Zielinski: Packers will show no mercy for Jaguars
By DAN ZIELNSKI
The Packers are on a roll, boasting three consecutive victories, including a nail-biting two-point win over the Texans last week.
On Sunday, the Packers (5-2) travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars (2-5), who are back from spending the last two weeks in the United Kingdom. The Jaguars are in a must-win situation, as they have significantly underachieved, and coach Doug Pederson is on the hot seat.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has yet to fully meet expectations this season. While his stats – 1,527 passing yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 63.3% completion rate – are solid, he hasn’t emerged as the game-changer many anticipated.
Lawrence’s performance against the Packers could be the deciding factor fr a Jaguars victory. With a league-high 17 forced turnovers, the Packers will look to exploit the Jaguars’ offensive inconsistencies to gain the upper hand.
The Packers will have to pressure Lawrence while also slowing down the Jaguars’ rushing attack, which ranks in the league’s top half at 124.3 rushing yards per game.
Packers QB Jordan Love is healthy and playing well, but he needs to avoid throws off his back foot and into double coverage. If he can keep his turnovers in check, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
The Packers are favored in this matchup and should have little trouble overcoming the Jaguars if they can maintain a balanced offensive approach and create turnovers on defense.
Prediction: Packers 34, Jaguars 20.
