Blake Bortles impresses again as Jaguars struggle to score in loss to Giants
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Blake Bortles had another impressive preseason outing for Jacksonville, leading the Jaguars to three field goals in his only drives in a 22-12 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday night.
Bortles, who was 11 of 15 in a preseason opener, hit 8 of 16 passes for 98 yards. His chances for scoring touchdowns were hurt by poor offensive line play at times, a holding penalty in the red zone and a drop.
Josh Scobee capped the first drive for the Jaguars (1-1) with a 52-yard field goal and Jason Myers converted from 51 and 49 yards.
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Eli Manning and the Giants (1-1) struggled for the second straight week, with the two-time Super Bowl MVP finishing 4 of 14 for 46 yards in three series. Odell Beckham Jr. was targeted five times, had no catches and one red-zone drop.
What's alarming was that the Giants' offense was supposed to be their strength this season. It's now produced a field goal in seven series.
Steve Spagnuolo's defense showed more improvement in the second game, bending but not breaking and setting up one of Josh Brown's five field goals with a sack and forced fumble by former Jacksonville linebacker J.T. Thomas.
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The other bright spot for the Giants was the play of backup quarterback Ryan Nassib, who completed 19 of 35 for 217 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris in the fourth quarter.
Brown converted field goals of 51, 43, 53, 37 and 28 yards. He also missed one, but a Jacksonville penalty kept the drive alive and Harris later scored.
The win did not come without some cost. Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason sprained a knee in the first half and safety Bennett Jackson sprained a knee late in the game.
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Earlier, free agent safety Justin Currie broke his right ankle covering a kickoff. New York lost rookie Mykkele Thompson for the season last week against Cincinnati with an Achilles tendon injury.
Bortles left with the Jaguars ahead 9-3. A 20-yard pass to Allen Robinson set up Scobee's field goal, which came a play after center Stefan Wisniewski recovered a Bortles' fumble after he was sacked by Damontre Moore.
A 26-yard pass to Robinson set up Myers' first field goal, and a 12-play drive of short plays set up the third field goal. Myers added a 55-yarder with 1:55 to play.