JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Atlanta Falcons(0-4) went down to Duval county to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars(0-3) in their final preseason game of the year. With a combined 75 players between the two teams sitting out, the game was sloppy from start to finish, and the Falcons took home a 31-12 victory. Former LSU and Patriot quarterback Danny Etling finished with 174 yards and a touchdown, while running back Tony Brooks-James had a monster night, going for 137 yards and two touchdowns off of just 15 carries.
Jacksonville won the toss and elected to defer to the second half, so the Falcons started with the ball. Etling drew the start for Atlanta, and led the Falcons to a quick three and out. Former Washington State Cougar Gardner Minshew led the Jaguars on their first drive, and immediately moved the ball downfield. However, after a couple of first downs, Jacksonville was forced to punt. A beautiful punt by Logan Cooke pinned Atlanta at their own two-yard line. Another three and out saw the ball go back to Jacksonville, but they sent it right back to the Falcons with a three and out of their own. This time, Atlanta was able to string together a drive. After a first down and a pass interference call, they were all the way down inside Jacksonville’s 10 yard line. Running back Qadree Ollison took it in from nine yards out to get Atlanta on the board first. With 5:08 to go in the opening quarter, it was 7-0, Falcons.
Jacksonville started their next drive at their own 30, but it was quickly derailed by a holding penalty. The Falcons had the ball at about midfield when the first quarter came to a close. They held the advantage, 7-0.
The Falcons quickly added on to that lead however. The drive ended in a 15 yard touchdown run from Brooks-James, and Atlanta led 14-0 with just under 13 minutes to go in the half.
The Jaguars started their next drive at their own 25 and quickly got to work. It was the Ryquell Armstead show on this drive, as the rookie from Temple broke off a few big runs to quickly put Jacksonville in Atlanta territory. However, the drive quickly stalled and they had to settle for a 48 yard field goal from kicker Josh Lambo. The score was 14-3 with 10 minutes to go in the half.
Atlanta continued to move the ball on offense on the next drive. Etling scrambled for nearly 35 yards down to the Jacksonville 15, and would later hit Christian Blake to extend their lead to 21-3 with 6:37 to go in the game.
The Jaguars came out firing on the next drive, as Minshew hit Tre McBride for a 21 yard gain. Their success ended there though, and they were forced to punt the ball away again. Atlanta looked to add on to their lead before the half, and Etling led the way. He picked up two quick first downs with his legs before the two-minute warning. A roughing the passer call on Jags defensive tackle Datone Jones put Atlanta in Jacksonville territory, and Etling then hit Jaeden Graham for another first down.
With 30 seconds to go, Atlanta had the ball at the Jaguars’ 35 yard line. However, the drive stalled and Falcons’ kicker Giogio Tavecchio missed a 53 yard field goal. Jacksonville took over with 20 seconds left in the half, and after a completion plus a roughing the passer call, they were in Atlanta territory. Jacksonville was able to get three points off the leg of Josh Lambo, hitting a 51-yard attempt. At the half, Atlanta led 21-6. Etling finished the half with 86 passing yards, 59 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Falcons outgained the Jaguars 208-93 in terms of yardage, and 16-6 in terms of first downs
Jacksonville started out the second half at their own 18-yard line. The Falcons’ defense forced a quick three and out and Atlanta’s offense took over on their own 26. The Jags quickly got the ball back, as they forced a fumble and recovered at their own 38-yard line. The Atlanta defense stepped up though and forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back for their offense. The Falcons got a field goal out of the drive, which it made the score 24-6 with nine minutes to go in the third.
Jacksonville’s offense continued to be anemic, as Logan Cooke trotted out for his sixth punt of the contest. Atlanta sent it right back, and the Jaguars’ offense continued its struggles. They had to punt yet again, and to this point were just 1-11 on third downs. Atlanta couldn’t get anything going either, and had to punt it back to Jacksonville. Former Florida International quarterback Alex McGough replaced Minshew for the Jaguars, but the change did not make a difference, and the Jaguars went three and out. At the end of the third quarter, the score was still 24-6.
The fourth quarter continued the theme of the game, poor offense. Atlanta had a chance to score, but Datone Jones blocked the Blair Walsh field goal attempt for Jacksonville. McGough brought the Jaguars offense to life somewhat, as he led a drive down the field. His third-down scramble picked up Jacksonville’s second third down conversion of the night. Jacksonville nearly had a touchdown, but they missed their fourth-down conversion and the Falcons took over with just 4:25 remaining in the game. Atlanta scored a late touchdown as Brooks-James scampered in from 52 yards out. With two minutes to go, the score was 31-6. McGough would score a garbage-time touchdown for Jacksonville with just over a minute left to make it 31-12. That is where the score would stay
Atlanta improves to 1-4 in the preseason and captures their first preseason win since 2016, when they beat the Jaguars. Atlanta’s defense was ferocious, holding the Jaguars to a 3-16 third-down conversion rate. After the game, Head Coach Dan Quinn was very complimentary of his team, but especially of his quarterback Etling.
“Keeping plays alive has been something that you saw from him at LSU,” Quinn said. “Having a whole week under his belt was a big thing for him… tonight we had about 10 or 12 plays that he knew inside out and the receivers would run back and spend extra time with him this week because we didn’t do any game-planning for Jacksonville. So much of the week was focused on us. In little moments and in the evenings they spent time together, and it was a good message that the extra work paid off.”
Even though 35 players did not suit up for Atlanta, the Falcons will still look to use this win as momentum headed into regular season play next week against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis.
Written by Michael Hull
