Three Bold Predictions: Jacksonville hosts Houston

The Jacksonville Jaguars look to end a two-game losing streak on Sunday at TIAA Bank Field. Here are three bold predictions for the game.

This is a big one for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A loss on Sunday would give this team a three-game losing streak and two losses in the AFC South, which would be hard to overcome with only nine games remaining in the season.

The good news is the Jaguars are back at home to face a division rival. The bad news is once again they face a mobile quarterback in Deshaun Watson who can beat them with his arm and his legs.

Jacksonville made Dak Prescott look like the second coming of Steve Young last week in the loss to Dallas.

This week should be different as the team worked harder in practice and understands they must get back to the defensive dominance of last season. Jacksonville must also finally find a balance on offense with a running game that takes part of the pressure off quarterback Blake Bortles and the passing attack.

This might be a long shot, but could Bortles have another 300-yard game and a running game that moves on all cylinders? We as Jacksonville Jaguars fans can hope, can’t we?

This is going to be one of those barn-burners. Hopefully, the home team comes out on top.

Here are three BOLD predictions for Sunday’s game.

Double Hundred

The Jaguars have to find their running game again. The city of Jacksonville should send out an APB for what was supposed to be the focal point of this offense.

No Leonard Fournette, no Corey Grant. No issue, at least this week. Enter T.J. Yeldon, who has been one of the bright spots of the offense so far this season.

Jamaal Charles had five yards on five carries in his first game in the NFL since last season.

Enter Carlos Hyde, who has a chance to be very good if the offensive line adjusts. A big and bold statement for this team on Sunday would be is both Hyde and Yeldon both had 100 yards rushing.

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It would certainly take the pressure off the passing game and make Blake Bortles a more efficient and effective signal caller.

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett met with the media on Thursday and said with the new players on the roster and the adjustment being made, simplicity might be best for everyone. Hopefully, that means a move back to the running game as the emphasis on offense.

"“With all the different guys, we’re trying to catch everybody up to full speed here,” Hackett said. “So, we don’t want to be overcomplex. We have to be efficient. One way or the other, we have to find a way for everybody to be efficient.”"

Enter Taven Bryan

If Calais Campbell does not play on Sunday with ankle and hip issues, it’s a good bet the rookie Taven Bryan will start on the right side.

The Jaguars will finally see if the former Florida Gator interior lineman is ready for the challenge.

Bryan hasn’t made an impact in the first six games of the season, but he was not drafted to be a starter.

The Jaguars envision Bryan as the replacement for Campbell in a year or two. With Campbell out of the lineup, the remainder of the line will be pressured to perform.

Having Bryan perform well is good news for this defense.

It will also be interesting to see how Todd Wash, the team’s defensive coordinator adjusts to the past two weeks and plays a team he sees twice a season every year.

"“We had a real good defensive unit on Monday,” Wash said. “We came in and addressed some things in how we’ve been playing consistently, through the whole year. We’re leaving a lot of stuff out on the grass. I think I overlooked a lot of things. I’ll take it on myself as a coach. My name is on it, obviously.”"

Jalen does his talking on the field

Jalen Ramsey barely said three sentences when he met with the media on Thursday. I’m not sure if this is a pattern or Ramsey is as mad with the two losses as the rest of the organization.

From all of his non-talk could be a stellar performance out of the best cornerback in the game.

Ramsey will once again cover DeAndre Hopkins, which is worth the price of admission. Will “daddy” once again teach his son a lesson? I love these kinds of matchups. Ramsey takes care of Hopkins and had two interceptions on the day.