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The Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints both had reasons to be discouraged to kick off the preseason, so they’re each looking to get back on track in Week 2’s meeting. Read on for our preview of this exciting Monday Night Football showdown, featuring key matchups and a predicted winner.
See where the Jags and Saints rank in our latest NFL power rankings
Saints head coach Sean Payton has been enamored of Taysom Hill for a while, deploying him at a multitude of positions. When Hill had to take the reins for an injured Drew Brees at quarterback last season, he went 3-1 in four starts, acquitting himself rather well.
But there’s little doubt Jameis Winston has the higher ceiling as a pure pocket passer. It’s just that the last time he started full-time was 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he threw 30 interceptions. Yikes. Speaking of turnovers, the Saints coughed the ball up six times in Week 1 of the preseason. Not a great start to the post-Brees era.
Advantage: Taysom Hill
Even with the best intentions, new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer couldn’t keep Tim Tebow on the roster even past initial cuts to trim his team down to 85 players. Tebow’s failed comeback at tight end is the latest misstep from Meyer in his first season at the helm in Jacksonville, along with a dubious hiring of a strength coach, who abruptly resigned.
Sean Payton led the Saints to a 13-3 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance during his first year at the helm in New Orleans, so it’s not like instant, raging success is without precedent. Alas, Payton is more the exception than the norm, and he did have Brees coming into his own at the perfect time.
Advantage: New Orleans Saints
How does New Orleans’ D rate among the league’s best? Find out in our NFL defense rankings
If Jacksonville is going to have any chance at contending in the AFC South, it’ll largely boil down to how well its youthful defensive backfield can step up. Second-year cornerback C.J. Henderson in particular needs to rise to the occasion.
While a trip to New Orleans wouldn’t traditionally be a confidence builder, Brees is no longer walking through that door. At least for now, neither is the Saints’ go-to wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thus, the Jags have a great chance to show out and earn some playing time, but the home team needs some wideout to emerge.
Advantage: Jacksonville Jaguars
The bottom line: The Jaguars got crushed by the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, and once Lawrence exits the field in New Orleans, it’s going to be a struggle for Jacksonville to move the ball with its backup offensive line. Thus, the Saints are deserving favorites and should delight the home fans with a win.
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