5 Jaguars who must shine vs. Chiefs to pull off upset in Week 10

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Jacksonville Jaguars’ odds of beating the Kansas City Chiefs don’t look particularly encouraging. They’re a 9.5-point underdog in what might be their toughest matchup of the 2022 season. But that doesn’t mean they will give up without a fight.

On the days preceding the game, head coach Doug Pederson told the media that this game will show how far the Jags have come this season.

“It’s one of the benchmark games, Pederson said. “You’re going against a team that’s been one of the top in the AFC and obviously won a Super Bowl here recently and it’s a challenge to go on the road. It’s a great place to play, it’s loud. The weather is going to be cold, 40 degrees-ish”.

“It’s gonna be a different environment for us but we don’t make any excuses, we just go play and try to gauge where we are against a football team that is pretty good”, Pederson said.

If the Jaguars want to have a shot at pulling off the upset, these five players will need to show out in Week 10.

No. 5 Jaguars player who must shine vs. the Chiefs: Andrew Wingard, S

Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /

Safety Andrew Wingard was a starter for most of the 2021 season but he’s hardly had any snaps on defense this season. That changed in Week 9, when Rayshawn Jenkins left with a concussion.

Wingard took Jenkin’s place in the lineup and helped the Jags beat the Raiders. Jenkins is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocols and if he isn’t cleared for Sunday, Wingard will most likely get the start.

The player known as Dewey told the media that facing the Chiefs will be a good challenge and believes the Jaguars’ defense will be ready for it.

“If you’re gonna contend in the AFC, you’re gonna have to go play Kansas City in January February, when it’s cold, Wingard said. “And if you don’t love the challenge, get off the train and I know all these guys in the locker. We’re really a cohesive unit and we’re tied together mentally and we all think that, so I’m fired up”.

Wingard had a missed tackle rate of 21 percent in 2021. His fundamentals will need to be on point against the Chiefs’ top-rated offense if the Jaguars want to avoid giving up big plays.