RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 15: Head coach Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates in the second half of an NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on August 15, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Jacksonville Jaguars opened their 2026 preseason with a comeback victory, overcoming a 20-6 halftime deficit to defeat the New Orleans Saints 24-20 at the Caesars Superdome.
With most starters on both sides watching from the sidelines, the game was ultimately about the players fighting for roster spots and opportunities. For the Jaguars, several of those players made sure they were noticed.
Here are three reasons Jacksonville came away with the victory.
The Jaguars’ depth took over
Carter Bradley throws it to Hunter Long for six! Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lBgMXfB3Fe
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
It would have been easy for the Jaguars to fold after a miserable opening two quarters.
Jacksonville trailed 20-6 at halftime, having struggled to generate much consistency on offense while allowing the Saints to move the ball effectively. Nick Mullens threw an interception in the red zone, Carter Bradley also turned the ball over, and the Jaguars lost offensive lineman Chuma Edoga to injury on their opening offensive snap.
Instead, the players further down the depth chart produced exactly the response head coach Liam Coen wanted.
The Jaguars scored 18 unanswered points after halftime, with Bradley settling into the game and the running game finding its rhythm. A 10-play, 79-yard drive ended with Bradley finding Hunter Long for a touchdown, while J’Mari Taylor added the two-point conversion to make it 20-14. Cam Little’s third field goal then cut the deficit to three.
That second-half response was particularly encouraging because these are precisely the players Jacksonville will need to rely upon if injuries strike during the regular season.
“We’ve got to have that depth,” Coen said after the game. “I was really proud of the guys and the response, especially in the run game.”
Preseason results ultimately mean very little, but a team overcoming a 14-point deficit with its reserves tells us something about the competitiveness of the roster.
The Jaguars’ depth didn’t just survive Saturday night.
It won the game.
J’Mari Taylor gave the Jaguars something to think about
J'Mari Taylor powers it in for the TD 🔥 Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/VlV72BrEXy
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
There are few better ways for an undrafted rookie to announce himself than by becoming the guy who scores the game-winning touchdown.
J’Mari Taylor did exactly that.
The rookie running back carried 22 times for 78 yards, with 58 of those yards coming after halftime. With Jacksonville searching for offensive momentum, Taylor repeatedly provided it, helping the Jaguars establish the run and control the game during their comeback.
Then came the biggest moment.
With 4:55 remaining, Taylor powered his way into the end zone from two yards out to give Jacksonville its first lead of the afternoon. One play earlier, rookie quarterback Joey Aguilar had entered the game and immediately connected with Trebor Peña for a spectacular 43-yard completion down the left sideline.
Taylor’s touchdown was the finishing touch on a drive that transformed the game.
The significance extends beyond Saturday’s score, though. Undrafted rookies don’t get many opportunities to make a case for themselves, and Taylor made the most of his.
Coen specifically praised the running game after the victory, while Taylor was quick to credit the offensive line for creating his opportunities.
“At the end of the day it’s all football, so take advantage of your opportunities and go out there and have fun,” Taylor said.
That’s exactly what Taylor did.
With the regular-season roster still to be decided, 78 yards and a game-winning touchdown is a pretty compelling opening argument.
The defense made enough plays to close It out
B.J. Green II recovers the fumble for the @Jaguars 🏈 Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/H2PyH6mMVV
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
The Jaguars’ defense wasn’t perfect, particularly during a first half in which New Orleans scored 20 points.
But when the game tightened up, Jacksonville’s defense repeatedly found ways to make plays.
Yasir Abdullah was one of the biggest contributors. The linebacker recorded a sack that forced a fumble from Spencer Rattler, with B.J. Green II recovering at the Saints’ 10-yard line. That turnover immediately put Jacksonville in position for another Cam Little field goal.
The Jaguars ultimately finished with four sacks, with Ruke Orhorhoro, Danny Striggow, Abdullah, Albert Regis and Bryan Thomas Jr. all getting involved in the pass rush.
Most importantly, the defense didn’t allow New Orleans to score during the entire second half.
That became particularly important after Taylor’s touchdown put Jacksonville ahead. The Saints still had opportunities to respond, but the Jaguars’ defense held firm. New Orleans’ final two possessions ended with a punt and an incomplete pass on second-and-goal from the two-yard line as time expired.
That’s the sort of resilience Coen will want to see develop as the preseason progresses.
The Jaguars certainly weren’t flawless defensively — and there will be plenty to clean up before the regular season — but they produced pressure, created turnovers and, most importantly, protected a late lead.
For a group consisting largely of players fighting for their own roster spots, that was an encouraging way to finish the night.
The first half exposed some problems.
The second half showed the Jaguars could overcome them.
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