Chris Jones Takes Blame for Jaguars’ Game-Winning Touchdown

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones faced criticism following Monday night’s 20–17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, particularly for appearing to give up on a pivotal play that resulted in Trevor Lawrence’s game-winning touchdown. After initially spreading responsibility across the defense, Jones spoke candidly on Thursday, accepting full accountability for his lack of effort during the decisive sequence.

“It’s a teaching point for me,” Jones said. “A little adversity. I can’t think the play was over. It’s a learning lesson. I thought we had him down, so I kind of stopped — was about to celebrate — and then realized he wasn’t down. The teaching lesson for me is ‘don’t stop.’”

The Play That Sparked Controversy

The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter with Jacksonville facing first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Lawrence tripped over an offensive lineman but quickly regained his footing and ran into the end zone for what became the game-winning score. Instead of pursuing the quarterback, Jones was seen walking along the line of scrimmage, seemingly believing the play had already ended.

The sequence quickly went viral on social media, with many fans criticizing Jones’ perceived lack of hustle.

Clearing the Air on Social Media Rumors

Following the backlash, fans noticed that Jones’ social media accounts appeared to be deactivated, fueling speculation that he was avoiding criticism. Jones clarified Thursday that he had already deleted his accounts before the game.

“I posted a Drake quote — ‘I’ll see you in the summer of 2026,’” Jones explained. “I never run from constructive criticism. I’ve never been that guy. It’s a lot you can take from criticism — it’s like fuel for me personally. People thought I deleted it because of the game, but it was gone a couple days before.”

Looking Ahead to Detroit

The loss dropped Kansas City to 2–3, marking its worst start since 2021. Despite the setback, Jones emphasized the importance of moving forward as the Chiefs prepare for a Sunday night showdown against the Detroit Lions, one of the NFL’s top offenses.

“I’ve been focused on the Lions since the game,” Jones said. “You can’t hold your head on one play or one game. You learn from it, take notes, take the good, take the bad, and keep pushing.”

A Chance for Redemption

Jones’ accountability and focus suggest that he is intent on rebounding from the mistake. As the Chiefs look to regain their footing in a competitive AFC landscape, the performance and leadership of veterans like Jones will be critical to their playoff aspirations.