Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Complete Week 3 Preview for Jaguars

After beginning the season with two losses, the Jacksonville Jaguars will welcome the division-rival Indianapolis Colts to EverBank Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.

According to NFL.com, the Colts (0-2) come into Jacksonville with the league's seventh-best scoring offense. Led by young quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts also possess the league's seventh-best passing offense.

Unfortunately for the Colts, their top-tier offense is weighed down by a defense that is allowing 30.5 points a game and 409.5 yards per game. The Colts also have a minus-three turnover differential and have recorded one sack.

The good news for the Colts is that despite their difficulties, the Jaguars have been considerably worse.

The Jaguars currently feature the league's 31st-ranked offense and 32nd-ranked defense in terms of points scored and points allowed. Currently, the Jaguars are allowing 434.5 yards per game to opposing offenses and 5.3 yards per play. The only silver lining here is that the Jaguars currently have a plus-one in turnover differential.

On offense, the Jaguars have been abysmal. Quarterback Chad Henne is only completing 53.5 percent of his pass attempts and has been sacked a league-leading 13 times. The Jaguars are averaging just 2.5 yards per carry in the run game and are a mere 5-of-27 on third-down conversion attempts.

Overall, this matchup looks like a difficult one for the Jaguars. While the Colts are an effective team that’s capable of still winning the division, the Jaguars are a rebuilding team trying to find its stride.

Week 2 Recap

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The Jaguars are coming off a blowout loss to the Washington Redskins that had a final score of 41-10.

In this matchup, the Jaguars were clearly outplayed in every facet of the game.

Quarterback Chad Henne showed why he’s been a career journeyman, as he was sacked 10 times on his way to a stat line of 14-of-28, 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Most concerning was Henne’s hesitancy to push the ball downfield and inability to go through his progressions.

On defense, the Jaguars were consistently ripped by a Redskins offense that amassed 449 total yards. Quarterback Kirk Cousins came in and took advantage of the Jaguars' soft zone coverage in the middle of the field, connecting with tight end Niles Paul for eight receptions, 99 yards and a touchdown. Moreover, the Jaguars were also unable to contain the Redskins’ running attack, which consistently gashed the defense for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

At the conclusion of this game, it was evident that the Jaguars were deeply in need of a big adjustment. The only positives to take away were the strong play of rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson (four receptions, 75 yards) and another consistent outing by Telvin Smith (four total tackles, one sack), who always seems to make plays.

Let’s hope for a better team effort in the Week 3 home opener.

News and Notes

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Chad Henne Will Remain the Starter

Despite the aforementioned lackluster performance from Henne in Week 2, head coach Gus Bradley is still sticking by the veteran.

In my opinion, this is a questionable call. Henne is lacking in a lot of his mechanics, which include his progressions and anticipation. I get the idea of wanting to protect Blake Bortles, but at this point, Henne is brutal to watch.

Jaguars Cut Offensive Tackle; Luke Bowanko, Sam Young Will Start

The Jaguars offensive line was brutal in Week 2 after surrendering 10 sacks. As a result, the Jaguars cut right tackle Cameron Bradford, who was a big reason for the poor outing.

Heading into Week 3, the Jaguars will start Sam Young, as well as give rookie center Luke Bowanko the nod ahead of Jacques McClendon. This group is still looking for its best five players, and when it finds them, it’ll be about building camaraderie and continuity.

Marqise Lee Won’t Play in Week 3

Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports that the Jaguars will be without Marqise Lee on Sunday. Losing Lee is a big blow for a team that is hurting at the receiver position. However, Lee has been inconsistent at best and could use some time to get his body right.

I’m not convinced that Lee is the same receiver that we saw at the University of Southern California. Best-case scenario, in my opinion, is that Lee develops into a dynamic slot receiver—a la Lance Moore in his New Orleans Saints days.

For a guy who has been given a lot of opportunities, Lee hasn’t shown up much, which is concerning.

Big Questions at the Tight End Position

As ESPN.com’s Mike DiRocco noted, Marcedes Lewis is headed to the short-term injured reserve list, and the Jaguars are now in a pinch at tight end.

The team’s second tight end, Clay Harbor, hasn’t practiced all offseason and behind him are relative unknowns in Mickey Shuler and Marcel Jensen. The team is hurting for offensive weapons, and the loss of Lewis makes it worse.

Injury Report

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Player	Position	Injury	Status
Ball, Alan	CB	Abdomen	DNP
Clemons, Chris	DE	Illness	DNP
Gerhart, Toby	RB	Foot	DNP
Harbor, Clay	TE	Calf	DNP
Hurns, Allen	WR	Ankle	DNP
Lee, Marqise	WR	Hamstring	Limited
Posluszny, Paul	LB	Knee	DNP
Shorts, Cecil	WR	Hamstring	Limited

Additional Notes

Safety Johnathan Cyprien will return this week from a concussion injury. Also, the Jaguars should get Austin Pasztor (hand) and Storm Johnson (ankle) back this week.

*All injury updates courtesy of the Jaguars.com injury report. Check back for more updates throughout the week.

Matchups to Watch

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Dwayne Allen vs. Jaguars Linebackers

The Jaguars have given up 191 receiving yards to tight ends in two weeks. Simply put, the team has been unable to match up in the passing game with its set of linebackers and safeties.

The Colts field two effective tight ends in Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. It’ll be intriguing to watch how the Jaguars try to contain them.

Reggie Wayne vs. Dwayne Gratz

So far, Dwayne Gratz has been playing pretty well. In Week 3, Gratz will draw a matchup against a savvy veteran in Reggie Wayne. Wayne is one of the best in the league, and he’s been around long enough to know how to create his own yardage.

Gratz’s physicality will prove to be a challenge for Wayne. Gratz has good instincts and plays aggressive coverage. This matchup will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.

Toby Gerhart vs. Colts Linebackers

The weather conditions are expected to be rainy in Jacksonville on Sunday. That being said, the Jaguars' already anemic passing game will be hampered, thus putting the pressure on Toby Gerhart.

Gerhart has had a rough season so far. At this point in the season, there are questions about his vision, as he often opts to engage in contact instead of looking for the open running lane.

If there were ever a time where Gerhart needed to break out, it would be this Sunday.

Prediction

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

If the Jaguars want to compete this year, this game is a must-win. That being said, I could see a lot of situations where the Jaguars come out swinging and surprise the Colts, but I’m going to curb my optimism.

I think that this game gets ugly at the start for the Jaguars. I predict they go down 10 points early after Chad Henne fails to lead this offense to the opponent’s side of the field the entire first quarter. I could see a situation where Bortles is brought in for the second half, and if he is, I think the Jaguars become a bit more competitive.

For the sake of this prediction, I’ll assume that Henne is going to play the entire game. I see a heavy workload for the Jaguars running backs and think Toby Gerhart finally gets a 100-yard game. Unfortunately, Gerhart’s effort won’t be enough.

Prediction: Jaguars 13, Colts 21

*All stats are courtesy of NFL.com.