The New Orleans Saints allowed 18 unanswered points in the second half and suffered a 24-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday’s preseason opener for both teams.
New Orleans held a 20-6 halftime lead, but Jacksonville erased the deficit in the second half, gaining nearly 200 years and scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Saints had one final opportunity to win, but their last-second touchdown attempt fell incomplete.
How it happened
The game got off to a fast start when veteran running back Ty Chandler returned the opening kickoff 86 yards. It was the Saints’ longest preseason kickoff return since Aug. 12, 2010.
The return set up New Orleans’ opening touchdown, as running back Audric Estimé scored on a 9-yard run just 21 seconds into the game. Estimé later left in the second quarter after taking an awkward hit on a reception.
The Saints’ defense also made its presence felt in the first half. Linebacker Jaylan Ford and defensive back Jayden Price each recorded an interception, with Price’s pick setting up a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Oscar Delp.
New Orleans recorded three sacks in the first half and four for the game, with edge rusher Michael Hoecht recording two.
Saints kicker Tanner Brown connected on field goals of 49 and 29 yards, with the latter coming as time expired in the first half to give New Orleans a 20-6 lead.
The Jaguars came out of halftime moving the ball quickly, eventually scoring on a 1-yard pass from quarterback Carter Bradley to Hunter Long.
Little added a 36-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter, cutting the Saints’ lead to 20-17.
Jacksonville then took the lead when J’Mari Taylor broke loose for a 78-yard run before scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run. The Jaguars’ comeback gave them 18 unanswered points and a 24-20 victory.
What the coach said
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore praised his team’s effort despite the second-half collapse.
“Love the way our guys competed, feel like we got some good stuff out there,” Moore said. “Plenty of growth for their future. I was proud of all three of those quarterbacks giving us a chance to win. I feel really good about our entire quarterback room.”
Quarterback numbers
With most of the Saints’ starters, including quarterback Tyler Shough, sitting out the preseason opener, Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson had an opportunity to make their cases in the battle for the backup quarterback job.
Wilson appeared more polished, completing 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Rattler finished 8 of 11 for 42 yards and lost a fumble.
Former USFL player Hunter Dekkers played the final 8:27 and nearly engineered a game-winning drive. However, his final pass fell incomplete in the left corner of the end zone.
Dekkers finished 8 of 15 for 69 yards.
Southern Miss alumnus Nick Mullens started at quarterback for Jacksonville, with starter Trevor Lawrence sitting out, and completed 3 of 7 passes for 33 yards with an interception.
Next up
The Saints will travel to the Los Angeles area on Monday ahead of joint practices against the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.
New Orleans will then face the Rams in a preseason game Saturday at SoFi Stadium.