The Green Bay Packers are headed to Florida to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Stadium. After playing a couple of hotter-than-usual games at Lambeau Field, the Packers will take on the Jaguars in the Florida heat and humidity.
After beating the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars during the first seven weeks, the Packers are going for an AFC South sweep on Sunday.
Here are five keys to the Packers beating the Jaguars in Week 8:
Another OT spotlight game
The Jaguars rank dead last in the NFL in blitz percentage (16.1) through seven games, per Pro Football Reference. Why is this? Jacksonville’s defense relies heavily on edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Allen-Hines winning matchups to create pressure. Like last week, when Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom faced off against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, the Packers are facing another top edge rusher duo — Walker and Allen-Hines both have over 25 pressures. Two things: Can Walker and Tom keep the pair blocked up in the passing game? And will the Jaguars change their strategy? Jordan Love is first in the NFL in yards per attempt and EPA when not blitzed this season, per Next Gen Stats.
Deep passing game
Don’t be surprised if both teams are taking shots down the field on Sunday. Trevor Lawrence ranks first in both attempts and completions on passes thrown over 20 yards in the air this season, and rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been a legitimate downfield threat to start his first season. Can the Packers keep the lid on the Jaguars passing game? Safeties Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams will be tested, and the Packers need the pass rush to reduce time for deep plays to develop. Defensively, a big weak spot for the Jaguars is in the secondary, and particularly at safety. Could this be the game that Christian Watson creates a couple of big plays down the field? His speed against an average group of corners and a weak group of safeties could be the difference.
Tackling Tank
Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby is aptly named. He’s forced 25 missed tackles on only 67 attempts, including 18 forced misses over the last three games. With Travis Etienne struggling and now nursing an injured hamstring, Bigsby has become the engine of the offense. He’s averaging 4.58 yards after first contact, which is first among running backs with at least 50 carries, and his 25 missed tackles forced ranks fourth despite having 40 fewer carries than the other leaders. Roughly one in every seven carries for Bigsby has gained 10 or more yards. He is a big-time threat. The Packers — who could be without linebacker Quay Walker (concussion) — have to rally to the football and make tough tackles against an ascending running back in the Florida heat on Sunday.
Protecting the football
The Jaguars have only three takeaways this season, including just one interception. This is an opportunity for Jordan Love — who currently leads the NFL in interceptions thrown — to play efficient and turnover-free in the passing game. The Jaguars are struggling to pressure the quarterback and struggling to cover receivers and tight ends. Add in the lack of takeaways, and this is one of the worst defenses in football to start the 2024 season. Love and the Packers have a chance to control the game through the air and smother any upset attempt by protecting the football. Winning the turnover battle against a team that has struggled so mightily to generate takeaways is a must.
Don’t make a mess on special teams
The Jaguars are one of the NFL’s better teams on special teams, ranking sixth in DVOA and second in PFF grade through seven games. Kicker Cam Little missed only one field goal, punter Logan Cooke ranks fourth in net punting, Parker Washington returned a punt for a touchdown last week, and the Jaguars rarely miss tackles or commit penalties on special teams. Can the Packers bounce back an up-and-down performance on special teams last week? Making mistakes in the third phase is always a good way to keep an inferior opponent in the game.
