Jacksonville and New England enter Week 3 at 1-1, with both teams coming off performances that highlighted the strengths and limitations of their respective rosters.
The Jaguars opened the season by overwhelming Cleveland, 34-10, as Trevor Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns. Jacksonville scored on its first four possessions and built a 31-point lead before the Browns reached the end zone. The offense was less productive in a 20-13 loss at Denver, however. Lawrence threw for 189 yards with an interception, and the Jaguars failed to score after their opening possession of the second half. Parker Washington provided seven catches for 98 yards, while rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten scored Jacksonville's only touchdown.
New England responded to a 13-10 opening loss in Seattle with a 20-3 victory over Pittsburgh. The Patriots held the Steelers to 235 total yards and two conversions on 12 third-down attempts. Christian Barmore's strip-sack led to Elijah Ponder's defensive touchdown, while TreVeyon Henderson ran for 76 yards, including a 39-yard score. Drake Maye had an uneven afternoon, but New England's defense and running game allowed the offense to play from a favorable position.
The Patriots' health will be an important storyline during the week. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has been sidelined by a high-ankle injury, guard Mike Onwenu suffered a broken ankle, and safeties Craig Woodson and Dell Pettus were injured against Pittsburgh. Those absences could affect New England's pass protection and its ability to match Jacksonville's receivers.
For the Jaguars, the focus is on sustaining drives and avoiding the second-half offensive stagnation that occurred in Denver. New England will seek another controlled game built around its defensive front, Henderson's rushing ability and manageable situations for Maye.
Jaguars vs Patriots odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Jaguars -2.5
- Moneyline: Jaguars -160; Patriots +140
- Total: 45.5
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Patriots at Jaguars score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Jaguars 23, Patriots 20
Jacksonville's home-field advantage is essentially the difference. New England's defense should keep this within one possession, but the Patriots' injuries and Drake Maye's early inconsistency make it difficult to pick them outright, especially with A.J. Brown still sidelined. Safeties Craig Woodson and Dell Pettus were also injured against Pittsburgh, further testing an already banged-up roster. There's only so much to take from the Jaguars' 34-10 demolition of the Browns in Week 1, but Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdowns in that game and Jacksonville played well for three quarters in Denver before imploding in the fourth. And, as we know, trips to Florida rarely seem to agree with the Pats.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Jaguars 27, Patriots 20
If Drake Maye loses his patience again, the Jaguars might be poised to pounce on his mistake. Jacksonville ranked second in the NFL with 31 takeaways last year, and coordinator Anthony Campanile encourages his unit to be aggressive in pursuing game-flipping plays. The Jaguars' pass rush is due to be revived after going dormant against Bo Nix, but Trevor Lawrence could be in line for a bounce-back performance to pace the passing attack.
Nate Davis: Jaguars 24, Patriots 23
A low-key, fairly compelling matchup between 2025 division winners – if two teams off to uneven starts, the Jags' Week 1 domination of the Browns the only impressive outing either has produced … And for whatever a win over Cleveland is worth. In what seems like something of a tossup, let's go with QB Trevor Lawrence, who is playing much better so far than New England counterpart Drake Maye, last year's runner-up for league MVP but a guy who will remain without top receiver A.J. Brown for at least a few more weeks – and the absence of what had been a budding connection over the summer has been apparent.
Richard Morin: Patriots 21, Jaguars 20
The Jaguars had a tough time solving the Denver defense in Week 2 and things don't get much easier with the Patriots in Week 3. And even though the Jaguars are home this week, defense travels. The Patriots are on the heels of a decisive win over the Steelers, and despite some rocky play from quarterback Drake Maye, there was more than enough there to get the job done. Jacksonville presents a different challenge, though, and this game might come down to whether we see a reprise of Maye's carelessness with the ball.
Where to watch Patriots at Jaguars
- Matchup: Jaguars vs. Patriots
- Date: Sept. 27
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: EverBank Stadium
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- TV: CBS
NFL Week 3 picks and predictions
- Falcons at Packers
- Chargers at Bills
- Raiders at Saints
- Patriots at Jaguars
- Texans at Colts
- Seahawks at Commanders
- Chiefs at Dolphins
- Jets at Lions
- Bengals at Steelers
- Vikings at Buccaneers
- Titans at Giants
- Cardinals at 49ers
- Panthers at Browns
- Ravens at Cowboys
- Rams at Broncos
- Eagles at Bears
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patriots at Jaguars: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 3 game
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