Trevor Lawrence plays entire first half, but Jaguars stumble from offensive execution problems in preseason loss to Saints
when they couldn’t match up against the Cleveland Browns’ backups.
In Monday night’s 23-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, Trevor Lawrence got his first extended work playing the entire first half and completed 14-of-23 passes for 113 yards for a 73.3 passer rating.
Similar to last week against Cleveland, the pocket collapsed on Lawrence too quickly. Too often, the Jaguars’ offensive linemen were beaten upfront by the Saints’ more experienced and physically dominant defensive front.
Instead of scoring drives, the Jaguars had too many three and outs with Lawrence behind center. Jaguars receivers ran seam routes and crossing patterns but they struggled to get separation.
who was forced to leave the game in the second quarter and did not return because of a left foot injury.
Despite directing all 12 first-half drives, Lawrence was unable to get the Jaguars into the end zone for a touchdown for the second consecutive week.
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In the first half, there wasn’t much doubt about who was the best quarterback on the field. He wasn’t wearing teal.
In a quarterback battle with Taysom Hill for the starting job, the Saints’ Jameis Winston all but sealed the job with a dominant performance at the Jaguars’ expense.
The Jaguars couldn’t get any pressure on Winston, and the backend of their defense had no answer for wide receiver Marquez Callaway.
Winston connected twice to Callaway for touchdowns in the first quarter from 43 and 29 yards.
Calloway helped the Saints ahead 14-0 after getting a slight step ahead of Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin in the left corner of the end zone on a near-perfect pass from Winston.
The Jaguars were dominated by the Saints in the first quarter, outgained 137-26. The Jaguars had one first down to the Saints’ seven.
Gardner Minshew played the entire second half but failed to direct the Jaguars on a scoring drive. Early in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars were 2 yards away from the end zone on a second and goal play and Minshew threw an interception. He was also intercepted last week by the Browns.
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