Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots: Full Jacksonville Game Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars have one of their toughest opponents of the season this Sunday in the New England Patriots. The defending Super Bowl champions will be hosting the Jaguars, who will look to continue their winning ways after beating the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
The 23-20 win over the Dolphins was much-needed for the Jaguars. It gave them their first win in September since 2012 as well as a positive result to show that they are legitimately improving.
Now, the Jaguars will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts, to take on Patriots and hope to compete until the end of the game. Very few teams have a legitimate chance of beating the Patriots at the moment, and the Jaguars are likely not one of them.
But Jacksonville surprised Miami last week, and it played Carolina close the week before.
While the Patriots are a cut above both those teams, they have weaknesses, and the Jaguars can go into Week 3 as legitimate competitors.
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS (national and local)
Week 3 Results and Recap
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It may have been an upset for the audience, but the Jaguars didn't play like underdogs on Sunday.
They stuck to a firm game plan that saw a quick start and some mistakes but eventually allowed the Jaguars to keep the game close to the very end.
Quarterback Blake Bortles' two first-half touchdown passes to wide receiver Allen Robinson along with two field goals by Jason Myers—including a 58-yard make as the first half expired—produced 20 points and a seven-point lead going into the half.
The second half was a different story.
The offense received due praise in the first half but sputtered in the second, leaving the weight on the defense, which did a fantastic job of shutting down Miami QB Ryan Tannehill and his offense.
It seemed that Tannehill and the Dolphins would break away in the second half as most favored opponents do against the Jaguars. A stout defense prevented that. Defensive end and former Dolphin Jared Odrick sacked Tannehill and deflected a pass to get the Jaguars offense on the field late.
It made the most of that opportunity, driving down the field to set up Myers with a 28-yard chip shot.
A final stop from the defense let the Jaguars take a knee and walk out of Week 2 with a victory and a 1-1 record.
News and Notes
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Allen Robinson's Week 2 Performance Ranks High
There hasn't been much to draw attention to the Jaguars in the past few years, but when a player stands out, it's worthy of a shoutout. Wide receiver Allen Robinson did more than stand out, and his six receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns rank among the best performances among NFL receivers in Week 2.
According to NFL.com, Robinson ranked second in the NFL in yards, tied for second with two touchdowns and finished first in average yards per reception (25.8) among receivers with at least five catches.
Robinson is one of the Jaguars' most promising youngsters, and Sunday's incredible outing may have been a breakout game.
He's got the talent to be a great receiver—it's just a matter of honing his skills.
ESPN's Power Rankings Demote the Jags, Promote the Dolphins
Power rankings never fit one person's eye. There are always a few qualms, and that's why it's typically smart to stay away from them.
However, power rankings gained slight traction for Jags fans thanks to the win. With that said, the most notable ones came from ESPN.com.
Despite beating a team that is expected to reach the playoffs and earning their first September win in three years, the Jags dropped from 30th to 31st. Even more bizarrely, the Dolphins moved up from 16th to 15th.
There's plenty that you could say, but it's just illogical. That decision alone should be enough reason to dismiss power rankings generally, and hopefully the Jaguars will get a bit more respect in the future.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Andre Branch | DE | Knee |
| Johnathan Cyprien | S | Calf |
| Toby Gerhart | RB | Abdomen |
| Dwayne Gratz | CB | Ankle |
| Luke Joeckel | OT | Ankle |
| Marqise Lee | WR | Hamstring |
| Sen'Derrick Marks | DT | Knee |
| Denard Robinson | RB | Knee |
| Julius Thomas | TE | Hand |
| Brandon Linder | G | Shoulder |
As seen on the team's official injury report, the Jaguars still have some concerning injuries. Various important players like defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, tight end Julius Thomas and offensive tackle Luke Joeckel are still out and could be out for this Sunday.
It seems like safety Johnathan Cyprien, running back Toby Gerhart, corner Dwayne Gratz and Joeckel could be back, which would be a huge help.
However, considering the difficulty of Sunday's game, it may be best for the Jaguars to be cautious and allow extra recovery time for these players.
The most concerning injury is to guard Brandon Linder, which occurred late in Wednesday's practice, per the Jaguars' Twitter account. Not a lot of information has come out about it, which is typically a bad thing, but the Jaguars would take a huge blow if they lost Linder for an extended period of time.
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Key Matchups
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Jaguars' Rushing Attack vs. Patriots' Shaky Run Defense
T.J. Yeldon only got 70 yards on 25 carries on Sunday, but the blame can't be set squarely on his shoulders. The offensive line did a fantastic job of pass blocking but couldn't seem to produce similar results for Yeldon.
Luckily, the Patriots have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, allowing 147 yards per game (28th in the NFL). The Jaguars tried to build through the run on Sunday, and it should be about the same game plan in Week 3.
Losing Robinson hurts, but Gerhart looks likely to come back (limited participation in Wednesday's practice), which would allow a quality back get some handoffs and ease Yeldon's load.
RBs Corey Grant and Bernard Pierce are decent options, but Gerhart's return would be a huge boost to the run game.
Jaguars' Corners vs. Patriots' Wide Receivers
It is nearly impossible to stop the Patriots when they pass. Tom Brady still has great ability this late in his career, and he'll be able to find most of his targets—especially tight end Rob Gronkowski—with ease.
That's just the fact of the matter. But if the Jaguars want to have a chance, their corners will have to contain New England's receivers. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman are precise and sneaky, but Jaguars CBs Aaron Colvin, Davon House and Demetrius McCray have to limit them.
Brady is a great pocket passer, but he doesn't offer much if his receivers are shut down. The Jaguars won't be able to take out all of his options, but shutting down one or two and getting some decent pressure on him is their best plan of action.
X-Factor
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The "Albino Tiger," Marqise Lee, saw his first action of the 2015 season against the Dolphins—albeit in a limited fashion to not trigger any follow-up injuries to his recent hamstring issue.
He only totaled 27 yards on two catches as well as a rush for 12 yards, but just seeing him back on the field was a positive. Now, with a healthy performance behind him, he can look to getting back to 100 percent.
He's the Jaguars' No. 1 vertical threat, and he'll be vital to the passing game once he's fully healthy, which could be by this Sunday (limited participation on Wednesday). Should that happen, Bortles will have a very useful weapon to match with Robinson and Allen Hurns.
The Jaguars have a long shot at winning on Sunday, but Lee at full strength would be another step toward making it a possibility. The Jaguars will need to hit big plays, and that's where the Albino Tiger shines.
Prediction: Jaguars 17, Patriots 28
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It's never easy to face the Patriots, much less play them in Gillette Stadium. Facing one of the NFL's most dominant franchises over the past 15 years feels like taking on Goliath.
But the Jaguars aren't the downtrodden, talent-scarce team they've been in previous years. There is obvious improvement, and a respectable performance against the Patriots can be a kind of positive result.
Nobody wants to hear about keeping it close, but that should be the Jaguars' objective this Sunday. If they can keep the margin to two scores—possibly one—entering the fourth quarter, they'll be in as good a position as any to take down the Patriots or at least give them a scare.
Prediction: Jaguars 17, Patriots 28
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