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'X-factor': Jaguars' Josh Allen breaks single-season sack record with 3 sack performance
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- 'X-factor': Jaguars' Josh Allen breaks single-season sack record with 3 sack performance
Jacksonville Jaguars ' outside linebacker Josh Allen didn't want to talk about it.
He was a sack away from tying the franchise record for most sacks in a single and asked if he thinks about the moment that he'll break the record.
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"I think about it too much. I've got to stop thinking about it," he said last week. "I've got to stop thinking about it, just go out there and play football."
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When asked again in the locker room later that week, he reemphasized that he didn't want to talk about it, saying he'd have plenty to say when the moment came.
Well, the moment was Sunday as Allen recorded two sacks in Jacksonville's 26-0 shutout victory against the Carolina Panthers , and his first words after the game was directed praise to his teammates, rather than about himself.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) runs off the field after the game of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars blanked the Carolina Panthers 26-0. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"I've got incredible teammates who backed me up this whole season," Allen said after the game. "(Teammates) who witnessed me really high, really low, stayed with me, continue to be with me and I continue to be with those guys as well."
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Allen passed his former teammate and friend, Calais Campbell , to break the single-season record. He said he received a text from Campbell earlier this week telling him to break the record and he wants the same thing for Walker down the road.
"I can't wait for somebody to break my record," he said. "I had a record in college. They broke that record. And I believe (Walker) will break this record."
When Allen broke the record, he took a moment to do his sack celebration before pausing and doing Campbell's homerun swing that he does after sacks. And Walker even got in on it by throwing an imaginary pitch to Allen.
It was a timely performance for the pass rush pairing to help Jacksonville secure a needed victory. On a day where Allen recorded three sacks, Walker was right behind him with two, accounting for five of the six total from the team.
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"It's been a long journey for him. From this offseason, obviously everybody knows he wasn't with the team this offseason," Walker said on Allen's achievement. "It was something that he knew, personally, that he wanted to do and I feel like once he got back, everything just translated.
"It worked out for the best, I'm very proud of him."
Offseason preparation helped Allen achieve record-setting year, teammates praise his efforts
Josh Allen of the Jaguars (41) celebrates the second-quarter sack that gave him the team's single-season record of 15.5. Rejoicing with him is Roy Robertson-Harris.
Entering a contract year, Allen was not a participant in voluntary minicamp.
He opted to train on his own and came back looking completely locked in on helping Jacksonville win games.
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The result of that training? He is having the best season of his career.
A sign is displayed after Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) set the single season team sack record during the second quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars blanked the Carolina Panthers 26-0. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Sunday was Allen's third three-sack performance of the year and his sixth multi-sack game of the season. Where last year he was recording a high clip of quarterback pressures and not finishing the play, this season he's getting the pressures and sacks.
Allen has 94 pressures this season, according to ESPN, to go along with his 16.5 sacks this season, making him second-best in both categories. To him, it's a direct result of his offseason training.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) during the fourth quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars blanked the Carolina Panthers 26-0. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"When there's nobody else cheering for me, when there's nobody else in the field with me, I'm out there by myself, how far can I go? I really challenged myself every day to get out there," he said. "I was out there for a purpose, and I stuck to that purpose and that plan. And came back to Jacksonville wanting to succeed."
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The record-setting day drew praise from Allen's teammates.
He made sure to give his thanks for their support to him during his post-game press conference and players on both sides of the ball returned the favor in the locker room after the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) celebrates with linebacker Josh Allen (41) after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
"I told him before the season, 'Shut your brain off, do your part,'" Foye Oluokun said. "He's playing very fast right now. Taking advantage of all the opportunities he's getting. I'm happy to see him doing so well this year."
"When you have a guy that is out there being the X-factor week in and week out, you have more trust to go out there to be your best," said Travis Etienne . "We feed off each other and you saw that today with Josh doing what he does."
Sunday's moment was one Allen has wanted since he came to the franchise. And it's a moment he'll cherish as he continually tries to improve.
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"Last year, it was one of my main goals coming into that season. And unfortunately, that didn't happen," he said. "For me just to not lose faith, get back to what I do best, take care of my body each day and just be mentally ready to play. And this year has been the best so far.
"There's still room for me to improve, I believe."
Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_ .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Josh Allen's 3 sacks vs. Panthers secures Jaguars' sack record
