Jaguars thump Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP):

Just like last season, the Jacksonville defence is carrying the team.

Linebacker Myles Jack scored on a 32-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars spoiled the New York Giants debuts of coach Pat Shurmur and second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley and the return of Odell Beckham Jr. with a 20-15 win yesterday.

Blake Bortles threw a short touchdown pass and led two other first-half field goal drives. The Jaguars dominated, with the exception of a Barkley-induced hiccup in opening a season by living up to the Super Bowl hype.

Held in check much of the game, Barkley brought the sellout crowd to its feet shortly after the Jack touchdown with a spectacular 65-yard run aided by a great block by receiver Sterling Shepard. It got New York within 20-15 with 10:39 to play.

New York went for the 2-point conversion, and Barkley (18 rushes for 106 yards) was stopped.

It proved costly when passes of 19 and 21 yards to Beckham (11 catches for 111 yards in his first game since October) got New York to the Jacksonville 34. Instead of attempting what could have been a tying fourth field goal from Aldrick Rosas, Eli Manning (23 of 37 for 224 yards) threw a fourth-down incompletion.

A muffed punt cost the Giants a final possession in the last minute.

The Jaguars led 13-6 at the half as Bortles methodically took his team on three scoring scores. Josh Lambo capped the first two with 39-yard field goals, and Bortles hit back-up running back T.J. Yeldin from 1 yard for a 13-3 lead.

Beckham, who broke an ankle on October 8 and did not play in a preseason game, drew two pass interference penalties on the ensuing drive. Rosas closed the gap to a touchdown with a

31-yard field goal with :04 left in the half. He added a 44-yarder on the opening series of the third quarter on a drive helped by a ugly facemask penalty by Yannick Ngakoue against Barkley.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Telvin Smith Sr stood for the anthem. They stayed in the lock room in the preseason. Both teams stood.

INJURIES

Jaguars: Leading rusher Leonard Fournette left in second quarter with a hamstring problem. He finished with 41 yards.

Giants: Backup RB Wayne Gallman left in the second half with a knee injury.

UP NEXT

Jaguars: Home opener next Sunday against New England, the team that beat them in AFC title game.

Giants: Visit Dallas for a Sunday-night game.

Jaguars Giants

First downs 17 15

Total Net Yards 305 324

Rushes-yards 28-137 23-114

Passing 168 210

Punt Returns 2-10 3-4

Kickoff Returns 2-45 1-15

Interceptions Ret. 1-32 1-0

Comp-Att-Int 18-33-1 23-37-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 1-8 2-14

Punts 7-37.7 5-49.4

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 11-119 6-43

Time of Possession 29:31 30:29