Jacksonville Jaguars Week 3 Pre-Game

By: Noah Trombley

The Jaguars will look to bounce back this week as they host the Arizona Cardinals in week 3. The last time these two teams played was in 2017 and the Cardinals took home the victory 27-24, however this time do not expect a close score. 

Between their first two games the Jaguars have averaged a total of 17 points, the cardinals have averaged 36, these offenses are not built the same. Kyler Murray is putting together, so far, an MVP Caliber season. He currently sports a 73.5 completion percentage, 689 yards, 7 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions. Lawrence on the other hand has a 50 completion percentage, 450 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Lawrence has struggled all year in this current system, receivers can’t get open, and the run game can’t get any momentum. Urban Meyer needs to really come up with some inventive play calling in order to get this offense going and able to score some points cause the Cardinals behind Kyler Murray, Deandre Hopkins, and the rookie sensation Rondale Moore, will put up points in bunches against the flat Jaguars defense who so far this season has not caused a single turnover and they are losing the turnover ratio by -5. 

The only couple positives to take away from the Jaguars defense is that they do get pressures on the QB. Linebacker Josh Allen has a sack a game so far (2 total), safety Andrew Wingard has one, and DE Adam Gotsis has one as well. The Jags will need to focus on these three players to try and get some turnovers on defense whether that be some forced fumbles on the QB or forcing some bad throws and causing some interceptions. 

The big key to this game for the Jaguars will be to contain Kyler Murray. They are not gonna bring the QB down many times as his elusiveness will get him out of many situations, however the Jaguars will need to keep getting pressure on Kyler the entire game in hopes that he gets hurried and makes some mental errors. On the offensive side James Robinson, Carlos Hyde, and Duke Johnson need to get the run game going in order to take some pressure off of Trevor Lawrence to make plays constantly and allow him to find his targets and throw the ball away when need be.