The Jaguars defense also made a strong showing, ending the game late in the first quarter with two series of play and managing to secure a sack.
The Jaguars initial 8 point advantage was boosted by a pivotal special teams play where wide receiver Tim Jones forced a fumble by Cowboys punt returner KaVontae Turpin. Jaguars cornerback Gregory Junior recovered the fumble at the Dallas 42 yard line. This set the stage for Trevor Lawrence to lead a six-play drive, culminating in a nine yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk. The scoring play occurred on the Jaguars final possession of the night and showcased Lawrence accurate passing as well as the veteran receiver well timed route.
Overall, the preseason game provided valuable insights for the Jaguars as they evaluated their team performance identified areas for improvement and extracted positives to build upon for the upcoming regular season.
Trevor Lawrence final throw of the game occurred during the subsequent 2 point conversion which he successfully completed to wide receiver Zay Jones extending the Jaguars lead to 8 0 with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
Rookie running back Tank Bigsby who led the Jaguars running backs with 52 rushing yards on nine carries emphasized the team commitment to winning and competition. He highlighted the effort put into practice and the expectation that their hard work would translate into victories on the field.
The Jaguars defense played a crucial role creating a significant turnover late in the first quarter. Cornerback Gregory Junior stripped the ball from backup running back Rico Dowdle at the Jaguars 2 yard line, with safety Daniel Thomas recovering the ball at the Jaguars 1 yard line. Overall, the Jaguars defense managed to record four sacks during the contest rookie pass rusher Yasir Abdullah veteran defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter and rookie linebacker Ventrell Miller all did it in the opening three quarters. Throughout the game the Jaguars defense achieved two takeaways including a late fourth quarter interception by rookie cornerback Christian Braswell against Cowboys quarterback Will Grier.
Trevor Lawrence reflected on the team recent preseason performances and highlighted the significance of winning these games, particularly in showcasing the capabilities of the team depth players. He emphasized that these victories build confidence and provide valuable experience for handling pressure situations that arise during the regular season. Mistakes plagued the early performance of the Jacksonville Jaguars first team offense. Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas intercepted a deep pass from Lawrence to tight end Evan Engram on the second offensive play, ending the Jaguars' initial possession. A well timed sack by Hamilton following a blitz by safety Andre Cisco contributed to ending the Cowboys' first possession. The Jaguars subsequent possession was hampered by a holding penalty on rookie tight end Brenton Strange culminating in a punt by Cooke that was fumbled by Turpin ultimately leading to a touchdown pass from Lawrence to Kirk.
Jaguars backup quarterback C.J. Beathard two yard run extended their lead to 14-0 with 7:41 remaining in the first half. Noteworthy plays included a 34-yard run by rookie running back Tank Bigsby from the Jaguars 12yard line and a 42 yard reception by veteran receiver Jacob Harris setting up the six play 88 yard drive culminating in Beathard touchdown run. A response from the Cowboys came just before halftime as reserve quarterback Will Grier connected with wide receiver Jalen Tolbert for a 17 yard touchdown pass narrowing the Jaguars lead to 14-7.
In the third quarter a 29 yard field goal by Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey brought the Cowboys closer with the Jaguars lead now standing at 14-10. Dallas surged ahead in the game with a 3 yard touchdown run by rookie running back Deuce Vaughn giving them a 16-14 lead with 13:15 remaining.