Jameis Winston likely locks up New Orleans Saints' quarterback job after near-perfect game against Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense might get a nice thank you card from New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston.
The former Florida State and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback had a near-flawless performance in turning a 14-0 first-quarter lead over to Taysom Hill, and the Saints went on to win 23-21 at the Caesars Superdome.
Winston was 9 of 10 for 123 yards and found wide receiver Marquez Callaway for touchdown passes of 43 and 29 yards. Winston wasn’t hurried in the pocket and used five receivers, with Callaway catching five for 104 yards.
It may have put an end to the battle to replace the retired Drew Brees. Winston is 16 of 22 for 219 yards and three TD passes in the first two preseason games, while Hill is 19 of 32 for 219 yards and one scoring pass.
While those numbers may seem similar, Winston has led the Saints to four touchdowns in eight possessions and Hill has produced only a field goal in seven possessions. Hill started the opening preseason game, a 17-14 loss to the Ravens, while Winston started against the Jaguars.
True to form, Saints coach Sean Peyton wasn't about to get ahead of a timetable he said only he knew.
"When we know which direction we're going, we'll let you guys know," he said after the game, when asked if Winston locked up the job.
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Callaway was well-covered on the first touchdown reception by Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell but made a one-handed catch as he was landing in the end zone.
Campbell, for the second week in a row, gave up a touchdown in the end zone on a ball on which he seemed to be able to make a play.
Griffin was beaten one-on-one by Callaway on the second touchdown.
The Jaguars defense played better against Hill (11 of 20, 138 yards), getting its pass rush untracked with a variety of blitz packages at him. Defensive ends Jihad Ward and Dawuane Smoot had sacks in the second quarter and Hill was rushed into an intentional grounding penalty under heavy pressure by outside linebacker Lerentee McCray and tackle Jay Tufele.
Tackle Taven Bryan, seeing his first action of the preseason, and linebacker Dakota Allen also hurried Hill into incompletions. The Jaguars had six quarterback hits.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen dialed up safety blitzes from Andre Cisco and Andrew Wingard and Campbell blitzed once from the slot corner spot.
The Jaguars played without 2019 leading sacker Josh Allen, who was put on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the day.
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