The DUVAL boys are 1-0. The defense like a majority of the games last year carried them to victory.
The Jacksonville Jaguars squeaked out a 20-15 win on the road against the New York Giants, but it featured a critical injury on offense. Star running back Leonard Fournette suffered a hamstring injury.
Fournette told Josina Anderson of ESPN after the game that he plans on playing in Week 2 action against the New England Patriots in an AFC Championship game rematch.
Jaguars Backup T.J. Yeldon was able to step in to provide some solid production with 51 rushing yards on 14 attempts along with making three catches for receiving yards and a touchdown. Yeldon’s ability to be a factor out of the backfield was key in helping quarterback Blake Bortles move the ball down the field when necessary while making key plays with both his arm and legs to keep his team ahead.
The results from the tests of his hamstring will be the final verdict, however, the Jaguars have optimism, which was heard from the Jaguars’ post-game press conference that it was a minor setback.
The Giants entered the game with fresh headlines of their own. Have no fear the Jaguars defense is here. The Giants had debuts of coach Pat Shurmur, second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley, and the return of Odell Beckham Jr. The defense waved those headlines away.
Linebacker Myles Jack scored on a 32-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter. Jaguars defense is coming off a season in which they were ranked No. 2 overall and scored seven touchdowns on turnovers, other than a 68-yard run by Barkley for a touchdown, the Jaguars’ defense showed no decline.
Blake Bortles, who was 18 of 33 for 176 yards, threw a short touchdown pass and led two other first-half field goal drives.
“Our defense bailed us out and played pretty well,” Bortles said. “For us to find a way to win is a good start.”
The Jaguars gained 310 yards in total offense and didn’t score as a unit in the second half. The team also had 11 penalties for 119 yards.
Next week, the home opener next Sunday against the New England Patriots, the team which beat them in AFC title game. The Jaguars blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Patriots in the conference championship. There will be heavy banter leading up to the kickoff.
Photo/Leonard Fournette/twitter
