On paper, it looks like the 0-2 Jacksonville Jaguars will be outmatched (and soundly beaten) by the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 of the 2021 regular season. The Cards have one of the most dominant offenses in the NFL, quarterback Kyler Murray is playing at an MVP level and they have a couple of terrific pass rushers in J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones.
On the other hand, Arizona is far from perfect. They gave up 33 points to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Their defense posted six sacks in the season opener but only got the quarterback just once in Week 2. They have a middle-of-the-pack defense, ranking 14th in point scored. If the Jaguars want to keep up with the Cardinals, they will have to win one, some (or all) these matchups.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ O-Line must contain the Cards’ pass rush.
Chandler Jones had a dominant performance in the season opener but cooled down against the Vikings. He still pressured quarterback Kirk Cousins three times but didn’t register a sack. J.J. Watt has been ruled out for the game but even if he had played, he might not have been much of a factor. The five-time First-Team All-Pro isn’t the same difference-maker he was in the prime of his career. Injuries have taken a toll on him and he’s posted just two pressures and no sacks this year.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ offensive line has played surprisingly well. Looking back, the team’s brass made the right decision when they decided to keep all their starters from last season. In two games, the unit has given up just sacks, and there’s a good chance their performance will carry over to Week 3. If Jacksonville can neutralize Jones, quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have enough time to find his receivers.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary must slow down the Cards’ offense.
Asking the Jaguars’ back seven to shut down the Cardinals’ passing game would be unrealistic. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is listed as questionable but teammate A.J. Green thinks he will suit up, “Hop don’t miss games“.
Even if Hopkins doesn’t play, quarterback Kyler Murray will have a well-rounded group of receivers at his disposal. Rookie Rondale Moore is currently leading the team with 11 receptions for 182 yards and one touchdown. Even if the Jaguars manage to cover him, Murray can simply look for Green, Christian Kirk, running back Chase Edmons, and tight end Maxx Williams, all of who have proven to be reliable targets.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars could be short-handed at cornerback. Tre Herndon is nursing an MCL injury and sophomore C.J. Henderson is dealing with a groin injury. Both are listed as questionable and it’s uncertain if they will play in Week 3. There’s a chance rookie Tyson Campbell will line up outside and the coaching staff could even call up Nevin Lawson, who just signed with the team. Also, Chris Claybrooks could get a good amount of snaps.
The Jaguars must limit the number of play big plays, force turnovers, and make as many stops as possible to get the offense the ball back. The more possessions they have, the higher their chances to put points on the scoreboard will be. The Cardinals have shown they can score at ease, and Jacksonville needs to look for ways to keep up with them.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense needs to score early and often.
The Jaguars’ offense has shown flashes in the first two weeks of the season. It’s time they get it together. In the season opener, holding and illegal formation penalties held back the unit. They cleaned up the mistakes and were more disciplined the following week. On the other hand, they still have plenty of work left to do.
The Jaguars’ coaching staff needs to get running back James Robinson more involved in the offense. The Illinois State product got 16 carries in Week 2 after racking up just five against the Houston Texans in Week 1. The Jags’ don’t need to become a ground-and-pound kind of offense. They just need to become more efficient in early downs. As Gus Logue of Jaguar Report pointed out, Jacksonville has struggled to create positive yardage in first and second downs. Also, their conversion rate in third downs must go up.
Everyone needs to do a better job. The coaching staff needs to call the right game, quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs to make better decisions, and the wide receivers must do be open. The Jaguars showed against the Broncos they can play some pretty good football. The first drive of the game, which ended with a 25-yard touchdown reception to wide receiver Marvin Jones, was an example of what they can do when everyone is on the same wavelength. They now need to do it for a whole game.