The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to extend their winning streak to four games as they face the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football. The Jaguars (4-2) are leading the AFC South, while the Saints (3-3) are trying to bounce back from a loss to the Houston Texans. Here are some key points and predictions from Jaguars experts ahead of the primetime showdown.
Trevor Lawrence’s status
The biggest question mark for the Jaguars is the health of their rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who suffered an ankle injury in the last game against the Indianapolis Colts. Lawrence finished the game, but his mobility and effectiveness may be limited in a short week. If he is unable to play, backup C.J. Beathard will take over the offense.
According to Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser, Lawrence is expected to play despite being listed as questionable on the injury report. Oehser also noted that Lawrence has been getting the ball out quickly and avoiding sacks in recent weeks, which could help him deal with the Saints’ pass rush.
Defensive battle
Both teams boast strong defensive units, especially against the run. The Jaguars are allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game (75.3), while the Saints are ranked ninth (96.3). The Jaguars also have one of the best pass rushers in the league in Josh Allen, who is tied for third in sacks with seven. The Saints, meanwhile, have a formidable secondary that is allowing the fifth-fewest passing yards per game (182).
According to ESPN.com Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco, the key for the Jaguars defense will be to contain Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who is one of the most versatile and explosive players in the NFL. DiRocco also suggested that the Jaguars should try to force Saints quarterback Derek Carr into mistakes, as he has lost eight of his last 11 primetime games.
Final predictions
The experts are split on who will win this matchup, as both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Jaguars have momentum and confidence, but they also have uncertainty at quarterback and a history of losing in New Orleans. The Saints have home-field advantage and a balanced team, but they also have injuries and inconsistency on offense.
According to NFL.com analyst Cynthia Frelund, the Jaguars have a slight edge over the Saints, as her model projects a 51.4% win probability for Jacksonville. Frelund also predicted a close score of 23-22 in favor of the Jaguars.
According to Sporting News writer Bryan Murphy, however, the Saints will prevail over the Jaguars, as he expects Kamara to have a big game and Carr to bounce back from his poor performance against the Texans. Murphy also predicted a score of 24-17 in favor of the Saints.
The game will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.