JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars' 20-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2024 Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Saturday
1. Taaaaank. This wasn't as much a key play as it was a series of solid first-half plays for second year running back Tank Bigsby. This continues an impressive 2024 Training Camp and preseason for the third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Bigsby, who rushed for 28 yards on three carries with a 44-yard kickoff return in a Preseason Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, was a major focus of the offense Saturday with many Jaguars starters not playing. He carried 10 times for 37 yards in the first half and had three receptions for 19 yards – with 28 yards on seven carries coming on the first two possessions. "I think Tank is really improving," Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "He took care of the football. He ran tough. He has done some really good things for a young player. He continues to grow as a running back."
2. Boom, baby. A low-key first half took changed tone temporarily midway through the second quarter. The Jaguars ended the first quarter and began the second with a methodical effective drive that eventually covered 80 yards in 17 plays and consumed 10:12. Bigsby was key on multiple occasions on this drive, which began at the Jaguars 20 and appeared in peril when quarterback Mac Jones was sacked to the Jaguars 15. The Jaguars then drove effectively after that, with Jones – one play after a nine-yard sack – capping the possession with a 25-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field to second-year wide receiver Parker Washington. That gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter. "We anticipated them playing a little bit of a shell defense right there," Pederson said. "We had the right call on. We had good protection. Mac made a heck of a throw there. It was a big play and kind of got us going."
3. Mac in the clutch. Jones on Saturday turned in a strong first half in his first start for the Jaguars and he finished it with a couple of clutch plays late in the first half to give the Jaguars a lead. Jones completed 11 of 18 passes for 144 yards playing the first two quarters, then led a nice two-minute drive with passes of 20 and 29 yards to veteran wide receiver Austin Trammell. The 29-yarder converted third-and-10 from the Buccaneers 37 and gave the Jaguars a first-and-goal at the Tampa Bay eight with :09 remaining in the second quarter. Rookie kicker Cam Little's 26-yard field goal on the last play of the quarter gave the Jaguars a 10-7 halftime lead. "That's a situation there where we put our team in two-minute drills all the time," Pederson said. "I thought Mac and the offensive line did a great job. They brought some unique pressures. Our guys did a good job and Mac got us down there for the kick."
4. Again and again. One of the major Jaguars preseason stories continues to be Little, with the sixth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft solidifying himself as the team's kicker. Little has shown remarkable leg strength and good consistency through training camp and has converted four of his five field-goal attempts in the first two preseason games. Little converted field goals of 26 and 44 yards on the final drive of the second quarter and first drive of the third quarter Saturday night to push the Jaguars' lead to 13-7 with 8:41 remaining in the third quarter.
5. Back in the game – and back in the end zone. Jones returned to the game after C.J. Beathard, who started the second half, left the game with a groin injury. He again turned in an impressive drive, this time leading the Jaguars' reserve offense 68 yards in eight plays. He capped this fourth-quarter drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brevin Easton for a 20-7 Jaguars lead with 5:07 remaining. "You always have to be ready, and that was a good example of, 'Hey, you think you're out for a little bit and you're back in,''' Jones said. "That could happen in the season. It was a great opportunity." Jones finished the game completing 16 of 23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. "We knew with two quarterbacks that once Mac was done, he'd have to stay ready in the second half," Pederson said. "That's always a given. I thought overall Mac played a solid football game. He was obviously into it. You saw his intensity out there. He loves playing. He did some great things tonight."
