Jaguars vs. Saints: Halftime Thoughts

The Jacksonville Jaguars are rolling with ease, taking a 17-6 lead vs. the New Orleans Saints into halftime. But what all did we see, and what does it mean for the second half?

Trevor Lawrence still looks like Trevor Lawrence

Trevor Lawrence didn't look limited in the slightest to start the game, completing 7-of-8 passes for 87 yards in the first quarter and also scrambling for a nine-yard run. Then, he opened the second quarter with a 26-yard scramble, one of the longest rushes of his career. Lawrence was accurate, played with good timing, and clearly didn't look limited in terms of his movement ability.

Lawrence has reached the point as a quarterback where he simply is no longer a worry. The Jaguars can rely on him to show up each week and play good football, regardless of the context or the circumstances that might be following him and the team. Any concerns over Lawrence and his ability to still play like Trevor Lawrence quickly went away on Thursday,

Travis Etienne has become a top back before our eyes

What about this Travis Etienne explosion? The second-year running back looks like one of the best running backs in the NFL right now, scoring two more touchdowns in the first-half after scoring two touchdowns in each of the previous two games. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are two of the best players in franchise history, and even they never scored two rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games.

The thing that is a bit boggling is that Etienne can still get even better. There are plays this year that have been left on the field, which is scary considering the plays he has made. Etienne has turned into one of the top-10 running backs in the NFL in just his second full year, and even that might be underselling it a bit. Riding Etienne to the end of the game makes the most sense.

Jacksonville is still getting in their own way

The Jaguars should have be up by 20 points they way they have dominated this game. The reason they aren't isn't because of anything the Saints have done, but instead is complete due to their own doing. That is the same reason the Jaguars are 4-2 right now, too, and not 5-1 or even 6-0. They have had self-inflicted wounds pop up all season and it continued today.

A fumble by Christian Kirk, a poor special teams play by Tevaughn Campbell to lead to a fumble, two bone-head penalties on Antonio Johnson and Angelo Blackson, and a near-Trevor Lawrence interception to erase points before the half. The Jaguars are clearly the much better team, but they keep letting the Saints back in the game.