Preview: New England Patriots vs Jacksonville Jaguars
After two electrifying games that lit up Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the spotlight shifts to Wembley for London’s third and final matchup of 2024 – with the Jacksonville Jaguars returning for the second-straight week to take on the New England Patriots.
With both teams currently sat at the bottom of their respective divisions, with disappointing 1-5 records, the pressure is on head coaches Doug Pederson and Jerod Mayo to salvage their sinking seasons. As game day ticks closer, Decyfr dissects four potentially game-changing factors to watch out for on Sunday.
ONE Minute RECAP: NFL London Games 1 & 2 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/oWR1hhPqlg
— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 17, 2024
Jaguars’ Drops and Ball Security
When Trevor Lawrence was drafted back in 2021, he was viewed as a generational talent capable of changing the trajectory of whichever franchise he landed with. Four seasons later and Lawrence’s NFL career has been a roller coaster to say the least. While his play thus far this season has been far from elite, Lawrence has been somewhat limited by the lacklustre ball security from his wide receivers. Despite Brian Thomas Jr. leading all rookie wide receivers with 424 receiving yards, and tight end Evan Engram posting 10 receptions for 102 yards in last week’s contest, their incredibly talented offensive weapons have been responsible for numerous dropped passes at critical junctures.
Head coach Doug Pederson is fully aware of the situation, telling reporters: “We’ve got to figure that out together, honestly.” Pederson’s comments came after a 35-16 loss to the Bears last week, in which a third-quarter fumble from Engram, and a drop from Christian Kirk in the end zone, crushed their hopes of a comeback. Therefore, Jaguars fans can rest assured that practice this week will be centred around limiting drops and maximising ball security – giving Trevor Lawrence the reassurance he needs heading into a matchup against a very capable Patriots defense.
Drake Maye 🆚 Trevor Lawrence
Which QB leads their team to victory in London’s FINAL GAME of 2024? 🇬🇧#NEPats #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/XUYsyjNzNP
— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 17, 2024
Drake Maye: Take Two
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest storylines coming into this matchup is the presence of rookie quarterback Drake Maye for the New England Patriots – in just his second start of the year. After rolling with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett for the first four weeks – excluding a brief cameo against the New York Jets in Week 3 – Maye saw his first start last week against the Houston Texans. While the Patriots were pummelled 41-21, Maye showed flashes of the extraordinary talent that saw him drafted third overall. Even beyond the solid stat line of 281 total yards for three touchdowns and two interceptions, Maye’s overall performance provided a beacon of hope for Patriots fans.
This Sunday, expect Maye to once again demonstrate his elite arm strength, ability to thrive both in and out of structure and his top-tier athleticism. In fact, with Jacksonville boasting a considerably weaker defense compared to Houston’s, Maye has every opportunity to wow British NFL fans. Last week, Maye connected with wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk once for just four yards, but with the pair possessing unbridled energy and talent, their rookie connection could prove pivotal in London.
Tank Bigsby: RB1
Ahead of last week’s game versus the Bears, we waxed lyrical about the two-headed backfield monster that was Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby for Jacksonville. Against Chicago, however, said monster was reported missing – Bigsby’s yards per carry was just 3.4, despite an average of 8.0 coming into the matchup, while Etienne Jr. ran three times for minus one yard. When your RB3 takes 77% of the offensive snaps after halftime and leads the team in rushing yards with 28, one of the Jaguars’ major flaws becomes glaringly obvious.
That said, Tank Bigsby might be in for a big showing against the Patriots this weekend. Statistically, Bigsby has been by far and away Jacksonville’s best back – with 325 total yards prompting the 23-year old to be embraced as a fan favourite this season. Despite progressing rapidly, Etienne Jr. is expected to be out in Week 7 after leaving last week’s game due to injury. As a result, Bigsby will likely take on the majority of the team’s offensive snaps – behind a highly-motivated offensive line, which will be looking to bounce back after allowing four sacks and failing to help the ground game get more than 68 rushing yards on 20 attempts in last week’s matchup.
OFFICIAL: Caleb Williams joins Trevor Lawrence (2021) as the only TWO Rookie QBs to win a regular season game in London 🇬🇧
Jaguars 16-35 Bears #DaBears #DUUUVAL #NFL #NFLLondonGames pic.twitter.com/wWbKRpFhoZ
— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 13, 2024
Jerod Mayo: Defensive Mastermind
“We let [Drake Maye] down.” New England Patriots rookie head coach Jerod Mayo was crystal clear post-game – sharing his disappointment following a huge loss to the Texans in Week 6. While Maye provided the offense with a spark, the Patriots defense allowed five touchdowns and 41 total points – and it could’ve been worse still, with a missed field goal from Houston. Despite the poor performance, Mayo is well-renowned for his knowledge of the defensive side of the ball – having learned the ropes from all-time great Bill Belichick, after an eight-year career as a linebacker that saw him win a Super Bowl and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Therefore, it’s a relatively safe bet that Mayo – alongside defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington – will have been relentless in their preparations for Trevor Lawrence and a Jaguars offense that has only scored more than 21 points once so far this season. Expect Mayo to capitalise on the Jaguars’ sub-par rushing offense from last week – utilising the talents of linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who leads the team with 35 total tackles.
Final Predictions
Score: New England Patriots 20 – 17 Jacksonville Jaguars
Player of the Game: Drake Maye, Quarterback, New England Patriots
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