Prime Time Show-Down
The 3-3 Saints hosted the 4-2 Jaguars on Thursday night football. New Orleans, coming off a close loss to the Texans, sought a victory. A familiar face was in attendance in the Caesers Super Dome. Drew Brees was seen on the sideline rooting for the black and gold.
Rough Start
The Saints defense started out pretty lousy. They allowed Trevor Lawrence to complete five out of his six passes. Lawrence moved the ball 60 yards through the air. Jacksonville managed to punch in an early touchdown by Travis Etienne.
Derek Carr’s first series started with a dropped pass to Alvin Kamara. The second play was a six-yard gain which set up a third down and four. Carr stepped up in the pocket under pressure and threw a five-yard dart to Kamara to pick up the first down.
The Jaguars defense held the Saints to a field goal attempt. Blake Grupe, who set a rookie record kick for the Saints last week, missed the 51-yard attempt. This then gave the ball back to the Jaguars.
On the first play of the Jaguars series, Lawrence found a wide-open Christian Kirk. While on the move, Kirk was tracked down and a fumble was recovered by the Saints defense.
Much like the last series, Carr struggled to move the ball. The Saints got held to a punt and the boo birds were heard from the stands.
New Opportunity
The Saints special teams stepped up to the plate after recovering a muffed punt inside the Jaguars 20. After things seemingly did not go right for the Saints, they were gifted another chance.
Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael took a very similar approach. As expected, the play calling was heavily revolved around Alvin Kamara. The Jaguars’ defense did a very good job containing the Saints receivers.
Lack Of Production
The Saints’ offense was held to another field goal despite starting their drive in their opponent’s endzone. This time, Grupe found the uprights and the Jaguars led the Saints seven to three.
Similar to the first series, Trevor Lawrence and his offense blazed down the field. Travis Etienne turned on the burners rushing for his second touchdown of the game.
New Orleans got on the board with yet another field goal. The Jaguars secondary did a phenomenal job guarding the Saints receivers. Chris Olave was held to just 57 yards and Rahid Shaheed to just 28.
Doug Peterson and the Jags did not hold back as they game-planned for another score before halftime. After a couple of passes by Lawrence, the Saints’ defense came up with a stop. On fourth down, the Jags surprised everyone by going for a fake punt which was successful.
Defense Holding Up
The Saint’s defense held the Jaguars to a field goal, making the score 17-6 before halftime.
The same problems remained for the Saints during their opening drive. Kamara remained to be the heartbeat of their offense. The Jaguar’s defense once again forced another field goal which was completed. The Saints were within an eight-point window with a score of 17-9.
The Saint’s defense did their deed by creating a third and out. New Orleans now had an opportunity early on in the third quarter to tie the game.
On third down and 6, within the Saints own 20 Derek Carr fired a bullet over the middle into tight coverage. The ball was batted away intercepted and returned for a Jaguars touchdown.
After a long slow start for the Saints offense, Carr put his team into a deeper hole.
Miraculously, the Saints were able to bounce back. The Saint’s defense began to show out and their offense got their first touchdown courtesy of a Taysom Hill QB sneak up the middle.
Perseverance
The Saints were not done just yet. One series later, Carr found Michael Thomas into the back of the endzone for a touchdown. The Saints went for two and Carr found a wide-open Kamara to knot up the game.
The Jaguars answered with a Kirk touchdown. Putting the Jaguars up once again with minutes left to play. Carr, who suffered a groin injury while playing, commanded his offense down the field and into the red zone.
The Saints were staring at their weakness the whole game, red zone efficiency. However, this time was a moment they needed it the most.
Lack Of Execution
On third down, Carr lofted a pass to a wide-open Foster Moreau which bounced off his hands and was incomplete. Carr placed the ball right into the bread basket but Monreau failed to execute. Ultimately, the Saints were forced into a daunting fourth down with the game on the line. Carr dropped back, a blitz was shown and the pass intended for Olave was incomplete.
The Saints, who played sloppy on offense for the majority of the game, were still able to come back. Although the failed execution in the red zone prevented them from a victory, they still fought back.
New Orleans falls to 3-4 and get ready to play the Indinapopous Colts without their rookie QB Anthony Richardson. The black and gold hope to get back to .500 so they can continue the fight for a division title.
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