Ridder, Allgeier Shine as Falcons Take 28-12 Win Over Jaguars: Live Game Log
The final tune-up of the preseason has arrived for the Atlanta Falcons (1-1), who take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The game marks Atlanta's first home contest since last year's finale against the New Orleans Saints, a 30-20 defeat.
While the primary focus of the exhibition will be surviving without suffering any key injuries, it also presents a big opportunity for several of Atlanta's players on the roster bubble to make one final impression before rosters are cut from 80 to 53 on Tuesday.
The Falcons have yet to release a plan for their starters, but regardless of who's playing, they'll be doing so against the Jaguars' backups. Among the players absent for Jacksonville are quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne and No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.
The rest of the Jags' inactives can be found here:
Atlanta is expected to be without its star rookie as well, as No. 8 overall pick Drake London has missed every practice and the lone preseason game since going down with a knee injury against the Detroit Lions in the opener. He's expected to be back for Week 1 of the regular season, starting Sept. 11 when the Falcons take on the New Orleans Saints.
In the meantime, the Falcons and Jaguars are focused on getting what they can out of today and moving onto the season.
You can follow along with Falcon Report as we keep you up to date on each drive and scoring play Saturday afternoon from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In-game updates will appear below after kickoff ...
The Jaguars have won the toss and elected to defer. The Falcons will start on offense.
First Quarter
Jacksonville's kick goes through the back of the end zone, and the Falcons begin at their own 25 with rookie Desmond Ridder under center.
Working play action, Ridder was forced left and ... picked off by safety Daniel Thomas. First play of the game is a turnover for Atlanta's offense.
Change of Possession
After a two-yard carry stopped by Arnold Ebiketie, fellow rookie Timothy Horne got pressure on Jaguars QB EJ Perry, heavily influencing the pass. Atlanta's defense swarmed a checkdown to running back Snoop Conner, dropping him for a three-yard loss.
On 4th and 11 from its own 36, Jacksonville opts to kick the field goal, with James McCourt knocking one through the uprights. A strong start by the Falcons defense considering the adverse position they were put in.
Jaguars 3, Falcons 0
Change of Possession
McCourt's kick sails through the back of the endzone, and Atlanta will start from the 25 once again.
Ridder's flanked in the backfield by rookie running back Tyler Allgeier, who's first carry is bottled up for no gain. A pair of short completions to receiver Cameron Batson and tight end Anthony Firkser are enough to move the chains.
After another minimal gain by Allgeier and a short scramble from Ridder, the rookie signal caller found Damiere Byrd for 17 on 3rd and 8, finding the honey hole against Jacksonville's cover 2 defense.
Repeating the last set of downs, a Ridder scramble and short run from Caleb Huntley paved way for a 3rd and 9. Like the drive before, Atlanta converted, as Ridder hit Qadree Ollison for 12 yards on a screen pass.
Ollison is getting a heavy workload this drive, taking consecutive for 15 yards. Huntley followed suit with a gain of nine, and the Falcons have marched inside the 10-yard line against Jacksonville's backup defense.
Atlanta's ground game continues to be strong, with Huntley taking two more carries for seven yards to get the offense down to the 2. Ridder looks right, throws to Allgeier ... and it's caught for six as the BYU product glides into the endzone.
Younghoe Koo's extra point is good, and the Falcons have taken a 7-3 lead with 4:30 remaining in the opening quarter.
Falcons 7, Jaguars 3
Change of Possession
Starting at their own 25, the Jaguars took a shot on the opening play, with Perry underthrowing a deep ball to Tim Jones, who made the adjustment and caught the pass right in front of Falcons corner Darren Hall.
After allowing a seven-yard reception to former Falcons Laquon Treadwell, the defense stood tall, with Conner gaining one on the ground thanks to a strong edge set by Ebiketie, and fellow rookie pass rusher DeAngelo Malone deflecting a pass in space.
The Jaguars lined up to go for it on 4th and 2, and after looking left for a wheel route, Perry rolled right and found Laviska Shenault for the touchdown ... but it was called back due to a holding penalty.
Jacksonville has to settle for a 44-yard field goal try from Jake Verity, but he misses wide left.
After a big play to start the drive, the Jaguars fail to convert good field position into points.
Change of Possession
A loss of three yards on a run by Allgeier put the Falcons behind the chains, but Ridder tried to get it all back on a deep shot to Batson, who had two steps. However, the ball was overthrown by a yard and fell incomplete.
A 3rd and 13 screen pass to Batson lost four yards after rookie receiver Jared Bernhardt missed a block, forcing the Falcons to punt.
Change of Possession
Starting from its own 20, Jacksonville's offense immediately moved the chains, with Perry finding Jones for a gain of 13, though Atlanta corner Teez Tabor delivered a punishing blow. The play brought the opening quarter to a close.
Second Quarter
After Conner's run was stopped for a loss of two by Ebiketie and reception stalled by corner Corey Ballentine, the Jaguars were faced with a 3rd and 12. Pressure from Ebiketie and Malone forced an incompletion, and Jacksonville had to punt.
Change of Possession
A five-yard run by Ollison set up a 3rd and 5 for Atlanta's offense, but tight end Feleipe Franks was called for a false start and Ridder was sacked for a loss of 11 the play after.
Bradley Pinion's 57-yard punt was returned for nine yards by Willie Johnson, but a penalty on Ollison for a horse collar tackle added 15 more, giving Jacksonville the ball at the Atlanta 43.
Change of Possession
Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo blew up a running play for a loss of four yards on first down, but a dump off to tight end Gerrit Prince gained 17, enough to move the chains.
A pair of runs by Conner put the Jaguars in 3rd and 5, but Perry couldn't connect on a pass to Prince. With Jacksonville prepared to kick, Horne jumped offsides, granting the Jaguars a fresh set of downs.
Perry targeted Treadwell twice in the following three plays, but couldn't connect on either attempt, with Mike Ford knocking the ball away on 3rd and 10.
This time, the Jaguars' special teams unit was on the field to stay, with McCourt knocking in a 38-yard field goal.
Falcons 7, Jaguars 6
Change of Possession
After a four-yard run by Huntley on 1st and 10, Ridder found MyCole Pruitt for five off play action. Atlanta's third-team offensive line couldn't create a rushing lane for Huntley on 3rd and inches, forcing the Falcons to punt.
Pinion's 56-yard boot was fair caught by Johnson at the Jacksonville 10.
Change of Possession
Conner gained three on the ground before Perry hit Shenault for four on a screen pass. On 3rd and 3, Perry was forced out of pocket by Nick Thurman, with Nate Landman waiting on him, resulting in no gain.
Jacksonville's punt was blocked by Quinton Bell with Malone recovering at the Jaguars' 1-yard line.
Change of Possession
Ollison wasted no time punching it in, making one miss in the backfield and lowering his pads to reach the endzone.
Koo's extra point is good, and the Falcons have extended their lead off the blocked punt.
Falcons 14, Jaguars 6
Change of Possession
Conner gained eight on first down and another five on second, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty on Darryl Williams. Falcons linebacker Dorian Etheridge, firmly in contention for a roster spot, was injured on the play, leaving the field on a cart.
Jacksonville quickly returned to a rhythm, with Perry finding Shenault for 16 and Jones for 41, dropping the ball right into the bucket with Ballentine in good positioning for Atlanta's defense.
Conner had a pair of seven-yard runs out of the two-minute warning but lost six the play after. On 2nd and Goal, Perry found Prince over the middle, but rookie linebacker Troy Andersen limited the gain to five.
Tasked with 3rd and goal from their own seven, the Jaguars ran a rub route, with Treadwell beating Ford by multiple yards. Perry's pass was on the money, and Treadwell strolled into the endzone.
Down two, the Jaguars chose to go for the two-point conversion. Perry had Prince on the goal line, but led him just a bit too much, with the ball grazing off his hands and falling harmlessly to the ground.
Falcons 14, Jaguars 12
Change of Possession
A short kick is picked up by John Raine at the 19. Taking a surprising shot off play action, Ridder went deep for Frank Darby, but underthrew him by several yards, with Xavier Crawford intercepting the pass.
Ridder's half ended the same way it started - an underthrown interception. Crawford's play brought the opening 30 minutes to a close, with the Falcons on top, 14-12.
Third Quarter
The Jaguars begin at their own 25. After a pair of three-yard gains, Jacksonville was called for a false start, setting up a 3rd-and-9. Perry's pass fell incomplete, but Ballentine was called for pass interference, extending the drive.
A seven-yard pass to tight end Luke Farrell gave the Jaguars a much more manageable 3rd and 3, but they failed to convert, as Tabor broke up a pass intended for Prince.
Logan Cooke's punt crossed out of bounds at the Atlanta 5, pinning the Falcons back deep.
Change of Possession
Ridder's back under center, starting the third quarter much better than he did the first, finding Darby in stride for a gain of 35 down the sideline. Montaric Brown had close coverage for Jacksonville; it was a stout connection by Ridder and Darby.
After a delay of game, Ridder saw two passes fall incomplete. Atlanta ran Allgeier on 3rd and 15, and his 12-yard gain put the team in position to go for it on 4th and 3 near midfield, but a false start on Jonotthan Harrison put that idea to bed.
Pinion's 43-yard punt was returned three yards by Johnson before being taken down on a solid open-field tackle by KeeSean Johnson.
Change of Possession
Three straight passes by Perry - a five-yard gain on a checkdown sandwiched between two incompletions - gets the Falcons offense right back on the field, with Cooke's 55-yard punt being returned by Bernhardt for five yards, though a holding penalty on Atlanta sets them back to the 10.
Change of Possession
After a minimal gain by Huntley, Ridder found Johnson on an inside-breaking route, with the catch-and-run going for 35 yards.
Two more short runs by Huntley set up a 3rd and 9, but Ridder connected with Stanley Berryhill for 14, with an additional 15 being added due to an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Ridder then found Anthony Firkser for 21 yards, with the veteran tight end limping off the field after. His play brought the offense down to the 1. Huntley punched it in from there, capping off an eight-play, 90-yard drive.
Koo's extra point split the uprights, and the Falcons extended their lead.
Falcons 21, Jaguars 12
Change of Possession
Nick Thurman and Derrick Tangelo continue wreaking havoc on the interior of Atlanta's defensive line, with the former pressuring Perry and the latter finishing the job.
A nine-yard pass to running back Mekhi Sargent put the Jaguars back on schedule, and an unnecessary roughness penalty on Hankins gave them 15 more.
A holding penalty negated a big run by Sargent the following set of downs, and Darrion Daniels tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage to bring up fourth down.
Cooke's 55-yard punt went into the endzone, resulting in a touchback.
Change of Possession
Faced with 3rd and 10, Ridder found Batson over the middle for 21, fitting a tight window. Two plays later, Ridder hit Tucker Fisk for five, setting up a 3rd and 5 as the quarter comes to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Huntley gained eight on the ground to move the chains. A false start penalty on Harrison set the offense back, but Huntley saw a crease and hit it, breaking off a 21-yard gain for another first down.
Working a play action dig concept, Ridder hit Bernhardt for a gain of 14 to get the Falcons into the red zone. Three straight runs by Allgeier, including one on 4th and 1, got Atlanta inside the 5.
Set up in the pistol, Allgeier got his fourth consecutive carry, rolling downhill into the endzone for six.
Koo's extra point is true, and the Falcons now hold a 16-point advantage with 10:53 remaining.
Falcons 28, Jaguars 12
Change of Possession
Three consecutive runs, including an 11-yard pickup on 3rd and 4, moved the chains for Jacksonville, and Perry found Johnson for 12 to get near midfield.
Two plays later, Perry's past was tipped and intercepted by Ballentine, who had a 23-yard return out to the Jacksonville 43.
Change of Possession
Ridder's afternoon is done, as Feleipe Franks is in at quarterback for the Falcons. Atlanta's offense has turned into the Huntley show, as he's received four straight carries, gaining 15 yards.
In to replace him is Ollison, who takes two carries for a total of four yards, setting up 4th and 4. The offense stays on the field; Franks tries to thread a bucket throw into a tight window to Ollison, but it's broken up.
Jacksonville will take over on its own 2.
Change of Possession
A pair of short passes by Perry followed by an incompletion led to a 4th-and-1, which Jacksonville converted via quarterback sneak.
Despite being up 16 with under four minutes to go, Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is staying aggressive, blitzing his linebackers. On second down, he brought Andersen, who had a well-timed, well-disguised effort, avoided a block and hit Perry, who aimlessly threw one up.
The ball fell right into Landman's lap for an interception, giving the Falcons the ball back at the Jacksonville 34.
Change of Possession
Looking to run out the clock, the Falcons have turned to Huntley once again, and he's delivered, ripping off 17 yards on just two carries. Atlanta will have a fresh set of downs after the two-minute warning.
The Falcons will take three knees and wrap up the preseason with a 28-12 win.
The next time Atlanta takes the playing field, it'll be for the Week 1 contest with the Saints, kicking off at 1 p.m. EST on Sept. 11.
