Jaguars 31, Saints 24: Jacksonville Shows Off Ability to Overcome Adversity Yet Again
Now that the Jacksonville Jaguars record is 5-2, many among the Duval Devout are beating their chests as they sit atop of the AFC South in further-dominant fashion since Sunday heading into a 10-day rest before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. But getting to this point involved them overcoming a lot of adversity heading into and during their 31-24 win over the New Orleans Saints in The Big Easy on Thursday night.
Going back to the preseason heading into Week 1, there were nicks and injuries in the offensive line that carried into the season opener in Indy facing star defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and the Indianapolis Colts. Yet they still managed to hold on to win scoring 31 points which is still tied for their second-highest scoring mark so far.
In Week 2 it was the offense still trying to get locked in as they missed an opportunity to beat the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 3 it was the defense playing their worst game of the season hosting the Houston Texans for back-to-back losses at Everbank Stadium.
With that sour taste still in their mouths, the Jags’ headed across the Atlantic Ocean to London to dominate the Atlanta Falcons and battle through the Buffalo Bills for a 2-0 business trip.
After an emotional win abroad, Jacksonville still had to come home to answer to a Duval Devout crowd that still hadn’t experienced a home win in person. That was until the Jaguars got it for them Sunday where they scored the most points so far in 2023 with 37.
But in the Superdome on a short week, the Jags can cite another source for adversity – themselves.
Health was a factor for the Jags not only missing cornerback Tyson Campbell and offensive lineman Walker Little, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence was himself a gametime decision to play in the contest with a sprained knee.
It would seem that Lawrence damned the torpedoes as he still ran full speed to lead his squad in rushing yards with eight carries for 59 yards. He also completed 20 of his 29 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown pass.
That being said, that’s hardly where the adversity ends. The Jaguars also had two turnovers in the first half with fumbles credited to Christian Kirk and Tevaughn Campbell. Nonetheless, they led the Saints 17-6 at the half thanks to the defense.
Still more adversity came in the second half as New Orleans battled back. After putting up only 14 passing yards through 27 minutes of the back half of the game, Lawrence hit Kirk for a 44-yard touchdown to put the Jags back in the lead for the eventual victory. Kirk finished as the team’s most productive receiver despite the early fumble with 90 yards on six catches.
But to close out the win, after spending more than 36 minutes of game time on the field (which is due in part to a pick-six from Foyesade Oluokun forcing the defense to come back on the field right away for an extended period of time) the Jags held firm on their six-yard line. Granted, some of it is in part from the Saints’ Forrest Moreau's endzone drop that would have at least taken the game to overtime. But there was still plenty of adversity that the Jags’ had to subdue to get to even that point.
With all that in mind, there is probably one thing that the Duval Devout can ask for. . . fewer heart attack-inducing mistakes moving forward.
