Devin Lloyd's 99‑Yard Pick‑Six Powers Jaguars Over Chiefs

When Devin Lloyd, linebacker for Jacksonville Jaguars, intercepted Patrick Mahomes on Monday Night FootballTIAA Bank Field, he raced 99‑yard pick‑six for a touchdown – the longest pick‑six in franchise history. The play swung the momentum in Jacksonville’s 21‑14 win over the defending champions and instantly became a national talking point.

Why the Play Mattered More Than the Score

Jacksonville entered the game 3‑2, yearning for a statement win against a Chiefs squad that had clinched the AFC title the previous season. Kansas City, meanwhile, was fighting to stay on top of the league’s early‑season power rankings. The stakes were high, but no one expected a defensive blitz to rewrite the narrative.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Jaguars called a zone blitz that left them with one extra defender on the edge of the pocket. When Mahomes read the initial rush and released a deep sideline pass, the extra defender slipped into the passing lane, allowing Lloyd to cleanly snatch the ball at the Chiefs’ 1‑yard line before sprinting the length of the field.

Breakdown of the Game‑Changing Sequence

The snap was taken on the second drive of the first quarter. Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator, Jared Veldheer, had instructed the secondary to cheat a man on the outside. As Mahomes dropped back, the blitz overwhelmed the Chiefs’ offensive line, creating a brief window where only a single blocker was left to cover Lloyd.

Mahomes, famed for his improvisation, attempted a quick out‑route to his trusted receiver Marquez Valdes‑Scantling. Lloyd anticipated the throw, stepped into the crossing route, and secured the ball with his left hand. The crowd at TIAA Bank Field erupted as he turned upfield, outrunning safety Jamal Adams and wide‑receiver Skyy Moore on the return.

Voices from the Sidelines

“We practiced that look all week,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said during the post‑game press conference. “When Devin made the play, it was a perfect execution of what we wanted – pressure, speed, and a little bit of luck that we earned in the film room.”

Mahomes, ever the competitor, shrugged off the mistake: “That’s football. I’m going to watch the tape, see where we left a gap, and make sure we’re better next time.” The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, admitted the blitz forced Kansas City into a “predictable” passing rhythm that ultimately cost them the game.

Impact on the Match and the Season

Before the pick‑six, the game sat at a 14‑14 tie. The Jaguars took a 21‑14 lead and never looked back. Kansas City attempted three deep throws on the next drive, all incomplete, and was forced to punt from their own 32‑yard line. The turnover margin swung from even to +2 in Jacksonville’s favor, a statistic that ESPN Stats & Info says correlates with a 75% win probability in NFL history.

With the victory, Jacksonville climbed to a 4‑2 record, positioning themselves as a wild‑card contender in the AFC South. The Chiefs, meanwhile, fell to 3‑3, prompting speculation about whether defensive adjustments could save their championship aspirations.

Why This Play Ranks Among the NFL’s Greatest

• At 99 yards, Lloyd’s return ties for the third‑longest pick‑six in league history, behind only Ed Reed’s 108‑yard return (2008) and Willie Brown’s 101‑yard return (1971).
• The play set a new franchise record; the previous longest Jaguar interception return was 95 yards by running back James Robinson in 2021.
• It occurred on a nationally televised Monday night, giving the Jaguars’ defense prime exposure.
• The momentum shift contributed directly to a two‑score lead that the Chiefs never regained.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Both Teams

Jacksonville travels to Baltimore next week to face the Ravens, a game that could determine whether the Jaguars secure a playoff berth before the season’s final stretch. The Chiefs, meanwhile, host the Los Angeles Chargers on October 20, a matchup that may force them to tighten up a defense that has given up an average of 24.7 points per game this season.

Analysts from The Athletic predict that the Jaguars’ defensive scheme, anchored by Lloyd’s emerging playmaking ability, could keep them in the AFC hunt longer than most preseason projections suggested.