JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Preseason Week 1 offered Jack Wolf’s team an encouraging first marker: a defense that made Arizona’s afternoon difficult, and enough balance on offense to turn that pressure into a 29-10 win on Aug. 12. The Jaguars also left with work to do, particularly after three interceptions and a handful of missed kicks kept a one-sided game from becoming cleaner.

Arizona opened with a 38-yard field goal, but Jacksonville answered with a 46-yarder from Thomas McFarland to tie it 3-3. The Jaguars then began to find the end zone. Jerome Vela connected with Elmer Clements for a one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and Robert Palmer added a two-yard scoring run before halftime. McFarland’s extra point after Palmer’s score went wide right, leaving Jacksonville ahead 16-3 at the break.

The second quarter was not all smooth sailing. Arizona’s Marcus Lynch intercepted Vela, and after Jay Oxley picked off Darryl Holley, Jacksonville gave the ball back on two Damian Barnett interceptions. The Jaguars’ offense had its own share of rough edges, even as it finished with 342 passing yards and 168 rushing yards. Barnett recorded 234 passing yards and a touchdown; Palmer led Jacksonville’s listed individual rushing totals with 71 yards and a score.

Jacksonville’s response after halftime was decisive. Barnett found Richard Kwok for a four-yard touchdown to stretch the lead to 23-3. The defense kept Arizona from sustaining much: the Jaguars finished with eight sacks and three interceptions, while Arizona converted just three of 13 third downs. Oscar Johnson accounted for four sacks. Dennis Ross and Joseph Withrow each added an interception in the fourth quarter, extending a defensive performance that had already disrupted Arizona’s passing game.

There were missed chances to make the score even more emphatic. McFarland missed field goals from 38 and 47 yards, and Jacksonville missed two extra points. Thomas Nellis supplied the final Jaguars touchdown, running seven yards for the score with two minutes remaining. Arizona answered with a 44-yard touchdown pass from William Maheu to Henry Brooks, making it 29-10 with 1:03 left.

For a preseason opener, the broad outline was a positive one for Jacksonville: four touchdowns, a productive ground game and a defense that repeatedly won the ball back. The interceptions and kicking misses are the reminders to carry into the next week. The result belongs in the win column, but the more useful early-season measure is how much the Jaguars can sharpen the details behind it.