Most underrated Jacksonville Jaguars? Answers may surprise you
A poll of nine Jacksonville Jaguars players revealed seven different vote-getters for most underrated player.
Jacksonville currently leads the AFC South and holds the No. 3 seed in the conference playoff standings.The Jaguars may face a challenge from the Jets’ top-ranked special teams, particularly in the return game.The Jaguars will need to return to running the ball well if they want to cruise to victory against New York.
Every game in December is important, no matter how insignificant the playoff consequences may be.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) are set to face off against the New York Jets (3-10) on Sunday for the team’s Week 15 matchup at EverBank Stadium. The game kicks off at 1 p.m.
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It will be broadcast on CBS.
For now, the Jaguars sit atop the AFC South divisional standings, setting up the final four games to determine the winner between them, the Indianapolis Colts (8-5) and the Houston Texans (8-5). Jacksonville must still face the Colts again after securing the first round between the clubs, while they’ve split the series 1-1 with Houston.
Against the Jets this week, the Jaguars can further secure their position in the AFC playoff standings, although it won’t factor into who wins the AFC South by season’s end. The Jaguars will own the tiebreaker over the Texans even if they lose to New York, but win out the rest of the way.
A loss Sunday would certainly deflate the team ahead of a pivotal matchup against the Denver Broncos next week, however.
Currently, Jacksonville sits as the No. 3 seed in the playoffs behind the New England Patriots (11-2, second) and the Denver Broncos (11-2, first).
If they want to remain in the race for the top seed, they’ll need to rise to the occasion against the Jets this weekend.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen emphasized this week that every game is important, referencing the “any given Sunday” mantra that the league preaches and practices every week.
“We’re not in a position to be thinking about anything else but today and having a great day of preparation and work and practice and get ready for third downs tonight. So that’s got to be the focus,” Coen said at the beginning of the week.
Jacksonville has stood by the idea that every game is the biggest game in team history and that won’t change just because the team is on a four-game winning streak. There’s no reason to look ahead because nothing is ahead until the final whistle hits in Week 18.
“We’re just not in a place where we can say that. When you’re trying to improve as a team. Mature football teams don’t let any of that creep into our minds and into our thought process. And so that’s the message right now,” Coen explained.
Jaguars will struggle vs. Jets return game
If there’s one area the Jets may have the upper hand in on Sunday, it may be in their return game.
The Jets are the top return team on kickoffs, averaging 29.8 yards per return. Their punt return unit isn’t too far behind, ranking seventh-best in terms of yards per return at 14. They’re tied (Patriots, Jaguars and Titans) for best in the league with two punt returns for touchdowns and are one of five teams with a kickoff returned for a touchdown.
Jacksonville ranks 13th in the league in net yards per punt at 41.9. They rank 21st in the league in defending kick returns per kick, allowing 26.58 yards per kick return.
Jets kick return specialist/receiver Isaiah Williams averages 29.7 yards per kick return.
The Jets’ special teams unit was one of the first things Coen said when asked where the team has improved this year.
“The special teams unit can score in both the return games, in punt and kickoff return, at any time. Has definitely provided a spark, one of the best special teams units in the National Football League right now,” Coen said.
“And they can score from anywhere with those backs and with some of the skill players they’ve had.”
Brian Thomas Jr. will continue where he left off vs. Colts
Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has had an up-and-down impact on the stat sheet this year. He’s had struggles with drops and people have called into question just how good he can be.
Still, Thomas is the team’s top receiver this year with 35 catches for 535 yards and a touchdown. Last week, he showcased just how valuable he can be. Against the Colts last week, he caught three passes for 87 yards.
His 29 yards per catch average was the best he’s had this season and was a reminder of what he was capable of last year with downfield catches. He’s never lost confidence, and explained in the locker room on Wednesday what that is.
“In my mind, I always know what I can do. I’ve shown what I can do time and time again. So, just got to keep being confident even when people don’t feel like you can do something. I know what I can do. I know what I put in, the work, to do. I know how many balls I catch a day,” Thomas said.
Last year against the Jets, Thomas caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps he can top that this week.
Jaguars ground attack will re-emerge vs. Jets
If there’s one area that has regressed in Jacksonville of late, it’s the run game.
While the team improved last week in the ground game, totalling 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground, their Week 13 performance against the Titans left much to be desired, and they haven’t had more than 150 yards on the ground since Week 11 (192 vs. Chargers).
The Jets, meanwhile, are allowing 139.5 yards per game on the ground this season.
“We want to run the ball, we want to be physical and when we need to throw the ball, we’re going to throw the ball and we’re going to make plays,” Coen said this week.
Jaguars, Jets Week 15 score prediction
Jaguars 31, Jets 13
The Jets announced Friday that rookie quarterback Brady Cook will start with both Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor banged up. Ought to be enough reason.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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