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Yates leads Falcons over Jaguars

Aug 29, 2014 - 1:29 AM Jacksonville, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Backup quarterback T.J. Yates completed 15 of his 20 passes for 243 yards and a pair of long touchdown passes to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 24-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.

Seeing most of the snaps with Matt Ryan sitting out the preseason finale, Yates had touchdown throws of 66 yards to Antone Smith and 67 yards to Freddie Martino in the second quarter.

Fourth-round draft pick Devonta Freeman had a 1-yard touchdown run for Atlanta in the first quarter and rushed for a game-high 42 yards on 12 carries. He had five catches for 45 yards.

Ryan sat along with star receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White as the Falcons wrapped up a 2-2 preseason slate by snapping a two-game losing streak.

Atlanta running back Steven Jackson missed all four preseason games with a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week and is expected to be ready for Atlanta's regular-season opener against NFC South rival New Orleans.

Backup Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, the No. 3 overall draft pick, passed for 86 yards in his three possessions, most of it on a 57-yard touchdown pass to second-round pick Marqise Lee in the second quarter.

Jordan Todman rushed for 37 yards for Jacksonville with a 3-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter but the Jaguars finished the preseason with a third loss in a row. They will open the regular season in Philadelphia.

Sean Renfree split snaps with Yates and completed 9-of-12 passes for 62 yards.

Stephen Morris led Jacksonville with 92 yards on 12-of-18 passing and Ricky Stanzi was 8-for-15 for 89 yards.