The Jacksonville Jaguars faced the New Orleans Saints in the second week of the preseason, aiming to recover from a difficult practice week. The game, held recently, saw the Jaguars control much of the action, but a late comeback led by Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler resulted in a 17-17 tie. The Jaguars nearly positioned themselves for a final field goal, but an interception by Seth Hennigan in the closing moments denied them the victory.
Trevor Lawrence’s Performance Highlights Offensive Efforts
Jacksonville’s offense struggled early, marked by an initial turnover from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. During the opening drive, Lawrence mishandled a handoff to running back Tank Bigsby in the red zone after getting caught with offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland. This marked Lawrence’s first turnover under offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Despite the rocky start, Lawrence rebounded, completing seven consecutive passes and finishing the game 8-for-10 for 76 yards and one touchdown. His performance earned him a passer rating of 131.7.
In total, Lawrence has delivered strong preseason stats under Coen, completing 14 of 17 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown over three drives. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen commended Lawrence’s execution, stating,
“I thought he was executing really well,”
and added,
“The ball was coming out, he was getting through progressions. Had the one drop, maybe a little bit of a low ball to BT. But I thought other than that, he executed really well.”
Supporting Players Contribute to Offensive Momentum
The Jaguars’ running game was effective behind their first-team offense, with Travis Etienne gaining 24 yards on eight carries. Tank Bigsby made a notable impact on a screen pass that gained 19 yards, while tight end Brenton Strange caught two passes for 22 yards. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten continued to impress by scoring his second touchdown of the preseason on a three-yard run in the second quarter. Despite the early turnover, Jacksonville scored on three of their first five offensive drives, demonstrating their potential when mistakes were minimized.
The team’s offensive line played a crucial role, managing to avoid allowing any sacks or quarterback hits during the first half and helping achieve an average of 4.3 yards per rushing attempt. This collective effort helped provide Lawrence the protection and time needed to execute his plays effectively.
Defensive Standouts and Key Plays Shape the Contest
On defense, the Jaguars found significant contributions from linebackers Ventrell Miller and Devin Lloyd. Miller recorded a sack in the second quarter, while Lloyd added a tackle for loss, both disrupting the Saints’ offensive rhythm. Additionally, defensive pressure on Spencer Rattler forced a grounding penalty that helped halt a New Orleans drive, showcasing Jacksonville’s ability to respond after early offensive errors.
Outlook as Jaguars Prepare for Final Preseason Game
With the preseason tie against the Saints, the Jaguars demonstrated resilience and flashes of strong execution, especially in Trevor Lawrence’s performance, highlighting his development under the guidance of Liam Coen. The team aims to build on this momentum as they prepare for the final preseason matchup next week, seeking to sharpen their cohesiveness and reduce costly mistakes. Continued progress from key players like Lawrence, Etienne, and Tuten will be critical as Jacksonville looks toward the regular season.