Saints vs. Jaguars Game Preview | 2021 NFL Preseason Week 2

New Orleans looks to rebound from Saturday’s loss at Baltimore, while Jacksonville fell to the Cleveland Browns at home last Saturday

Aug 17, 2021 at 07:30 AM

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THE MATCHUP: SAINTS VS. JAGUARS PRESEASON WEEK 2

After a 17-14 loss at the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium, the New Orleans Saints (0-1) will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) on Monday night in the Caesars Superdome to open their 2021 home preseason slate.

New Orleans and Jacksonville have faced each other in in two exhibitions, with each club claiming their road matchup. The two clubs last met in the regular season at TIAA Bank Field on Oct. 13, 2019 with the Saints pulling out a dramatic 13-6 victory with a fourth quarter touchdown, while keeping the Jaguars out of the end zone.

New Orleans looks to rebound from Saturday's loss at Baltimore, while Jacksonville fell to the Cleveland Browns at home on Saturday.

SAINTS-JAGUARS SERIES HISTORY

The Saints have the upper hand in the regular season series against the Jaguars including winning the last four regular season matchups, all since Payton became head coach and holding a 5-2 overall lead.

New Orleans won the first meeting between the two clubs 17-13 in 1996 at the Superdome before dropping the next two contests 41-23 in 1999 and 20-19 in 2003, both at Jacksonville. New Orleans has hosted the Jaguars in 2015, 2007 and 1996 while Jacksonville has hosted the other three contests in 1999, 2003, and 2011.

In an Oct. 13, 2019 meeting at TIAA Bank Field, two sacks by defensive end Cameron Jordan and an interception by cornerback Marshon Lattimore led a suffocating New Orleans defensive effort that didn't surrender a touchdown for the first time since 2019 as the Saints won 13-6, driving for a fourth quarter touchdown behind QB Teddy Bridgewater.

The preseason series is tied 1-1, with the Saints winning 24-20 in the last exhibition on Aug. 9, 2018 at TIAA Bank Field.

JAGUARS IN WEEK 1 OF THE 2021 NFL PRESEASON

from Jaguars.com

The story lasted a quarter, with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft starting at quarterback for the Jaguars last Saturday in the 2021 preseason opener – a game the Jaguars lost to the Cleveland Browns, 23-13, with 57,508 tickets distributed at TIAA Bank Field.

"It's disappointing any time you lose," rookie Trevor Lawrence said. "It is a preseason game, but for us, that doesn't change anything. We still want to win. You do have to take the nuggets that you can learn from. We learned a lot. There's a lot of things we can work on.

"At the end of the day, you want to win the game and we didn't. We want to get better at that."

The Jaguars produced 85 yards offense in the first half, a statistic that was the focus for Jaguars Coach Urban Meyer – who was coaching his first NFL game of any kind after a 17-year career as one the most successful college coaches of all-time.

Meyer was asked if the preseason-opening performance was "concerning."

"Concerning? Yeah," Meyer said. "Everything's concerning. It's my job to be concerned."

Meyer was asked how he felt in his first NFL game.

"I felt great until I looked up and saw 85 yards at halftime," he said with a smile.

More from from Jaguars.com:

SAINTS IN WEEK 1 OF THE 2021 NFL PRESEASON

Ravens 17, Saints 14; August 14, 2021 @ M&T Bank Stadium

There was not much separation in the competition to be the next starting quarterback for the Saints in the preseason opener against the Ravens on Saturday, Aug. 14 in Baltimore.

Taysom Hill started and went 8 of 12 for 81 yards with an interception. Jameis Winston replaced him and went 7 of 12 for 96 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

But there is no doubt what stat caught the eye of Saints Coach Sean Payton - six turnovers. The Saints lost 17-14 - extending Baltimore's preseason winning streak to a league-best 18 games - but the poor ball security and numerous penalties (10 for 63 yards) gave Payton and his staff plenty to coach before the next preseason game.

Running backs Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and Tony Jones Jr. fumbled while Hill, Winston and rookie Ian Book each had a pick. Murray and Jones each fumbled inside the red zone, taking possible points off the board.

The defense was excellent for most of the game with defensive lineman Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata standing out. Rookie cornerback Paulson Adebo was tested repeatedly but held up well and fellow rookie Bryce Thompson had an interception in the first half.