Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable!
Today, we’re previewing Week 15’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets at EverBank Stadium.
Question 1: Vibes are through the roof in Duval County right now. What has you most excited about the 9-4 Jaguars?
Dillon Appleman: I’m most excited about the idea that this is just the start of the offense clicking as we near a potential playoff run. It has been a work in progress to find consistency on offense all season, but over the last
two weeks, it has been terrific. That things have finally started to slow down for Trevor Lawrence in Liam Coen’s detailed offense should be exciting for fans and a little scary for potential playoff opponents.
Travis Holmes: The constant player development that can easily be seen across the roster. The team record is obviously a positive; however, I never envisioned this roster as one that was truly ready for a deep playoff run in Year 1 of a new regime. Seeing them face both the toughest and easiest parts of their schedule, while still winning 70 percent of their games, confirms to me that Liam Coen was, without question, the right hire. Downstream development can be seen in nearly every position group through Coen and Anthony Campanile’s influence – RB Travis Etienne, LB Devin Lloyd, DT Arik Armstead, and QB Trevor Lawrence. This becomes even more pronounced for depth players such as S Antonio Johnson, CB Jarrian Jones, LB Dennis Gardeck, WR Parker Washington, UDFA DL Danny Striggow, and the list goes on. Player development has rarely been in the past few decades of Jaguar football. It’s a refreshing change-up.
Gus Logue: Dillon mentioned that the offense is starting to click, and I think you could say the same about the entire team. Since Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye, Trevor Lawrence leads the NFL in passing success rate, Josh Hines-Allen leads all defenders in pressures, the defense has allowed the league’s fewest rushing yards per game (73.3) and rushing touchdowns (11), and Cam Little has made all 10 of his field goal attempts. The Jaguars have scored an AFC-high 182 points in that span with 25+ points in each game. And they’re now as healthy as they’ve been since the first month of the season. This entire team is rounding into form at the perfect time in the NFL season.
Henry Zimmer: The part of this Jags team that has me most excited is that the team has direction. There is a clear plan in place by the front office, coaching staff, and players that is visible on the field. There is connectivity between what the coaches want from their players and what the players do on the field, and the front office is noticeably working to make the team better. Been a long time since that could be said.
Question 2: What’s a matchup you’re looking forward to watching?
Dillon: The Jets don’t have much star power on their roster after some huge trades they made this season but they quietly have one of the best young tackle duos in the league in Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou. They’ll face off against Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, which should be a fun matchup between proven vets vs. a couple of young and ascending players for New York.
Travis: On a normal, week-by-week basis, I don’t believe that this Jets offense can consistently keep up with the Jaguars’ offense. However, the NFL is nothing but inconsistent, often featuring big week-by-week swings based on matchups. My biggest matchup on Sunday comes down to Jacksonville’s biggest consistent nemesis to date – game planning for a backup quarterback. UDFA QB Brady Cook is truly an enigma with just three quarters of NFL game tape. I wouldn’t blame fans for having pregame thoughts of Bengals’ backup quarterback Jake Browning or Texans clipboard holder Davis Mills, who combined to go 2-0 versus Jacksonville.
Gus: New York’s rushing offense against Jacksonville’s rushing defense. It seems that RB Breece Hall is the Jets’ only hope with WR Garrett Wilson and QBs Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor expected to miss Sunday’s game. New York is already the NFL’s run-heaviest offense in terms of pass rate over expected (-7.1%), but by the same metric, opposing offenses throw at Jacksonville (avoid running at them) at the highest clip in the league (+3.9%). The Jets need Hall to be Superman on Sunday, but the Jaguars have enough kryptonite to stop him.
Henry: This is a game the Jags should win easily, so I am excited to see this defense dominate. The quarterbacks the Jets could throw out are awful, which gives some hope that the defense can get a big sack afternoon and get a few turnovers. Run the numbers up on Sunday.
Question 3: Who will be the biggest X-factor?
Dillon: Travis Etienne. The Jets’ defense has allowed over 150 rushing yards to opposing offenses SEVEN times this season, and the Jaguars run the ball at the fifth-highest clip in the league (29 attempts per game). I think controlling the clock with the run game and ensuring the Jacksonville offense stays on the field as much as possible is the key to a win, and that goal will largely run through Etienne.
Travis: A special teams faceoff could be the difference maker in this matchup. The Jets lead the league in kick return average (29.8 yards), while Jacksonville is 10th (26.4). New York RB Kene Nwangwu leads the NFL in kick return average (35.1 on 13 returns and a return touchdown), while his teammate, WR Isaiah Williams, is also seventh among returners with 10+ returns (29.7 on 22 returns). Williams has also returned two punts for touchdowns, landing fifth in the league in punt return average (14.9). With the Jets likely in need of a spark, a special teams big play could be the thing that gives them life.
Gus: Jets WR Adonai Mitchell, who was traded from Indianapolis to New York as part of the Sauce Gardner trade. The 2024 second-round pick doesn’t seem to have the focus or drive to match his unworldly skill, which is why he’s already on his second team, but Mitchell is one of the few Jets players who can make a game-changing play. New York might not score on Sunday if Jacksonville can lock down Hall and Mitchell.
Henry: Hopefully, Josh Hines-Allen is a big X-factor. Can we get a 2-sack day early from JHA? Maybe a pick on a bad throw? I want to see, in what should be limited snaps, a huge day from Hines-Allen to help pad those late season stats he has been accumulating.
Final score prediction?
Dillon: Jaguars 27, Jets 16
Travis: Jaguars 33, Jets 17
Gus: Jaguars 27, Jets 10
Henry: Jaguars 45, Jets 14
What are your Week 15 predictions, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!
