Gameday preview: Can the Jaguars do it again?
By Jacob Hane
Bortles deserves credit for the Jaguars win in London, but which Bortles will we see in NYC?
The Jacksonville Jaguars sit at 2-1 after a win in dominating fashion over the pond this past Sunday. The 44-7 thrashing of the previously undefeated Baltimore Ravens was one of the most impressive wins in recent Jaguars history. One question remains, can they do it again?
Now, the Jaguars can’t continue to count on Marcedes Lewis for 3 touchdowns, however, continuing to involve him in the redzone, especially with star receiver Allen Robinson out for the season, will be key going forward.
The defense played with a swagger very unfamiliar to Jacksonville fans, setting the tone for the rest of the team. The attack was spearheaded by star corners Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye. Both corners picked up their first interceptions of the season and shut down the Ravens passing attack entirely. Telvin Smith and Calais Campbell continued to shine in the revamped defense under Todd Walsh.
More from Jacksonville Jaguars News
- Jacksonville Jaguars should welcome Derrick Henry into the kingdom
- Jaguars Rumors: Trent Baalke seems to be getting respect now
- Jaguars News: This division rival might be making a big move
- Former Jacksonville Jaguars S Johnathan Cyprien: “New Profession, Same Standards”
- Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram officially gets the franchise tag: 3 takeaways
Blake Bortles looked confident in the pocket, thanks in part to an offensive line that didn’t give up a sack. All of these things were promising, but one question remains, can they do it again? The Jaguars are favored on the road for the first time since 2011 for a game against the New York Jets. Can the offensive line continue to make it easy for Bortles?
Can the defensive line force pressure on Josh McCown and lead to more turnovers on the back end? Bortles will need to play another game of turnover free football to open up opportunities for rookie running-back Leonard Fournette. While the Jets were projected as one of the worst teams in the NFL before the start of this season, they do have some nice defensive pieces in Leonard Williams and a young, aggressive safety tandem in Jamal Adams and Marcus May.
If the Jaguars can pull out a win on the road, they will have all the momentum in the division, poised to make a run for the top of the AFC South. The Jaguars answered the bell in London, can they do it again in NYC? Find out Sunday at 1 PM Eastern on CBS.