NEW ORLEANS — — Despite Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing with a sprained left knee and the Jaguars struggling with turnovers and penalties, they managed to secure a thrilling victory, extending their winning streak to four games.
Travis Etienne scored two touchdowns on the ground, Foyesade Oluokun returned an interception for a score, and Christian Kirk’s late 44-yard touchdown after a short catch propelled the Jaguars to a 31-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.
“I don’t think I’ve run that fast since college,” Kirk, a former Texas A&M star, exclaimed about his game-winning touchdown. “That was some vintage stuff. I’m glad I was able to do it in that moment.”
Lawrence, who returned from his knee injury, led Jacksonville with 59 rushing yards and completed 20 of 29 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown. Their win marked their best start since 2007.
The Saints had an opportunity to respond, but their last-minute drive fell short with four consecutive incomplete passes, resulting in the Jaguars’ victory.
“We’re finding it hard to start fast, finding it hard to maintain, to execute sometimes and we’re finding it hard to finish,” Saints running back Alvin Kamara said. “That’s kind of the glaring and recurring theme.”
Throughout the game, Jacksonville fumbled twice and committed untimely penalties, giving the Saints chances to stay in the game. However, the Saints struggled to capitalize on their opportunities in the end zone.
Etienne’s consistent scoring streak continued, making him the first player in Jaguars history to rush for two touchdowns in three consecutive games.
Next, the Jaguars will travel to Pittsburgh on October 29, while the Saints will visit Indianapolis on the same day.
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INJURIES
Jaguars: Safety Andre Cisco received attention on the field late in the third quarter but was able to walk off on his own.
Saints: Quarterback Derek Carr appeared to finish the game in pain, but it was unclear what was ailing him. Alontae Taylor left the game briefly in the first quarter with an apparent cut on his nose and returned for the next series.
UP NEXT
Jaguars: Travel to Pittsburgh on Oct. 29.
Saints: Visit Indianapolis on Oct. 29.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
ohn Smith is your NFL insider, providing in-depth coverage of football’s biggest league. With a passion for the game and a keen eye for statistics, John delivers game analysis, player profiles, and breaking news to keep readers updated on all things NFL.
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