Saints Tame Jaguars 13-6 in Defensive Slugfest

Following their 31-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (5-1) were looking to go 4-0 since starting quarterback Drew Brees injured the thumb on his throwing hand during a week two game against the Los Angeles Rams. To do so, the Saints would have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4) on the road, led by backup-turned-starter Gardner Minshew II. The Jaguars’ quarterback has been a revelation since taking over for the injured Nick Foles and has made the Jags a tough out game in and game out.

In the first half, the Saints and the Jaguars would exchange punts in a defensive affair, marked by both good defense and mediocre (at best) offense. Saints punter Thomas Morstead punted five times, while Jaguars punter Logan Cooke punted four times. At halftime, both teams had just a field goal apiece on the scoreboard, as the game was tied 3-3.

In the second half, the Saints’ defense would pick up right where they left off in the first, as an interception of Gardner Minshew II by Marshon Lattimore would lead to a Saints’ field goal, giving New Orleans a 6-3 lead early in the third quarter. The Jags would respond, with a field goal of their own, in this incredibly exciting defensive slugfest, tying the game at 6.

On their ensuing drive, the Saints would finally find the end zone, with 11:49 left in the game on a four-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to tight end Jared Cook. The first touchdown of the game by either team would come in the fourth quarter.

With the Saints leading 13-6, the Jaguars would look to respond and drive to the Saints’ 40-yard line, where they would fail to convert on 4th-and-2, turning the ball over on downs. After an exchange of punts, the Saints would have the ball again and look to ice the game. New Orleans would drive deep inside Jacksonville’s red zone and chew nearly all of the remaining five-plus minutes on the clock to ice the game. New Orleans would then kneel on the ball and win the game 13-6 and move to 5-1 on the season and 4-0 since Drew Brees’ injury.

Yet another defensive battle in which the offense scored just enough while the defense was lights out to get New Orleans the victory! A little further south from NOLA, LSU as a lethal offense and their defense is struggling. These are strange but awesome times in Louisiana. Enjoy!

———

Here is how the game unfolded

FIRST HALF

First Quarter

• The Jags win the toss and defer to the second half. Saints start at their 25-yard line and drive near midfield on passes and runs by Alvin Kamara, but on 3rd-and-2 at the Saints’ 49-yard line, Saints stall and have to punt.
• Jaguars take over at their 9-yard line and go three-and-out and have to punt.
• Saints take over at their own 30-yard line and drive into Jaguars territory but stall at the Jags 44-yard line. Thomas Morstead pins the JAgs at their own 2-yard line
• Jaguars go three-and-out after gaining only 2 yards
• Deonte Harris returns the punt to the Jaguars 37-yard line as the Saints start in plus-territory. Saints go backwards for three yards, but Bridgewater finds Jared Cook for a 13-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Saints eventually stall at Jacksonville’s 29-yard line. Wil Lutz converts a 47-yard field goal
• NO: 3 - JAX: 0
• Jaguars start at their own 25-yard line after the touchback and go three-and-out once again, as the Saints defense is playing well in the beginning of this game.
• Saints take over at their 17-yard line and in one pass play to Ted Ginn Jr. get near midfield as the quarter ends.

Second Quarter

• Saints get to midfield but stall and punt yet again. Jacksonville takes over at their 15-yard line after another good punt by Morstead.
• Jaguars go three-and-out again and punt, downing the ball at the Saints’ 18-yard line
• Saints return the favor, and go three-and-out as well, starting the game as poorly as can be offensively. Morstead punts again, with the Jgs having the ball at their 30-yard line
• Jaguars find their first “first down” of the game on a pass to DJ Chark. On 3rd-and-6 from their own 43-yard line, Minshew finds Chark again for a 22-yard catch into Saints’ territory. Jags get into the Saints’ red zone on a pass to Leonard Fournette. Jaguars get all the way down to the Saints’ 4-yard line, but stall and settle for a Josh Lambo 22-yard field goal.
• NO: 3 - JAX: 3
• Saints take over at their 23-yard line after a 21-yard return by Deonte Harris. Saints find a first down up to their 35-yard line at the two-minute warning. Saints get near midfield, but Bridgewater gets sacked on two consecutive plays, leaving the SAints with a 3rd-and-22 from their own 37-yard line. Saints get the ball just inside Jacksonville territory but stall. Thomas Morstead punts the ball to the Jags’ 14-yard line.
• Jags move the ball to their 29-yard line, but Minshew is sacked by Cam Jordan on 2nd down. The Jags kneel on the ball and the teams go into their locker room for halftime tied at three.

SECOND HALF

Third Quarter

• Jaguars start with the ball after having deferred in the second half. Jaguars get to their 45-yard line, but a deep pass from Minshew to DJ Chark is intercepted by Marshon Lattimore at the Saints’ 40-yard line
• Saints take the ball and on the third play of the drive, score a long touchdown on a pass to running back Latavius Murray, but the score is negated by a holding penalty on Michael Thomas. Saints get back into the Jags red zone on a run by Murray. Saints get to the JAgs 3-yard line and fail on 3rd-and-goal and settle for a Wil Lutz 21-yard field goal.
• NO: 6 - JAX: 3
• Jags take over at their 25-yard line after the touchback. Jaguars get into Saints territory on a Minshew pass to Dede Westbrook. Jaguars get into the Saints’ red zone on runs by Leonard Fournette. Jags get to the Saints’ 10-yard line, and Cameron Jordan sacks Gardner Minshew on third down, forcing a field goal try. Lambo converts on a 35-yarder.
• NO: 6 - JAX: 6
• Saints start at their 25-yard line after the touchback, a holding penalty on center Erik McCoy pins New Orleans back to their 15-yard line. Bridgewater gets the Saints out of their hole with a 26-yard pass to Michael Thomas. Saints face a 2nd-and-6 at the Jags’ 44-yard line as the quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

• On 3rd-and-6 from the Jags 44-yard line, Taysom Hill runs for 19 yards to the Jags’ 25. Bridgewater finds Michael Thomas to the Jags’ 8-yard line. Bridgewater finds Jared Cook for a 4-yard touchdown, the first touchdown of the day by either team.
• NO: 13 - JAX: 6
• Jags take over at their own 25-yard line after the touchback. Jags get near midfield after penalties on Marcus Davenport and Demario Davis. A holding penalty backs the Jags up. Jags get to the Saints’ 40-yard line and on 4th-and-2, a pass from Minshew to Chris Conley falls incomplete, Saints take over on downs!
• Saints start the drive at their own 40-yard line, but on 3rd-and-6 from the Saints’ 44-yard line, Bridgewater is sacked by Najee Goode, as the Saints have to punt again. And once again, Thomas Morstead pins Jacksonville inside their 20-yard line.
• Jags take over at their own 11-yard line and go three-and-out
• Saints once again have the ball in good field position at their own 39-yard line. Saints would get into Jags’ territory on a pass to Michael Thomas and a run by Latavius Murray. Saints get into the Jags’ red zone on a 20-yard pass from Bridgewater to Jared Cook. Latavius Murray runs to the Jags’ 9-yard line at the two-minute warning. Saints “Mint Chew” the remainder of the clock and win the game 13-6, without allowing a touchdown.
• Saints Win! Saints Win!