The Jaguars don’t get much time to ease into Week 3. After last week’s failure in Denver, they’re back home facing a Patriots team that can make this game uncomfortable fast, especially if Drake Maye starts pushing the ball downfield the way New England wants.
And that’s where the first big swing comes in: Maye is likely to force the issue through the air, but that aggression could cut both ways. He’s got the arm strength and mobility to change a game in a hurry, and the Patriots figure to test a Jaguars secondary that has already given up too many explosive plays.
Still, with the volume of vertical shots expected and Maye’s uneven stretch of play, the Jaguars should have chances to jump routes. The prediction here is at least two interceptions on those deep attempts.
Trevor Lawrence is the other side of the chess match. He has been Jacksonville’s most important player through two weeks, and Sunday looks like another day where he has to carry the offense.
New England’s high blitz rate should bring pressure, and the Jaguars have already shown they can struggle when teams heat them up. The cleanest answer is Lawrence using his legs, and this looks like a game where he takes off often enough to matter.
The Patriots also have enough in the backfield to keep Jacksonville honest. Rhamondre Stevenson brings power, TreVeyon Henderson brings the kind of burst that can break a play wide open, and both will challenge the Jaguars if the defense loses leverage or gaps.
Even so, the Jaguars’ front should have the edge in the run game. The bigger ground threat, by the source’s read, is Maye scrambling rather than the running backs doing damage.
On offense, the Jaguars still have a distribution issue to sort out. Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange have combined for seven catches, 108 yards and two touchdowns through two weeks, and that’s the sort of production Parker Washington has been stacking up weekly.
There’s still room for more balance, and the Broncos’ approach from last week may give the Patriots a template: mix coverages, limit the perimeter, and force other Jaguars to beat them. That could open the door for Meyers and Strange to get more involved as Jacksonville tries to stay ahead of the chains.
Then there’s Travis Hunter, whose role remains one of the biggest talking points of the season’s opening stretch. The expectation is that his usage keeps climbing, and this week could bring a season-high in snaps on both offense and defense. After easing him back into the defensive mix, the Jaguars may lean on him more in search of impact plays the secondary hasn’t produced yet through two games.
The big picture is simple enough: Jacksonville needs a response, and this matchup offers a chance to get one.
In Other News...
Jaguars Uniform Schedule Leaves Door Open For A Fan-Favorite Return
The Jaguars have already mapped out part of their look for the season, and it includes a couple of familiar favorites. Jacksonville will wear its Prowler Throwback uniforms in Week 3 against the New England Patriots and again in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the teams Nike Rivalries jerseys are set for Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. Those Rivalries uniforms do not count toward the NFLs limit of four alternate uniform games, which gives the Jaguars a little extra flexibility as the schedule unfolds.
What makes the announcement interesting for fans is what still isnt locked in. Jacksonville has two alternate-uniform chances left on the calendar, leaving open the possibility of another return for a look that has long had plenty of support around the fan base. The all-black uniforms remain a candidate, and with two slots still available, the Jaguars have left themselves room to decide how bold they want to get later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-Jaguars RB Already Giving Saints Fans A Reason To Worry
Travis Etienne Jr. is only two games into his New Orleans tenure, but the early returns have already given Saints fans something to watch closely. The former Jaguars running back arrived on a big-money deal, and the expectation was obvious: he would be a featured piece in the offense and a driver of explosive plays from the backfield.
Instead, the usage has been more split than seamless. Etienne has been on the field for 57% of the snaps and has shared touches with other backs, while his yards per touch is lagging behind last seasons pace. It is still far too early to label the contract a success or a miss, but the first glimpse of this new partnership has not exactly calmed the questions around how New Orleans plans to use him. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rookie Receiver Is Quickly Becoming Hard To Ignore
Travis Hunters defensive workload has already become one of the more interesting early-season wrinkles for the Jaguars, and Liam Coens comments about the cornerback rotation help explain why. With the group shuffling around him, Hunters snap count on that side of the ball is being managed in a way that reflects both the personnel around him and the staffs larger view of how to use him over the course of the season.
Across the division, the AFC South is already seeing rookie receivers make their presence felt in different ways. DeMeco Ryans pointed to Jaylin Noels growth in the return game while still wanting more from Houstons offense, and Robert Saleh had strong praise for Elic Ayomanors work ethic and steady day-to-day progress in Tennessee, a sign the Titans believe the rookie is starting to turn heads for the right reasons. [Read more 🡒]