The Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints preseason matchup on August 15, 2026, delivered a competitive game at Caesars Superdome, with Jacksonville rallying in the second half to defeat New Orleans 24–20.
The Saints led 20–14 entering the fourth quarter, but Jacksonville scored 10 unanswered points in the final period to complete the comeback. The result gave the Jaguars a winning start to their 2026 preseason, while New Orleans was left to review a game in which it had controlled much of the first half. The NFL’s official game center confirms the 24–20 final score and the quarter-by-quarter scoring.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints Final Score
| Team | 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 24 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Jaguars Complete Second-Half Comeback
The defining story of the game was Jacksonville’s response after halftime.
New Orleans went into the locker room with a 14-point advantage, but the Saints were unable to score during either the third or fourth quarter.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, scored 18 second-half points.
That combination completely changed the direction of the contest.
The Jaguars’ defense kept New Orleans off the scoreboard while the offense gradually erased the deficit.
Saints Open the Game With a Touchdown
New Orleans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.
The Saints opened the game with a touchdown, taking an early 7–0 lead.
The scoring drive gave New Orleans the early momentum and set the tone for a strong first half.
Jacksonville responded with points of its own, but the Saints continued to control the scoreboard during the opening two quarters.
Jacksonville Scores Six in the Opening Quarter
The Jaguars answered New Orleans’ opening touchdown with six points during the first quarter.
Although Jacksonville did not immediately take the lead, the response prevented the Saints from establishing a commanding advantage.
The first quarter ended with New Orleans ahead 7–6.
That one-point margin would eventually become much larger before Jacksonville began its comeback.
New Orleans Takes Control in the Second Quarter
The Saints produced their strongest offensive period in the second quarter.
New Orleans scored 13 points during the quarter while Jacksonville was held scoreless.
That pushed the Saints’ lead from 7–6 after one quarter to 20–6 at halftime.
At the midway point, New Orleans appeared to be in excellent position to win its preseason opener.
However, the second half developed very differently.
Spencer Rattler Gets the Start
Quarterback Spencer Rattler started for New Orleans and completed 8 of 11 passes for 42 yards.
He did not throw a touchdown or interception, but he was sacked twice and lost a fumble.
NFL statistics list Rattler with a 78.6 passer rating for the game.
The turnover was particularly costly because it came during a game in which New Orleans eventually surrendered its halftime advantage.
NFL’s Week 1 analysis also highlighted Rattler’s strip sack as one of the game’s key negative moments.
Rattler’s Opening Drive Produces Points
Rattler’s first possession did produce a scoring opportunity.
The Saints opened with an 86-yard kickoff return by Ty Chandler, immediately putting New Orleans in excellent field position.
That explosive return was followed by a short scoring drive, capped by Audric Estimé’s 9-yard touchdown run.
NFL’s official video listing identifies Estimé’s touchdown as the opening score of the Jaguars-Saints preseason matchup.
The sequence gave New Orleans an ideal start.
Ty Chandler Provides an Explosive Special-Teams Play
One of the game’s biggest early highlights came before the Saints’ offense even had to do much work.
Ty Chandler returned the opening kickoff 86 yards, setting New Orleans up deep in Jacksonville territory.
The return was among the most explosive plays of the game and immediately gave the Saints an advantage in field position.
Special-teams plays like that can be especially valuable during preseason because they allow players competing for roster spots to demonstrate their ability to change field position.
Audric Estimé Scores for New Orleans
After Chandler’s long return, Audric Estimé finished the drive with a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
That gave the Saints a 7–0 lead.
The touchdown also provided an early positive moment for Estimé as he competed for opportunities in New Orleans’ running-back group.
Zach Wilson Provides a Spark
After Rattler’s opening work, Zach Wilson took over at quarterback for New Orleans.
Wilson delivered one of the Saints’ most productive offensive stretches.
According to NFL statistics, Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions. He finished with a 118.0 passer rating.
His performance was considerably more efficient statistically than Rattler’s.
Wilson also produced several explosive completions downfield.
Wilson Connects With Oscar Delp
One of Wilson’s most notable plays was a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Oscar Delp.
NFL’s official video listings identify Wilson’s touchdown pass to Delp as the play that increased New Orleans’ lead to 16–6 over Jacksonville.
The touchdown was one of the Saints’ most significant offensive plays of the first half.
It also gave Wilson a chance to demonstrate his ability to make accurate throws in the red zone.
Wilson Finds Bub Means for a Big Gain
Wilson also connected with Bub Means on several significant plays.
One completion covered 37 yards, while another went for 28 yards and helped move the Saints deep into Jacksonville territory. NFL’s official video archive highlights both of those Wilson-to-Means connections.
Those plays demonstrated the explosive potential of New Orleans’ passing game.
Despite that success, the Saints could not sustain the same level of offensive production after halftime.
Jaguars Begin Their Comeback in the Third Quarter
Jacksonville’s comeback began in the third quarter.
The Jaguars scored eight points, while New Orleans was shut out.
The eight-point quarter was especially important because Jacksonville needed more than a conventional touchdown-and-extra-point sequence to close the 14-point halftime deficit.
By the end of the third quarter, the Saints’ lead had been reduced to 20–14.
Suddenly, the game was within one possession.
Jacksonville Takes Over in the Fourth Quarter
The Jaguars saved their strongest period for the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville scored 10 points, while New Orleans remained scoreless.
That gave the Jaguars a total of 18 unanswered points across the second half and turned a 20–6 deficit into a 24–20 victory.
The fourth-quarter comeback became the defining feature of the game.
Jaguars’ Defense Shuts Down New Orleans
New Orleans’ inability to score after halftime was critical.
The Saints had produced 20 points through two quarters, but Jacksonville’s defense prevented them from adding anything during the final two periods.
That defensive turnaround gave the Jaguars’ offense enough time to complete the comeback.
In a preseason environment, defensive consistency can be particularly important for players competing for roster positions.
Jacksonville’s Offense Finds a Different Rhythm
The Jaguars also improved as the game progressed.
After scoring only six points in the first half, Jacksonville produced 18 points after halftime.
The improvement came at exactly the right time.
Rather than attempting to erase the entire deficit with one explosive play, Jacksonville steadily reduced New Orleans’ advantage before taking the lead in the fourth quarter.
Joey Aguilar Makes His Preseason Debut
One of Jacksonville’s quarterback storylines was the appearance of Joey Aguilar.
NFL’s official video archive highlighted Aguilar’s first preseason pass as a Jaguar, a 43-yard completion to Trebor Pena.
The explosive play immediately provided an encouraging moment for Jacksonville’s young quarterback.
A 43-yard completion on a player’s first preseason pass is the type of play that can attract attention during roster evaluation.
Trebor Pena Provides an Explosive Reception
The 43-yard connection between Aguilar and Trebor Pena was one of Jacksonville’s biggest passing plays.
The play demonstrated the potential for Jacksonville’s younger players to generate explosive offense.
Preseason games are often decided by players who are not guaranteed roster spots, making plays like this particularly meaningful.
Jaguars Score 24 Despite Slow Start
Jacksonville’s 24 points came through a remarkably different scoring pattern than New Orleans’.
The Jaguars scored:
- 6 points in the first quarter
- 0 points in the second
- 8 points in the third
- 10 points in the fourth
The progression shows that Jacksonville’s offense improved as the game went on.
The Saints experienced the opposite trend, scoring heavily before halftime and then being shut out after the break.
Saints’ Second-Half Collapse Becomes the Main Concern
For New Orleans, the biggest issue was not the strong first half.
The Saints demonstrated that they could generate points and create explosive plays.
The concern was what happened after halftime.
New Orleans scored zero points in the third and fourth quarters, allowing Jacksonville to turn a 14-point deficit into a four-point victory.
That is the main area the Saints’ coaching staff will want to examine from the game film.
Rattler’s Turnover Hurts His Evaluation
Rattler’s strip sack was another important moment.
NFL’s Week 1 analysis specifically identified the play as his most damaging mistake. Rattler initially escaped pressure but continued searching for a bigger play rather than securing the football, resulting in a strip sack.
In a quarterback competition, avoiding negative plays is crucial.
Rattler’s overall passing numbers were efficient, but the lost fumble and two sacks reduced the overall quality of his performance.
Wilson Has the Stronger Statistical Showing
Based strictly on the official NFL player logs, Wilson had the stronger statistical afternoon.
His line:
11 completions on 16 attempts, 145 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions and a 118.0 rating.
Rattler’s line:
8 completions on 11 attempts, 42 yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions, two sacks and a 78.6 rating.
The statistics do not determine the entire quarterback evaluation, but Wilson’s production was clearly more impressive.
The Importance of the 24–20 Result
The Jaguars’ victory was significant because of how they achieved it. Jacksonville did not simply win a low-scoring preseason game. The team overcame a 14-point halftime deficit and shut out the Saints for the entire second half.
That kind of comeback can provide valuable confidence to young players competing for roster positions.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints Quarter-by-Quarter
The official game center confirms:
First Quarter: Jaguars 6, Saints 7
Second Quarter: Jaguars 0, Saints 13
Third Quarter: Jaguars 8, Saints 0
Fourth Quarter: Jaguars 10, Saints 0
Final: Jaguars 24, Saints 20.
The numbers clearly show the game’s momentum shift.
Key Turning Points
Ty Chandler’s 86-Yard Kickoff Return
The explosive return immediately gave New Orleans excellent field position and helped set up the opening touchdown.
Audric Estimé’s Touchdown
Estimé converted the short field into a nine-yard rushing touchdown.
Zach Wilson’s Touchdown Pass
Wilson connected with Oscar Delp to extend New Orleans’ lead to 16–6.
Jacksonville’s Eight-Point Third Quarter
The Jaguars cut deeply into New Orleans’ lead during the third period.
Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Jacksonville scored 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points to complete the 24–20 victory.
What the Jaguars Can Take From the Game
The Jaguars have several positives to carry forward. Their most obvious takeaway is resilience. Trailing 20–6 at halftime, Jacksonville could easily have allowed the game to get away.
Instead, the team scored 18 unanswered points. The defense also deserves credit for preventing New Orleans from scoring during the entire second half. Young players such as Joey Aguilar and Trebor Pena also produced explosive moments.
What the Saints Need to Improve
New Orleans has a different list of takeaways. The first half showed plenty of offensive potential. Wilson’s passing performance was particularly encouraging, while Chandler’s kickoff return and Estimé’s touchdown gave the team an explosive start.
But the Saints must find a way to maintain offensive production after halftime. Protecting the football is another important area, particularly for Rattler after his strip sack. Explore more Cleveland Browns vs Chicago Bears
Preseason Context Matters
The final score should still be viewed through the lens of preseason football. Teams use these games to evaluate players, test formations and establish depth charts.
Starters may receive limited snaps, while backups and rookies can play significantly longer. Therefore, Jacksonville’s 24–20 victory does not necessarily predict how either team will perform during the regular season. Instead, the game provides useful information about individual players and roster competition.
Final Analysis
The Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints matchup delivered one of the more entertaining comeback stories from the August 15 preseason slate. New Orleans looked in control early. The Saints led 7–6 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 20–6 by halftime. Spencer Rattler started at quarterback and completed eight of 11 passes for 42 yards, but he was sacked twice and lost a fumble. Zach Wilson provided a major spark, completing 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown connection with Oscar Delp and his deep completions to Bub Means were among the Saints’ biggest offensive highlights.
Jacksonville, however, completely changed the game after halftime. The Jaguars scored eight points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth, while the Saints failed to score at all. That produced an 18–0 second-half advantage for Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ young players also supplied several encouraging moments, including Joey Aguilar’s 43-yard completion to Trebor Pena on his first preseason pass as a Jaguar.
The final 24–20 score therefore tells the story of two very different halves. New Orleans controlled the first half, while Jacksonville dominated the second. For Jacksonville, the victory offered evidence of depth, resilience and defensive improvement.
For New Orleans, the loss provided valuable preseason film, particularly concerning second-half offensive consistency and quarterback evaluation. Ultimately, the Jaguars completed the comeback and left Caesars Superdome with a 24–20 preseason victory. The official NFL game center confirms the final score and the exact 6–7, 0–13, 8–0 and 10–0 quarter-by-quarter breakdown.
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