The Jacksonville Jaguars notched another tally in the win column, out-lasting the New Orleans Saints in a Thursday night contest that turned into a barn-burner late.
Early in the game, the Jaguars offense cruised out to a double-digit lead with two 75-yard touchdown drives on its first three possessions. But that momentum came to a screeching halt, and Jacksonville found very little offensive success on its next seven drives.
It was the Jaguars defense that, once again, led the way for the team. But the Saints offense caught fire late in the game and Jacksonville needed a late touchdown and defensive stop to earn the win.
The folks at Pro Football Focus graded every player’s performance in the Thursday night contest. Here’s the Jaguars players who came out with the highest and lowest grades against the Saints:
5 highest grades on offense
- WR Christian Kirk: 77.3
- QB Trevor Lawrence: 73.7
- WR Jamal Agnew: 68.5
- LT Cam Robinson: 67.5
- RG Brandon Scherff: 65.4
Kirk saved the day with his 44-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but he was the Jaguars’ leading receiver even before that play. He’s now averaging more yards per game than he did during an 1,100-yard season in 2022.
5 lowest grades on offense
Calvin Ridley, are you serious?
GET HIM THE BALL!!!! pic.twitter.com/WF4TPXmPnk
— BKS (@BKStakes) October 20, 2023
- TE Luke Farrell: 47.4
- WR Calvin Ridley: 47.5
- TE Brenton Strange: 52.2
- RT Anton Harrison: 54.4
- LG Tyler Shatley: 57.8
Ridley was a non-factor Thursday with only one reception for five yards. In his defense, it sure looked like he made a grab on the sidelines that was called incomplete.
5 highest grades on defense
- LB Foye Oluokun: 89.7
- OLB Josh Allen: 87.9
- LB Devin Lloyd: 82.6
- S Andrew Wingard: 79.4
- DE Adam Gotsis: 77.2
It felt like the Jaguars’ pair of inside linebackers were absolutely everywhere in the win. They combined for 25 tackles and Oluokun scored his first career touchdown.
5 lowest grades on defense
- OLB Dawuane Smoot: 35.3
- OLB Travon Walker: 41.6
- S Rayshawn Jenkins: 47.1
- S Andre Cisco: 55.9
- OLB K’Lavon Chaisson: 60.4
Against a depleted Saints offensive line, Josh Allen made a consistent impact. If the rest of the outside linebacking corps joined him, Allen might’ve actually recorded a sack.
5 other notables
- CB Darious Williams: 76.3
- CB Montaric Brown: 67.9
- RB Travis Etienne Jr: 64.5
- C Luke Fortner: 58.0
- DT Jeremiah Ledbetter: 71.3
The Jaguars couldn’t have asked for much more from Brown. With Tyson Campbell out of action, the team got strong play from its pair of outside cornerbacks who kept the Saints receivers in check.
