NFL

Saints QB Brees in vintage form as playoffs approach

Published

5 years ago

December 17, 2019

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Vintage Drew Brees is back.

Or so it would seem the past two weeks, during which the Saints’ 40-year-old quarterback has passed for nine touchdowns and 656 yards, setting career and single-game NFL records in the process.

His return to stellar form comes at a good time for the playoff-bound Saints.

“You’re always striving because you know that the challenges continue to get greater and games become even more important. We are hitting the home stretch here where we want to be playing our best football,” Brees said. “The teams that typically succeed in the playoffs and the ones that have that momentum, they are ascending into the playoffs. We want to be ascending.”

Whether the Saints as a whole are ascending is up for debate. Their defense gave up 48 points in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14. But Brees was stellar in that game, throwing for five TDs and leading the Saints back from two scores down to take the lead in the final minute before the Niners responded by driving for a winning field goal as time expired.

On Monday night against Indianapolis, Brees was in his seventh game back from a Week 2 thumb injury that sidelined him for five games. Brees turned in a virtuoso performance of historic proportions against Indianapolis, whose fan base learned during a Super Bowl in Miami a decade ago how hard it can be to stop Brees when he gets in rhythm.

Brees set a single-game record for accuracy with 29 completions on 30 attempts ( 96.7 percent) for 307 yards and four touchdowns, raising his career TD passing total to 541 — two ahead of previous touchdown pass record holder Peyton Manning.

“That’s a blessing for him, but he’s not done,” Saints leading receiver Michael Thomas assured. “There is so much more that he can do. He’s an incredible leader. We just follow his lead and we follow everything that he has.”

The argument could and likely will be made soon that no QB and receiver in NFL history have enjoyed better chemistry than Brees and Thomas have in 2019. With 12 catches or 128 yards and a TD against Indianapolis, Thomas has an NFL-leading 133 catches for 1,552 yards this season.

“It’s just accountability,” Thomas said. “Our preparation throughout the week is laser-like focus. We are trying to get better and enhance our abilities.”

Thomas needs 11 catches during the Saints’ final two regular-season games to break Marvin Harrison’s NFL single-season record of 143 receptions with the Colts in 2002. On passes from Manning.

WHAT’S WORKING

The Saints’ passing game looks a lot more like those which ranked near the top of the NFL nearly every year that coach Sean Payton’s offense has been run by Brees, beginning in 2006. While Brees is relying heavily on Thomas, he spread completions around to eight other players on Monday night: three other receivers, two tight ends, two running backs, and utility player Taysom Hill. The pass to Hill, a reserve QB and utility player who also lines up at tight end, receiver and running back, went 28 yards for a touchdown.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

The pass rush appears to be seeing the effects of season-ending injuries to starting end Marcus Davenport and starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Only three games ago in Atlanta, the Saints had nine sacks. Against Indianapolis, they had one.

STOCK UP

Second-year receiver Tre’Quan Smith has touchdown catches in each of the Saints’ past two games, demonstrating improved effectiveness since his return from an ankle injury earlier this season.

STOCK DOWN

Ted Ginn Jr. had one catch for 13 yards. Known for his speed, Ginn is arguably the Saints’ best deep threat. And while respect for his speed on deep routes creates room for fellow receivers underneath, he’s shown previously that he’s capable of producing far more.

INJURED

Starting right guard Larry Warford left Monday night’s game in the third quarter with a left knee injury. Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson took a hard hit to the head in the fourth quarter and left with a concussion. The Saints also played without starting safety Vonn Bell, who hurt his knee a week earlier.

KEY NUMBER

8 — The number of games this season in which Thomas had caught 10 or more passes, most in a single season in NFL history.

NEXT STEPS

The Saints (11-3), one of four teams tied for the NFC’s best record, conclude their regular season with a pair of road games. The first is at Tennessee, where resurgent QB Ryan Tannehill is trying to keep the Titans (8-6) in playoff contention. New Orleans finishes the regular season at Carolina.

Jacksonville

Jaguars Beaten by the Browns 18-13

Published

3 weeks ago

September 15, 2024

Mike Brodsky

Jaguars Home Opener at TrEverBank Stadium

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars fall to the Cleveland Browns 18-13 in their home opener. The Jaguars are now 0-2 after last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The Browns were the first to score after an 89 yard drive, capped off by a 1 yard touchdown run by QB Deshaun Watson, who earlier this week denied new sexual assault allegations against him. K Dustin Hopkins added the extra point, to put the Browns ahead 7-0.

In the second quarter, Hopkins added a 53 yard field goal for the Browns. The Jaguars later had an impressive scoring drive which took them as close as the 2 yard line, but they had to settle for a 22 yard field goal by rookie K Cam Little. Hopkins responded with a 38 yard field goal, to keep the Browns ahead 13-3 at the half.

Hopkins kicked off the scoring in the third quarter with a 44 yard field goal, extending the Browns’ lead. Little’s attempted 43 yard field goal in the rain hit the right upright. But QB Trevor Lawrence’s 66 yard pass to WR Brian Thomas, Jr. energized the crowd late in the third quarter, and RB Travis Etienne Jr. followed with a 4 yard touchdown run, while Cam Little redeemed himself with an extra point. Foyesade Oluokun’s sack of Deshaun Watson ended the third quarter, with the Jaguars down 16-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Rookie K Cam Little (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Early in the fourth quarter, Lawrence again had fans on their feet after a 30 yard pass to TE Brenton Strange. That drive ended with a 25 yard Cam Little field goal. But the Browns ran the clock down, leaving the Jaguars with only 1:48, and the ball on the two yard line. Lawrence was sacked in the end zone by DE Alex Wright for a safety, securing the Browns 18-13 victory. A late drive attempt by the Jaguars ended unsuccessfully.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 220 yards. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 52 yards and 1 touchdown. Brian Thomas, Jr. was the leading receiver with 94 yards. Etienne also surpassed the 3,000 career yards mark during today’s game, and he later tied for the fifth most touchdowns in Jaguars history (18). He also ended as the fifth leading Jaguar in career rushing yards.

Today was the first home game for Trevor Lawrence since signing a five-year, $275 million contract extension. EverBank Stadium was rebranded as “TrEverBank Stadium” for today’s home opener, as a bank collaboration with the Jaguars quarterback.

TrEverBank Stadium (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

It was also the first home game since Josh Hines-Allen revised his last name to honor his maternal family’s athletic legacy, and to differentiate himself from the Buffalo Bills QB, Josh Allen. On 9/20, Josh will host a “jersey swap” event for the first 100 fans who registered, allowing them to swap their old “Allen” jerseys for the new “Hines-Allen” #41 jerseys.

New jerseys for Josh Hines-Allen fans. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Today’s attendance was 60,105. The Jaguars head to Buffalo to face QB Josh Allen and the Bills on Monday night, 9/23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

Jacksonville

Jaguars Shutout Panthers Without QB Lawrence

Published

9 months ago

December 31, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) shutout the Carolina Panthers (2-14) 26-0 in their final home game at EverBank Stadium today. The Jaguars had lost four games in a row prior to today’s victory. But with today’s win, the Jaguars secured their second consecutive winning season for the first time since 2004-05. QB Trevor Lawrence missed his first NFL game after starting 51 in a row before today, because of a sprained throwing shoulder. Lawrence left early in three of his last four games with injuries. C.J Beathard made his first start at quarterback in three years.

QB C.J. Beathard. Photo credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Beathard looked comfortable leading the Jaguars downfield on the first drive of the game, which ended in a 35 yard K Brandon McManus field goal to put the Jags up 3-0, which remained the score of the end of the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, McManus added a 26 yard field goal, extending the Jags lead to 6-0. Soon after, LB Josh Allen sacked Panthers QB Bryce Young to tie Calais Campbell for the Jaguars’ franchise single season record of 14.5 sacks. Late in the second quarter, McManus kicked a 24 yard field goal, to put the Jags ahead 9-0. Shortly afterwards, Allen added another sack of Bryce Young, to claim sole possession of the team record at 15.5 sacks. The Jaguars defense continued to hold the Panthers scoreless, limiting the team to 34 yards in total for the first two quarters, as the score remained 9-0 at halftime.

LB Josh Allen sets Jags’ single season sacks record. Photo credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

In the third quarter, RB Travis Etienne Jr. ran for a 62 yard touchdown, his tenth of the year. McManus added the extra point, as the Jags led 16-0. Beathard had an impressive 19 yard run midway through the third, but was taken out of the game by officials because he looked a little wobbly getting up, and went to the medical tent for evaluation. 33 year old QB Matt Barkley, who was signed earlier this week, warmed up for the Jaguars. Panthers LB Marquis Haynes Sr., who tackled Beathard, was badly injured on the play, and had to be taken off the field on a golf cart. Barkley led the Jaguars for one play, but Beathard was able to return to the field on the next down. That drive ended with a 34 yard McManus field goal, extending the lead to 19-0, which remained the score at the end of the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Allen added his third sack of the game, taking down Young, and extending his single season record to 16.5 sacks. Etienne added a one yard run for a touchdown on a play that was initially called a fumble, but was reversed on review and ruled a TD. With the XP from McManus, the Jaguars were up 26-0. Jaguars rookie S Antonio Johnson had an impressive interception of a Bryce Young pass late in the game. On the next drive, the Jaguars put in QB Matt Barkley to finish the game, and avoid any risk to C.J. Beathard’s health.

C.J. Beathard finished with 178 yards. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Evan Engram was the leading receiver with 60 yards.

The Jaguars head to Tennessee to face the Titans on Sunday, 1/7, for their final game of the regular season. Kickoff time has not yet been scheduled. The Jaguars are trying to make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1998-99. A victory against the Titans will give the Jaguars the AFC South division title. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

Jacksonville

Ravens Soar To Victory Over Jaguars 23-7

Published

10 months ago

December 17, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) 23-7 to remain at the top of the AFC. With tonight’s loss, the Jags are now tied for first in the AFC South with the Colts and the Texans. This was the Jaguars’ first Sunday Night Football game in 15 years. The Jags’ last SNF game was 10/5/2008 when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-21.

The Ravens were the first to score on a 43 yard K Justin Tucker field goal. The Jaguars had a chance to tie it up on the next drive, but K Brandon McManus hit the right upright on a 50 yard field goal attempt. The score remained 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

McManus had an opportunity to redeem himself, but missed a 55 yard field goal wide left on the Jags’ first drive of the second quarter. Late in the second, Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson completed a 16 yard touchdown pass to TE Isaiah Likely, followed by Tucker’s extra point, to put the Ravens ahead 10-0. The Jaguars came close to scoring, but ran out of time at the half.

Midway through the third quarter, the Jaguars put their first points on the board on a 65 yard QB Trevor Lawrence to WR Jamal Agnew touchdown pass, followed by MacManus’ extra point. The score remained 10-7 at the end of the third quarter.

The Ravens started the fourth quarter with a one yard RB Gus Edwards touchdown run, while Tucker added the XP. Tucker kicked a 26 yard field goal, and later a 34 yarder to put the Ravens ahead 23-7.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 264 yards and 1 touchdown. Lawrence also led the Jaguars’ rushing with 41 yards. Jamal Agnew was the leading receiver with 70 yards and 1 touchdown.

Tonight’s attendance was 68,021. The Jaguars head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers on Sunday, 12/24. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The Jaguars return to “The Bank” to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, 12/31 at 1:00 p.m. for their final home game of the regular season. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.