MONDAY NIGHT PRESEASON NFL: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

BY ADAM GREENE

Monday night has a little extra drama as the New Orleans Saints have officially announced that Jameis Winston will get the start against the visiting (and Tim Tebow-less) Jacksonville Jaguars in the final game of preseason Week Two.

Yes, any chance of seeing Tebow whiff on a block or power his way into the end zone with 1:30 to go in the fourth quarter while down three touchdowns is now completely off the table. But there’s still plenty to see as Trevor Lawrence will likely get the most action of the preseason going toe-to-toe with another former No. 1 overall QB in Winston.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-4, O/U: 40)

Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Broadcast: NFL Network

Kickoff: Aug. 23, 8 p.m. EST

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1)

Trevor Lawrence took the “L” in his first preseason start, in spite of playing fairly well. The former Clemson QB went 6 of 9 for 71 yards. His primary “competition” according to head coach Urban Meyer but no one else on the planet, Gardner Minshew II, was 4 for 8 for 47 yards and a pick. That certainly won’t do the job of unseating the golden boy. Your best quarterback performance came from C.J. Beathard, who went 13 of 16 for 102 yards and a TD. That’s good news for the Jags, who could find some willing trade partners for Minshew after the final cut downs next week.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1)

The Saints were just the latest team to be crushed under the Baltimore Ravens preseason streak, losing 17-14. Coming into Week Two of the exhibition game schedule, the Ravens have won 18 consecutive preseason games dating back to 2016. While Winston will get the start Monday night for New Orleans, Sean Payton’s favorite player Taysom Hill got the shot against the Ravens, going 8 of 12 for 81 yards. Winston was 7 of 12 for 96 yards, a touchdown and a pick (of course). Rookie Ian Book was 9 of 16 for 125 yards and an interception of his own. The Saints did get a solid rushing performance from second year back Tony Jones Jr. Jones rushed seven times for 82 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 38 yards. That’s a guy working his way up the depth chart.

THE PICK

I think Winston probably solidifies his place as New Orleans’ starter with this one and, as such, that probably means they’ll take the victory. Minshew is the wild card. While Lawrence will probably play at least a quarter, if not a half, Minshew has started and won in the NFL before. He could carve up the Saints’ reserves and I’d definitely trust him more than Hill. Still, I’m going with the home team. Saints 27, Jags 23

Last week

Straight up: 6-10

Against the spread: 5-11

Preseason

Straight up: 7-10

Against the spread: 6-11

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