Jaguars RB Travis Etienne will go off vs. Raiders, other Week 9 predictions
The Jacksonville Jaguars revamped their roster this offseason and hired Doug Pederson, a head coach with Super Bowl-winning experience, after getting rid of Urban Meyer. Moreover, they have a young quarterback that was dubbed a generational talent coming out of college. Yet, they’re 2-6 ahead of Week 9 and coming off a disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos, so it’s fair to ask what’s missing.
Pederson showed when he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles that he can take over a team and turn it into a winner. Similarly, there are several Jaguars that have had outstading performances this season, including but not limited to Tyson Campbell and Travis Etienne.
On the other hand, the Jags have been plagued by inconsistency and self-inflicted wounds. The fact that they showed they can win in a convincing manner when they beat the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers in back-to-back weeks makes their losing skid even more puzzling, how can a team this good be so bad?
On the bright side, the Jaguars still have time this season. Maybe not to make the postseason but enough to win a few games and grow. With that in mind, here are five predictions for their Week 9 matchup against the Jags.
No. 5 Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell will shut down Davante Adams
Davante Adams is the kind of wide receiver that can get deep and score in the blink of an eye if left uncovered. That’s what makes his matchup with Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell one worth keeping an eye on.
Adams is one of the top receivers but he’s coming off a game in which the Raiders’ offense was shut out and he caught a measly one pass for three yards. Sure, he’s been dealing with an illness but if he’s deemed healthy enough to play, it shouldn’t be used to justify a bad performance.
Meanwhile, Campbell limited Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton to just once reception for 13 yards. On Sunday, he will hold Adams to less than 40 yards and no touchdowns.