The Jets will travel south for the second straight game in Week 15 to visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. To help preview the matchup, John Oesher of Jaguars.com and Eric Allen of NYJets.com discussed the game.
The Jaguars got their first win since Week 8 last week, defeating the Titans 10-6. How has Trevor Lawrence's head injury impacted the team and the organization?
JO: Much like the Jets, the Jaguars had lost five straight going into that game against Tennessee, so it was much more a, 'Hey, we need to win regardless of who's playing quarterback,' regardless of the circumstance.
They've had trouble, like the Jets, winning close games. They've been frustrated by it. Much like the Jets, more was expected from the Jags. This is an unbelievably disappointing season, so the win, to me, was more in the concept of that it's time to stop losing, enough of this.
They were ecstatic at that and I think that sort of took precedence over win one for Trevor, although I'm sure there was at least a small element of that.
After the Jets' latest close loss, what is the mindset of the team as it looks ahead to Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars?
EA: "Real frustration" is the way Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich described it Monday after he canceled his team meeting. The Jets are 3-10 and 0-7 in games decided by 6-points or less. In their latest heartbreak, a 32-26 OT loss to the Dolphins in South Florida, Aaron Rodgers had the offense delivered its best collective effort. But the 'Fins took advantage of a special teams mistake late in the fourth quarter and the defense was held sackless and without a takeaway. Rodgers (27-of-39-339-1TD) didn't have the chance to take the field in the extra session and Tua Tagovailoa (33-of-47-339-2TD) walked off a winner. The 2024 Jets are snakebitten, but they've shown no quit.
Jacksonville's defense gives up nearly 400 yards of offense per game, but what have you seen this season from Pro Bowl DE Josh Hines-Allen and DE Travon Walker, who was drafted No. 1 overall pick in 2023?
JO: The defense hasn't been good. It has not made enough plays in critical situations late in games, which is what happens when you're not a good team in the NFL. The Jags, much like the Jets, have lost seven games decided by five points or less and the defense has given up plays when they matter in those situations. It struggles against the run when teams stick to the run and it's not very good at stopping big plays.
Josh Hines-Allen is a very good pass rusher. The team hasn't had the lead enough for him to have big numbers.
Travon Walker has 8.5 sacks, number one overall pick and he's playing like it now. He's not going to be a 15-sack guy in his career, I don't think, but he is rock solid. Very good against the run, dominant enough in pass rush that you have to double him. You have to account for him or he's going to wreck your game. He's every bit turning into a great player and a guy you can build a defense around. Even though the numbers may not be T.J.-Watt type, he's not that kind of player, but he's really, really good.
What should be the Jets' most favorable matchup against the Jags?
EA: Rodgers' 339-yard effort last week in Florida was his first 300+ yard passing day in 35 starts. Now he'll face a Jaguars club that has a defense that ranks 32nd in both total yards (396.1 yds/g) and 32nd in pass yards/play (7.77). They've allowed the most 20+ yard passing plays in the league (58) and they also are tied for the most 40+ passing plays yielded (10). Rogers is healthy, the Jets O-line is protecting well, and Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams are a dynamic combination at the top of the wide receiver depth chart. Plus Allen Lazard has returned to the lineup and the Jets young RBs all are threats out of the backfield. I think we could see another 300-yard day from Rodgers and Wilson and Adams, who both had 100+ yard efforts in Miami, will stay hot in Florida against a defense that has been prone to give up big plays.
With Mac Jones at QB for Trevor Lawrence, has the scheme changed?
JO: The arm strength is absolutely not what Trevor's is and, as a result, the field tends to compress a little bit. We've all seen that with backups. The ability to go downfield, it's hard to stretch the defense. They sort of deal with that with Mac a little bit, but he's going to reduce mistakes. He's going to keep you in it as well as possible.
When this offense is good, you've got three or four receivers in it and the offense happens very organically, meaning you're going to get the ball to whoever's open. They are going get the ball to Brian Thomas Jr. and Evan Engram because those are their two really good players on offense.
It's not going to be as dynamic, but Mac, even if he makes mistakes, he's going to keep the confidence high and keep playing through it. That's what makes him dangerous. He's not going to go in the tank like a lot of young quarterbacks might if they made mistakes.
What must return this week for the Jets defense?
EA: The pass rush. Tua Tagovailoa got the ball out quick and the 'Fins relied heavily on their screen game. Backup Mac Jones, the former Patriot, has a 5-0 career mark against the Jets while completing 68% of his passes with 4 TDs and 1 INT. The Jets have sacked him 16 times including two six-pieces in 2022. Different team and different situation, but you got to attack Mac.
