Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Full Jacksonville Game Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a quarter through the season, and they likely aren't satisfied. A lackluster performance against Indianapolis Colts saw them get dropped to 1-3 going into Week 5.
Despite the poor loss in Week 4, the Jaguars can quickly bounce back with the road trip to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are 1-3 as well, and Sunday's game should be close at worst.
Getting to 2-3 before the Week 6 matchup against the Houston Texans would provide momentum going into the Jaguars' next AFC South battle. It's been a rocky start, but there is certainly life left in the 2015 season.
However, a loss to the Bucs would put the Jaguars at 1-4 and in bad shape going into the home game against Houston. It could also mean head coach Gus Bradley's job, depending on how owner Shad Khan feels about the future of the team with Bradley.
Sunday will either be a bounce-back or a fall deeper into the same situation the Jaguars have found themselves in the past few seasons. The Jaguars need a win, and Tampa will host their best opportunity.
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Time: Noon CT
TV: CBS (Local)
Week 4 Results and Recap
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Colts QB Andrew Luck's absence in Sunday's game seemed to be a guaranteed win for the Jaguars. Maybe not guaranteed, but they were certainly the favorites against a vulnerable team quarterbacked by Matt Hasslebeck.
Despite the situation being in the Jaguars' favor, the Colts were gifted a 16-13 win, thanks to missed field goals, a stalling offense and some dumb penalties sprinkled throughout the game.
A recipe for disaster like that typically means a loss, and the Jaguars learned that in Week 4. The Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers was decently close, but this was the first game of the season that the Jaguars' inability to finish games really appeared.
Hopefully, it was a learning experience for the young team and will spur the offense to perform around the same level in the second half as they do in the first half. The defense did its job, but the goose egg in the second half earned the Jaguars their loss.
The Bucs offer an opportunity to get past that loss and refocus in order to find the offense's identity. If the Jaguars want consistent success offensively, they need to find their purpose and stick with it, starting this weekend in Tampa.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Colvin | CB | Shoulder |
| Sen'Derrick Marks | DT | Knee |
| Denard Robinson | RB | Knee |
| Chris Clemons | DE | Knee |
| Allen Hurns | WR | Ankle/Thigh |
| Paul Posluszny | LB | Ankle |
| Julius Thomas | TE | Hand |
| John Lotulelei | LB | Concussion |
| Sergio Brown | FS | Calf |
| Marqise Lee | WR | Hamstring |
| James Sample | S | Shoulder |
(All injury information courtesy of Jaguars.com)
The Jaguars have had to deal with their fair share of injuries, and the absence of tight end Julius Thomas and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks has been evident throughout the first four weeks.
Marks is practicing in a limited fashion, as is Thomas, but Marks seems like the one of the two who could be playing this Sunday in Tampa. He's likely to be joined by the majority of the group on this list.
Toss-ups will be free safety Sergio Brown, wide receiver Marqise Lee and running back Denard Robinson. All three are important players, and having them would be revitalizing to the team on the field as well as to the overall mentality.
Key Matchups
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The Jaguars Pass Rush vs. Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Offensive Line
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston has thrown seven interceptions and fumbled twice in his first four games of his NFL career. It's a big reason the Buccaneers are 1-3, and his early issue with turnovers is where the Jaguars can seriously hurt the Bucs.
Making Winston uncomfortable will be crucial throughout the game, and if the Jaguars are able to hit him consistently and disrupt his play, they will be on a good track to winning the turnover battle.
The secondary will need to do its part as well, but the Jaguars showed they can force fumbles with push from the line last week, in which they forced two fumbles at important times.
Jaguars Wide Receivers vs. Buccaneers Corners
The Bucs don't have a shutdown secondary. but they have done well enough to rank second in the NFL in passing yards per game, holding their first four opponents to an average of 185.5 yards a game.
Quarterback Blake Bortles will need to deliver his passes accurately, but it will be crucial that the Jaguars receivers get open consistently and focus on beating their individual coverage.
WRs Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson have started well, but this is a chance for them to stand out and make the difference.
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X-Factor: A.J. Cann
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With guard Brandon Linder out for the season, per Jaguars.com, the Jaguars are having to look elsewhere for solid inside blocking. Luke Bowanko and Tyler Shatley will certainly be in the running for the opening, but so far, it looks like rookie A.J. Cann will be the starting right guard going forward.
Cann was an established leader for South Carolina, evidenced by his four years as a starter at the university. He was plugged in last week, and while he looked essentially raw, he did some good things to warrant more chances.
The 2015 NFL draft third-round pick doesn't have an actual start under his belt, but he may get his first on Sunday. It'd be a big moment for the rookie, and it would also be a huge opportunity to prove himself.
Linder is one of the closest things the Jaguars have to a "franchise" lineman, but Cann could be another guard. Fellow G Zane Beadles hasn't been stellar again this year, and that may mean this is the time for Cann to earn a 2016 starting job.
Prediction: Jaguars 21, Buccaneers 17
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If the Jaguars can't score more than 20 points in this game and win this game, it wouldn't surprise me to see the coaching staff fired in the coming week. They could also be back for another week, but given the situation, it'd almost warrant some type of change.
The Jaguars seem so close to clicking on offense, but they've failed to score touchdowns and do what's necessary to finish a game. A team that should be 2-2—could be 3-1—is instead 1-3 and desperate for a win in Tampa.
It should be a close contest, but the Jaguars can't afford to let this one out of their grasp. It will ride on the offense finally delivering, and if it doesn't find the end zone more than two times, a loss seems likely. But if the Jaguars find that missing piece to the puzzle, it could be the emphatic win the team needs.
All stats provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.
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