3 easy fixes the Jaguars can make to get back in the win column vs. Patriots

There's no way to sugarcoat it: The Jacksonville Jaguars were outcoached and outplayed in their discouraging Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos. The defense managed to contain Bo Nix early in the game, but he flipped the switch and shredded the Jacksonville secondary with ease. The offense also struggled to move the ball and reach the end zone after halftime.

But as much as it stings, the Jags cannot dwell on the loss, especially with the New England Patriots visiting EverBank Stadium in Week 3. If they aren't ready, they will be at risk of starting a losing streak.

The good news is that the Jaguars can bounce back with a handful of easy fixes. With this in mind, here are three changes they can make to bounce back against New England in Week 3.

3 changes that could get the Jaguars going vs. the Patriots

1. Use Travis Hunter at cornerback full-time (or somebody else)

The Jaguars raised eyebrows in the Week 2 loss because they had a rotation at cornerback. Head coach Liam Coen explained in the aftermath that none of the team's corners had a full-time role because Jacksonville has a talented group in Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, and Montaric Brown.

The issue is that the strategy didn't work, and it would make sense to let Hunter play full-time. If the team's brass doesn't think he's ready, then roll with Jones or Brown, but let someone pick up steam and grow comfortable as the game progresses.

It's worth noting that Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown won't suit up for the game after landing on the Injured Reserve list, and Jacksonville will instead have to deal with the New England trio of Rome Doubs, DeMariou Douglas, and Mack Collins, so Week 3 will be the perfect time to reverse course.

2. Give more targets to Brenton Strange, Jakobi Meyers (and fewer snaps to Brian Thomas Jr.)

After an underwhelming 2025 campaign in which Brian Thomas Jr. struggled with drops and inconsistency, he put in the work in the offseason to fix both issues. It looked like No. 7 was poised for a bounce-back season, but he's left much to be desired in two games, hauling in just six receptions for 80 yards on 11 targets.

Specifically, Thomas' drop issues resurfaced in the loss to the Broncos. Meanwhile, fellow wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brenton Strange have been targeted three and five times, respectively the past two games.

If Thomas isn't going to take advantage of his opportunities, Jacksonville needs to give them to someone who will. Whether that's Strange, Meyers, or rookie Josh Cameron, the coaching staff can figure it out in the upcoming weeks.

What's not in question is that the best players need to get the ball, and thus far, Thomas hasn't been one of them two games into the season.

3. The Jaguars need to feed Bhayshul Tuten

It didn't take Bhayshul Tuten to prove that he was more than capable of replacing Travis Etienne, toting the rock 28 times for 131 yards with one touchdown in two games. In fact, it's kind of odd that the Jags haven't leaned more on him, given his success pounding the football thus far.

Although there were concerns about Tune's viability as RB1 ( he averaged 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie), he's putting all of them to rest. He's clearly the No. 1 option in the Jacksonville backfield, and the offense has done a good job of opening lanes in the running game.

The Patriots currently have the top-ranked defense in the NFL, but Tuten could wear them down and force New England to bring an extra defender into the box to stop him. That should, in turn, open things up in the passing game and allow Trevor Lawrence to connect with Parker Washington.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow