensive play of the game, at a time when the Jaguars’ defense wasn’t stopping much.
DaVon Hamilton was last line of defense
Smith took the snap and immediately had two options: Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers had broken open over the middle, and wide receiver Tyler Lockett slipped between Jaguars cornerback Greg Newsome and safety Antonio Johnson, and was wide open in the back of the end zone.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) is congratulated by teammate Josh Hines-Allen (41) after Hamilton knocked down a Geno Smith pass in overtime to preserve the Jaguars 30-29 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Smith didn’t take long to fire the pass in the direction of Lockett, who had just been signed by the Raiders during the week. The two have a history with Raiders coach Pete Carroll, and a history in torching the Jaguars: Lockett caught 12 passes for 142 yards from Smith in 2021 when the two played for Carroll in Seattle and beat the Jags 31-7.
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As Smith released the ball, Johnson was backtracking but wasn’t going to get there in time. Free safety Andrew Wingard seemed stuck in the middle of the field.
At that point, the only thing that could have prevented the Raiders from winning was Lockett dropping the pass or Hamilton doing what he did: occupied by left guard Dylan Parham, Hamilton jumped as high as his 335-pound body would allow and swatted the ball to the ground, landing at the feet of Jaguars edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen.
It preserved the Jaguars’ 30-29 victory and ended an exhaustive game that lasted just short of 70 minutes.
“I would say most of us were pretty tired at that point,” Hamilton said. “But we had enough in the tank to finish.”
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Jaguars defense had only five starters from opening game
It was the fifth pass Hamilton has batted away in his six-year NFL career and his first since 2022, when the Jaguars beat the Dallas Cowboys — in overtime. Hamilton’s pass break-up that day was in the third quarter.
After starting the season with 14 turnovers in the first five games, the Jaguars’ defense has allowed 28 or more points in three of its last four games and has secured only one turnover in the last three games.
Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Smith carved the Jaguars up for 284 yards and four TD passes, with a passer rating of 117.9.
But at the moment, the defense is beat up. When the Jags lined up for the two-point play, only five players on the field had been in the opening-day lineup two months ago: Hamilton, Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead, Foye Oluokun and Wingard
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Safety Eric Murray and cornerback Travis Hunter went on the injured reserve list before the game. Linebacker Devin Lloyd was still out with a calf injury. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis went out with a shoulder injury on the third defensive snap of the game. And edge rusher Travon Walker was ejected in the third quarter for taking a swing at a Raiders’ player.
But someone found a way. Someone made a play.
And it was Hamilton.
“I think we’re starting to build resilience,” Hamilton said. “I think that’s what’s going to ultimately build the culture of our team even more. It was another moment for our team to really understand who we are and what we’re building here … just another moment for us all to come together, bond together.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars DT DaVon Hamilton said battered, beleaguered defense finds a way