Final score: Jaguars beat Chiefs 26-13 in preseason opener (2024)

On Saturday night, the Kansas City Chiefs looked sloppy — and made critical mistakes in their first opportunities under the NFL’s new kickoff rules — on the way to a 26-13 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024’s preseason opener.

First quarter

The Jacksonville Jaguars won the opening coin toss, deferring the decision to the second half. That set up the Kansas City Chiefs to take first possession, starting from the 30-yard line after a touchback.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes got the starting offense going early, dropping back on the first snap and finding wide receiver Hollywood Brown over the middle for a first down. Running back Isiah Pacheco took it from there, taking a quick pass for nine yards — then dashing through the defense for 16 yards on a handoff the next play.

The offense got set up inside Jacksonville territory, but could not advance from there. A third-down pass fell incomplete in wide receiver Rashee Rice’s direction; kicker Harrison Butker nailed a field goal to make the most of the opening drive. The Chiefs led 3-0 early in the first quarter.

The Jaguars got set up in Chiefs’ territory after a big return, highlighted by some shaky tackling from Kansas City’s special teams. Linebacker Drue Tranquill made some plays against the run to try and hold, but then he was the victim of a nice route out of the backfield in the red zone. The Jaguars scored on the pass over the middle, taking the 7-3 lead over the Chiefs.

Backup quarterback Carson Wentz came in for Mahomes on the second possession, and picked up where the starters left off. His first snap was a play-action completion to tight end Noah Gray between the hashes. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire got stuffed on the next play, setting up Wentz to be sacked on second down. The Chiefs punted soon after.

The first-team defense stayed on the field to face the Jaguars’ starters for a second drive. Linebacker Leo Chenal had a 20-yard completion thrown by him down the middle of the field to start the drive. A few plays later, the Chiefs’ defense got a fourth-down stop when linebacker Jack Cochrane finished the blitz with a sack.

Wentz took the field with the Chiefs’ second-team offense once more. Two consecutive attempts to get running back Deneric Prince going went nowhere, then rookie tight end Jared Wiley fumbled after turning upfield and getting hit after the catch. The Chiefs recovered it, and punted it away from there.

Jaguars’ backup quarterback C.J. Beathard took over for Lawrence on the next drive, and made a big throw right away: a deep sideline pass with cornerback Joshua Williams in coverage got completed for 41 yards. A big run set up Jacksonville near the red zone as the first period ended.

Second quarter

The Chiefs’ pass defense stepped up on second and third down; cornerback Nic Jones defended a downfield pass, then rookie safety Jaden Hicks flew down to wrap up the running back catching a ball out of the backfield. The defense forced a field goal attempt, which Jacksonville converted. It pushed their lead to 10-3.

Wentz looked to get a rhythm going on offense, but failed in spectacular fashion. A second-down snap was fumbled and bobbled until it resulted in a 20-yard loss. The Chiefs punted two plays later.

Jacksonville’s backup offense found initial space against the Chiefs’ reserves, but the unit forced a punt after only one first down. Defensive tackle Matt Dickerson batted down a third-down pass attempt.

Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun took over for Wentz on the next possession midway through the second quarter. A completion to tight end Irv Smith Jr at the sticks moved the chains once, then rookie running back Carson Steele took a delayed handoff for 20 yards — bulldozing through would-be tacklers.

Oladokun kept leading the Chiefs’ down the field, getting to the 5-yard line after a tough catch over the middle by running back Deneric Prince. That led into the two-minute warning.

From the 2-yard line on third down, Steele punctuated the drive with a strong touchdown run up the middle. That tied the score at 10-10.

Beathard looked to get a score before halftime, and found room among the Chiefs’ pass defense to do so. A deep pass beat the blitz, and beat cornerback Nic Jones in coverage for a 35-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion gave Jacksonville a 18-10 advantage with 26 seconds remaining.

The Chiefs surrendered a safety on the kickoff before halftime when kick returner Mecole Hardman kneeled a ball in the end zone illegally. The Jaguars had a 20-10 advantage at the intermission.

Third quarter

The Jaguars started the second half with possession. Former New England Patriots’ first-round pick Mac Jones was in as the Jaguars’ third quarterback. The run game got going, but linebacker Cole Christansen set the drive back with a sack to force an 11-yard loss. That led to a quick punt for Jacksonville.

Wide receiver Justyn Ross got the Chiefs out of backed up field position on the next drive. A back-shoulder pass down the left sideline from Oladokun was secured by Ross for a 23-yard gain. A few plays later, another downfield pass was completed to wide receiver Nikko Remigio, but a Jaguars’ defender stripped him as he advanced upfield. The play was overturned when it was ruled Remigio’s knee was down.

Running back Louis Rees-Zammit got his first opportunity to tote the rock, but was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. A punt ensued soon after, but Rees-Zammit was involved in the tackle on punt coverage.

The Jaguars offense got chunk gains against the Chiefs’ reserve defense, quickly getting into Kansas City territory. A holding call set them back, forcing the unit to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt. The kick was good, and Jacksonville extended the lead to 23-10.

Chiefs’ fourth-string quarterback Ian Book took over command on the next drive, which went into the end of the period.

Fourth quarter

Book marched the Chiefs down the field methodically, using some completions to Rees-Zammit to do so. However, Book was sacked in the red zone; that led to a field goal, squeezing Jacksonville’s lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.

Jones drove the field against the Chiefs’ fourth-string defense, getting a chunk of the yards with a tight-window completion between linebacker Cole Christiansen and safety Tyree Gillespie. Eventually, the Chiefs’ defense held, forcing a field goal that the Jaguars made. The score was 26-13 with time running out in the exhibition match.

Book and the Chiefs’ backups tried to finish the game out on offense, but failed to get a first down and had to punt after the two-minute warning.

The Jaguars basically ended the game after sacking Book on fourth down with under 50 seconds left in the game. The contest ended soon after with a score of 26-13.

Injuries

Wide receiver Hollywood Brown was ruled as questionable to return with a shoulder designation early in the first quarter. He did not return.

Undrafted rookie offensive lineman McKade Mettauer stayed down after a play in the second half and left the game. He was later ruled out with a knee injury.

Special Teams

Kicker Harrison Butker converted a 45-yard field goal attempt to cap off the first drive of the game. Towards the end of the first half, he converted a point-after attempt to tie the game. In the fourth quarter, Butker made a 33-yard kick.

Punter Matt Araiza cornered Jacksonville at their own 10-yard line with his first punt in the first quarter. His second punt traveled 42 yards. Over four punts in the game, he pinned two inside the Jacksonville 20-yard line.

On a big Jaguars’ kick return in the first quarter, Safety Chamarri Conner looked to be in position to tackle the ball carrier and missed. Linebacker Leo Chenal also had an opportunity to get his hands on the returner.

With the new kick return rule, the Chiefs had two positive returns: Nikko Remigio gained 31 yards on one return, then running back Deneric Prince had a 25-yard return as well.

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