Jaguars stop Saints comeback attempt to win: 6 studs from Thursday Night Football

It wasn't pretty but the Jacksonville Jaguars managed to beat the New Orleans Saints and they did it in a short week. After building a 17-6 lead in the first half, they let the Saints come back and make it 24-24. Jacksonville scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter but the Saints weren't going to go down without a fight and reached the Jags' red zone.

Fortunately, the defense made a stand and Jacksonville won 31-24. Now, the Jaguars get to enjoy the rest of the week knowing they're 5-2 and still in first place in the AFC South. With that in mind, here are six studs that made Jags' fifth win of the year possible.

No. 6 stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Trevor Lawrence, QB

Trevor Lawrence had no trouble distributing the ball early in the game. He consistently hit his receivers and helped Jacksonville score on two of their first three offensive drives. He cooled down considerably in the second half but avoided key mistakes and later led the fourth-quarter drive that gave the Jags the win.

In the end, Lawrence went 20-of-29 for 204 yards with one touchdown. He was nearly credited with a pick but it was ruled incomplete. You could make the case that his final statline doesn't stand out but it's also worth noting that he played through a knee injury. In fact, it's kind of impressive that he broke off for a few long runs, including one for 26 yards.

Lawrence, just like the offense, cooled down in the middle of the game but he delivered when he it mattered the most.

No. 5 stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Christian Kirk, WR

Wide receiver Christian Kirk is low-key having a pretty good season. Before Week 6, he was second on the team with 33 receptions for 384 receptions with two touchdowns. On Thursday Night Football, he had yet another productive outing, hauling in six receptions for 90 yards with one touchdown.

His biggest contribution to the game though was without a doubt his 44-yard touchdown with the game on the line. Even if he hadn't scored, he would still had a solid game but he came in clutch when the Jags called his number.

No. 4 stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Logan Cooke, P

Punters hardly ever get the spotlight unless they're playing really well or badly. On Thursday, Cooke turned heads because he delivered a key completion that gave the Jags a fresh set of downs that helped them kick a field goal before halftime.

On fourth-and-2, the Jags were on the Saints' 46-yard line. It looked like the Jags were going to punt but Cooke got the ball and threw a pass that wide receiver Tim Jones reeled in to get to the 33-yard line.

No. 3 stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Travis Etienne, RB

Running back Travis Etienne didn't get a big workload against the New Orleans Saints. They could've got him involved after building a lead to enter the third quarter but instead opted to keep him fresh. In the end, the former Clemson Tiger finished the game with a modest 53 carries on 14 carries.

While those numbers don't pop off the stat sheet, Etienne had two touchdown runs, making him the first player in franchise history to have multi-touchdown games in a row.

And that kind of milestone couldn't go overlook. Congrats, Travis Etienne.

No. 2 Jaguars stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Montaric Brown, CB

The Jaguars were without Tyson Campbell in Week 7. The third-year cornerback suffered a hamstring injury against the Indianapolis Colts and sophomore Montaric Brown did an admirable job of filling in for him.

A seventh-round pick in last year's draft, Brown hardly ever played in his rookie year. He made his first start of the 2023 season against the New Orleans Saints and looked unfazed. He consistently faced wide receiver Michael Thomas and he won his matchup more often than not.

Brown prevented a completion that could've been a touchdown early in the game and later played a huge role in the Jaguars' last-minute goal-line stand with the game on the line. Following the game, the former Arkansas Razorback caught up with Bucky Brooks and credited a good week of preparation for his performance. He also said his family, in particular his mom, helped him keep his cool.

No. 1 Jaguars stud from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints: Foyesade Oluokun, LB

Following the win over the Colts in Week 6, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun said the defense's focus on "thinking takeaways" helped them lead the league in forced turnovers with 15. Coincidentally, he didn't have an interception or a forced fumble before Thursday Night Football. However, he changed that and came up with a huge pick-six that helped the Jags extend their lead in the third quarter.

Oluokun has been a tackling machine throughout his career, leading the league in that category the past two seasons. Entering Week 7, his 37 total stops ranked seventh in the league. However, coverage isn't his forte, which is why his interception return for a touchdown is such a big deal. Granted, Darious Williams deflected the pass but he saw an opportunity, made the most of it, and played a huge role in the Jaguars' fifth win of the season.

Here are other recent Jaguars stories you may also like: