ATLANTA (AP) — Trevor Lawrence tuned up for the regular season by guiding two long touchdown drives against a bunch of Atlanta players fighting for jobs, and the Jacksonville Jaguars blew away the Falcons 31-0 in the preseason finale Friday night.
Lawrence completed 8 of 10 passes for 91 yards, including scoring passes of 6 and 5 yards to tight end Evan Engram, before calling it a night.
“It was a good night, very clean,” Lawrence said. “As far as just our team, our offense, where we’re at, I think we’re in a great spot.”
The Jaguars made it look easy, which wasn’t at all surprising because the Falcons didn’t play any of their starters. Many of their top backups also watched from the sideline — most notably rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 pick in the draft.
Even though Kirk Cousins is set to start for the Falcons, new coach Raheem Morris decided to play Penix in just a single preseason game. The decision raised plenty of eyebrows, but Morris said he got a good look at his prized rookie in practice and didn’t want to risk an injury.
Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons, sat out the entire preseason as he completed his recovery from an Achilles injury that cut short his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. He’s been getting plenty of work in practice and should be ready to go when the games start counting.
The Jaguars (3-0) went with a different preseason routine, deciding to use most of their starters after sitting them the previous week. They dominated the outmanned Falcons (0-3), who started third-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
Jacksonville outgained the Falcons 412-157 in total yards, while recording 30 first downs to just eight for Atlanta.
“I don’t look at it as us versus them,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. “Yeah, there’s a man over you and then you’ve got to do your best to win that matchup. But it’s more about assignment football. When your starters don’t play a ton in games like this, you want them to come away feeling good about themselves.”
After an unnecessary roughness penalty on a punt return backed up the Jaguars to their own 8, Lawrence directed a nine-play, 92-yard drive for the first TD.
Travis Etienne broke off a 19-yard run, Lawrence found Brian Thomas Jr. coming across the middle for a 38-yard catch and run, and Engram capped if off by splitting two defenders and leaping for a pass in the back of the end zone on third-and-goal from the 6.
Jacksonville’s second possession was more methodical, but the result was the same. Driving 62 yards in 13 plays, the Jaguars converted on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 19 with Tank Bigsby’s 2-yard run before Lawrence hooked up with Engram on another third-and-goal, this time with a 5-yard toss to the left corner of the end zone.
Former New England starter Mac Jones, looking to spark his sputtering career as Lawrence’s backup, took over on Jacksonville’s third possession. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Cooks, who made an acrobatic catch with just 18 seconds left in the first half.
Jones directed another long scoring drive in the third quarter, capped off by Jalen Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown run.
About the only thing that went wrong for the Jaguars was Jones completing a 33-yard pass to Seth Williams for an apparent TD, only to have it wiped out by an illegal shift penalty. The Jaguars settled for Cam Little’s 40-yard field goal.
Jones was 13 of 18 for 113 yards.
Heinicke completed only 8 of 17 for 81 yards before giving way to undrafted rookie John Paddock in the second half.
With their third- and fourth-string quarterbacks getting most of the snaps, the Falcons managed just 25 points in the preseason.
UP NEXT
Jaguars: Open the regular season Sept. 8 in Miami against Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins.
Falcons: Cousins makes his Atlanta debut when his new team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener Sept. 8.
In a highly anticipated pre-season matchup, the Jacksonville Jaguars dominated the Atlanta Falcons with a final score of 24-10. The game showcased the Jaguars’ potential as they continue to build around their young quarterback, Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, showed flashes of his potential as he threw two touchdown passes in the game. His poise in the pocket and ability to make quick decisions impressed both fans and analysts alike. Lawrence connected with his receivers on several key plays, showcasing his accuracy and arm strength.
The Jaguars’ defense also had a strong showing, holding the Falcons to just 10 points. Their pass rush was relentless, putting pressure on the Falcons’ quarterbacks and forcing turnovers. The secondary was also impressive, breaking up several key passes and limiting big plays down the field.
Overall, the Jaguars looked like a team on the rise. With Lawrence at the helm and a solid supporting cast around him, they have the potential to make some noise in the upcoming season. Head coach Urban Meyer has high expectations for his young team and this pre-season game was a promising start.
As for the Falcons, they have some work to do before the regular season kicks off. Their offense struggled to find a rhythm against the Jaguars’ defense and their defense had trouble containing Lawrence and the Jaguars’ passing attack. However, it’s important to remember that pre-season games are often used as learning experiences and opportunities for players to showcase their skills.
In conclusion, the Jaguars’ dominant performance against the Falcons is a positive sign for their upcoming season. Lawrence’s two touchdown passes were just a glimpse of what he is capable of and fans can expect more exciting plays from him in the future. The Jaguars are a team to watch as they continue to develop and grow under the leadership of Lawrence and Coach Meyer.