New Orleans Saints (3-4) – Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2): 24-31
On the fingertips of Foster Moreau (3 rec, 33 yards). This is where the equalizing ball went for the Saints 30 seconds from the end of the match. Symbol of an evening of missed opportunities for New Orleans.
Despite two balls offered by their opponents, Derek Carr (33/55, 301 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and his teammates attacked the last quarter led 24 to 9. They then woke up with two touchdowns in three drives to equalize , before recovering the ball. Just in time to stall again. With possession 4:30 minutes from time, they don’t win a single first down. Worse, the defense sees Christian Kirk (6 rec, 90 yards, 1 TD) fly for a 44-yard touchdown.
The Saints have the ball at 3mn08 to go for the equalizer. They arrive at the opposing 6 yards for four new attempts: incomplete, incomplete, touched by Moreau and incomplete.
Trevor Lawrence in good shape for the Jaguars
Hit in the knee during the last match, Trevor Lawrence (20/29, 204 yards, 1 TD – 9 races, 59 yards) did not leave doubts about his state of health for too long. From the first offensive, he allows himself a 9-yard run. Above all, he distributes the ball until Travis Etienne (14 races, 53 yards, 2 TDs) goes to finish on the ground (0-7). The Saints’ first drive fails on a missed field goal.
The New Orleans defense reacted well, snatching the ball from Christian Kirk’s hands, but the attack did nothing. Tevaughn Campbell must release the punt received by Jacksonville for the Saints to finally score, but only on the foot (3-7).
No problem, Etienne doubles the bet and immediately gives the Floridians some breathing space (3-14). After an exchange of field goals, the score is 17-6 for the visitors at the break.
The ineffective Saints
After a field goal at the opening of the third quarter (9-17), it was a disaster for the Saints. Foye Oluokun appeared to intercept Derek Carr and score on the return. Jacksonville flies away (9-24). It’s the only ball lost by the black and gold in this match, but it hurts a lot.
New Orleans is not collapsing, however. A long offensive completed on the ground by Taysom Hill (5 races, 18 yards, 1 TD) puts them back in the match (16-24). The defense tightens the game and Michael Thomas finds the end zone. Alvin Kamara converts two points for the equalizer (24-24)!
But the thinning is short-lived. Between the touchdown allowed to Kirk and the failures on the last offensive, the Saints are made up for by their inefficiency of the day: 3/18 on third attempts, 2/5 in the red zone. Despite a higher time of possession (36 minutes compared to 24) and a number of yards gained (407 to 330), Dennis Allen’s men were unable to take control of the Jaguars who, on the contrary, seem increasingly secure of their strength.
