The Green Bay Packers have a chance to complete their four-course AFC South meal on Sunday. They’ve already consumed the appetizer (Indianapolis Colts), soup (Tennesee Titans), and entrée (Houston Texans). It’s just a matter of enjoying dessert in the form of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
At 2-5, Jacksonville makes the list of one of the league’s biggest disappointments this season after finishing last year with a winning record and rewarding Trevor Lawrence with a massive new contract. If they hadn’t disposed of the New England Patriots in London last week, there’s a very good chance they’d have a new head coach in place for this Week 8 showdown with the Packers.
That said, there’s a bit of a trap-game feel to this one. The Packers are coming off an emotional walk-off win over the high-flying Texans and may have an eye on their titanic matchup with the Detroit Lions at Lambeau next weekend. Still, the Jags removed a gorilla off their backs with their win last week and return home with some confidence as well as a chance to alter the narrative of their season with an upset win over the Pack.
Green Bay should be able to move the ball up and down the field on Jacksonville’s defense, which ranks near the bottom of the league in most major categories. They’re dead last against play action, where Jordan Love is at his deadliest. Like the Texans, the strength of that unit is the pass rush led by former No. 1 pick Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, but the Packers are equipped to deal with them.
The Jags give up boatloads of explosive plays and don’t take the ball away; they only have one interception on the season. So if Love can rein in some of that gunslinger mentality and take what the defense gives him, the Packers’ offense should cook. Joe Flacco threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns against them a few weeks ago, and Caleb Williams had a career-high four TD passes. Last week, even Drake Maye amassed almost 300 yards and a pair of scores.
This feels like it could be a Christian Watson game, with Jacksonville’s penchant for giving up big plays. Tucker Kraft is also poised for a big afternoon – tight ends have had big games against them, notably Hunter Henry and Cole Kmet in the last few weeks.
But the Jags’ offense has shown signs of life lately. Lawrence in no way resembles a guy who deserves $55 million a year right now. Still, he’s developing chemistry with his explosive rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Ever since tight end Evan Engram returned a couple of weeks ago, he’s been a favorite target – and the Pack has given up some production at that position this season.
Like all teams, the Jags will test the Pack’s run defense to start the game. Running back Tank Bigsby has given the offense a level of physicality it’s lacked. Although Travis Etienne may be back from injury to take some snaps, Bigsby has looked like the more dangerous back this season.
The Pack should see the return of DT Devonte Wyatt to help out there. He returned to practice after missing the last three games and was off to a fast start before the ankle injury. Karl Brooks has played pretty well in his absence, but Wyatt’s return would be a big shot in the arm for the defense.
It’s going to be steamy, as you’d expect, with temperatures in the 80s. I wonder if Green Bay will wear their home green jerseys so the Jags can wear the cooler whites. For a change, injuries are not a big storyline, with center Josh Myers (questionable: wrist) and Jags left tackle Cam Robinson (concussion) the biggest question marks.
Hopefully, it won’t come down to the Jags’ former kicker, new Packers hero Brandon McManus, to win the game in the final moments. The Packers are favored to win their fourth contest in a row because they’re playing at a much higher level than the Jags, and Matt LaFleur has coached them well enough to make us believe they’ll handle their business – and then start worrying about the Lions on Tuesday.
Packers 31
Jaguars 20
