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Parker Washington revealed he had spoken about scoring at Wembley in the build-up to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 32-16 victory over the New England Patriots.
The Jags wide receiver’s magnificent 97-yard punt return touchdown was the longest ever in an international NFL game, also setting a new franchise record.
It came during an explosive 22-point second quarter for the hosts, who secured a vital victory in the conclusion of the NFL’s 2024 London trilogy of games after slumping to 1-5 to start their season.
Washington said: “I saw the opportunity and I was just like, let’s be aggressive and it paid off. It’s a special moment.
“It’s crazy because all week I was talking with team-mates and we were like, ‘It’s going to happen. You’re going to get one. You’re going to score and get a punt return’.
“I was telling some of the players, some of the coaches, I was like ‘I just want one. I just want one career punt return touchdown, or any return touchdown’.
“So being able to go out there and make a play like that, it was fun.”
New England, who slumped to a sixth straight defeat, were leading 10-0 early in the second quarter before Jacksonville began piling on the points, adding three more in the third to make it 25-10.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye, making his second NFL start in front of a Wembley NFL record crowd of 86,651, drew the Patriots within nine with a 22-yard touchdown pass to KJ Osborn to make it 25-16 with 8:27 left in the quarter.
It proved mere consolation, however, when Jags running back Tank Bigsby scored his second touchdown of the afternoon to deny New England any chance of staging a comeback.
Bigsby had a standout afternoon, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr impressed with five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Maye made his second NFL start and was good for 26 of his 37 pass attempts, throwing for 276 yards, including two touchdowns.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence grew into the game, completing 15 of his 20 pass attempts and throwing for 193 yards, including one touchdown and a bullet 58-yard pass to engineer Thomas’s touchdown.
Washington’s memorable play was also the first-ever punt-return touchdown in an NFL international game, one he celebrated with a back-to-the-endzone flop over the line.
He said: “I was telling one of my team-mates, if I get a chance, I’m just going to turn around right before the end zone and do it and then get up and start doing it for real.
“It was just a fun time. I feel like that’s what it’s all about, bring juice to the team the best way you can, and that moment will carry into the rest of the game.”
This is Washington’s second trip to London with the Jaguars, who will look to make it two wins from two when they take on the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.
“It’s special being overseas,” he said. “Even just being here for the last nine, 10 days, I went out golfing on our day off and I was like, who would have ever thought I would be golfing overseas?
“It’s just surreal, it’s special and I just want to embrace it and have fun with it.
“I definitely want to stay. Obviously I do miss my bed, I’m a homebody, but I’ve enjoyed it, I love it, it’s a blessing to be able to come over here each year with the Jaguars.
“I’m ready to go home, but I wouldn’t mind staying if this means winning.”
