Jaguars Seize Late Lead
The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the New Orleans Saints 24-20 on Saturday, August 15, at Caesars Superdome in a preseason contest that saw a dramatic fourth-quarter shift. J'Mari Taylor provided the decisive play with a two-yard rushing touchdown, giving Jacksonville the lead with the final score standing at 24-20. The victory improved the Jaguars to 1-0 on the season, while the Saints fell to 0-1 in their opening game. Attendance at the venue reached 70,011 fans.
Saints Build Early Cushion
New Orleans established an early advantage in the first quarter, taking a 7-6 lead after Audric Estime rushed nine yards for a touchdown, followed by two field goals from Cam Little. The Saints extended their lead to 17-6 in the second half of the first half and early second quarter. Tanner Brown added a 49-yard field goal to make it 10-6, and Oscar Delp caught a one-yard pass from Zach Wilson for a touchdown to push the margin to 17-6. Brown’s 29-yard field goal closed out the first half with the Saints leading 20-6.
Jaguars Surge in Second Half
Jacksonville responded with a strong third quarter, scoring 14 points to cut the deficit. Carter Bradley connected with Hunter Long for a one-yard touchdown, and J'Mari Taylor successfully ran for the two-point conversion, bringing the score to 20-14 in favor of New Orleans. The Jaguars continued their momentum into the fourth quarter. Cam Little kicked a 36-yard field goal to narrow the gap to 20-17, setting the stage for the final scoring drive.
Key Performances
Zach Wilson led the Saints with 145 passing yards on 11-of-16 passing, including one touchdown. Audric Estime rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while Bub Means caught four passes for 77 yards. For Jacksonville, Carter Bradley passed for 105 yards on 10-of-17 attempts, with one touchdown and one interception. J'Mari Taylor was the offensive engine, rushing for 78 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Trebor Pena added 58 receiving yards on three catches. The game concluded with the Jaguars holding the 24-20 lead.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401873281
