The Green Bay Packers aren’t going into Sunday’s showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars expecting an easy win on the road.
Coach Matt LaFleur noted the Jaguars — who are 2-5 — lost three of their first four games by five points or fewer and could easily have a winning record entering Week 8.
“I think when you look at this team, they’ve lost a game by three points, by four points and by five points. They were in command vs. Houston and vs. Miami, they could be 5-2, sitting the same as us right now,” LaFleur said Wednesday.
The Jaguars started 0-4 but have won two of the last three games — a 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts and a 32-16 win over the New England Patriots last week in London. Doug Pederson’s team led 14-0 and 17-7 in the first half of the season opener in Miami but lost. Three weeks later, the Jaguars led 7-0 early and 20-17 late but couldn’t hold on in a loss to the Texans.
LaFleur sees a talented team with a good young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, weapons all over the offense and two game-wrecking edge rushers on defense.
“They’ve got weapons in every phase of the game,” LaFleur said. “They’ve got receivers that are explosive. The tight end is explosive. They’ve got two runners. They’ve got a franchise quarterback. I think you look at the defensive side of the ball, their ability to get after the quarterback is real. They’ve got two edge rushers that are two of the best in the game. On teams they’re making plays, they had a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown last week. We’ve got to play a consistent, four quarters against this team. This is a very good team. And again, this is the National Football League, so you better get ready to play your best each and every week.”
Around Lawrence, the Jaguars have assembled running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis and tight end Evan Engram. The Jaguars’ five preferred starters along the offensive line have all started each game this season.
Lawrence, the first overall pick in 2021, has nine touchdown passes and only three interceptions through seven games.
“I see an elite quarterback that’s capable of making any throw and he can beat you with his legs. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do,” LaFleur said. “He’s got some weapons around him. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
Among those weapons is Engram, whom LaFleur called a “game changer.” The veteran tight end caught 114 passes last season.
“You don’t see too many tight ends with that kind of speed,” LaFleur said.
Bigsby is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and coming off a 126-yard performance in London. Etienne has back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Thomas, a first-round rookie, has a team-high 30 catches for 513 yards and four touchdowns, including an 85-yarder. Kirk produced almost 2,000 receiving yards during his first two seasons in Jacksonville. Davis caught 27 touchdown passes over four seasons with Josh Allen in Buffalo.
On defense, edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker — two high draft picks — are highly disruptive. Both have over 25 pressures this season. Walker has 6.0 sacks.
Last week, Parker Washington returned a punt 96 yards for a game-breaking touchdown. By PFF grade, the Jaguars are one of the NFL’s best teams on special teams.
It’s clear LaFleur doesn’t see the 2-5 Jaguars as a typical floundering team lacking talent.
“Pretty strong roster,” LaFleur said.
The Packers are coming off an emotional home win over the Texans and must now go on the road to play a team packed with talent and desperate to get their season back on track. Can LaFleur’s team step up to the challenge and complete the sweep of the AFC South?
