After spending three weeks in the UK, the last match of the 2024 season in London will start on Sunday morning as the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) take on the New England Patriots (1-5) at Wembley Stadium. Both teams are desperate for a victory.
The Patriots, predicted to have a rebuilding season with new head coach Jerod Mayo, started by surprising the Bengals but have since suffered five consecutive losses. In search of a different direction, Week 6 saw the much-awaited debut of 2024 No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye against the Houston Texans. Despite losing 41-21 in his first game, it signified the beginning of a fresh start for New England as they travel to London.
Regarding the Jaguars, they began the 2024 season with a 0-4 record before securing their first victory in a thrilling game against the Colts. However, during their trip to London for the first of two consecutive international games last week, they were unable to capitalize on their previous win and were instead heavily defeated by the Bears, losing 35-16. They are staying in the U.K. for a consecutive week as doubts arise about possible changes if the situation persists.
The upcoming game between two AFC underdogs may not be in the limelight, but it promises to be filled with interesting narratives and determination for both sides. Both teams are in a position where they must win, but only one will emerge victorious and return home with a win after their international journey.
Below are three key points to look out for during the Patriots and Jaguars game in London on Sunday, which will be aired on NFL Network and NFL+.
1) Drake Maye is seeking his maiden NFL victory. In Week 6, the Patriots got a glimpse of the potential with Maye as quarterback, regardless of the score. However, his next challenge is to secure a victory in a game, facing two significant obstacles along the way. Even though Maye managed to establish a connection with his wide receivers by throwing three touchdown passes to three different players, he faced difficulties in protecting the ball, as he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble during a sack. The Jaguars defense is having a hard time with the passing game, as they are ranked last in yards allowed per game and have only managed one interception. Maye will not want to make things easier for them. Another issue of worry is the offensive line of New England, which has continuously changed its starting lineup each week without achieving success in any combination. They are second from the bottom in sacks permitted (23), with Maye being sacked four times last week, resulting in a knee injury. The Jacksonville pass rush has been trying to get Josh Hines-Allen (2.5 sacks) going with Travon Walker (five sacks), as they have a total of 14 sacks in six games. This battle could impact Maye’s performance.
2) Jaguars must cease self-sabotaging. Jacksonville came into this season with a mindset focused on winning immediately and had confidence in their abilities to achieve that goal. This has not materialized yet, as the Jaguars’ statistical performance on offense and defense ranks near the bottom of the league, mirroring their record. Jacksonville’s biggest issue has been their expensive errors and difficulties performing well in crucial situations, such as in four close games (with three losses) within the first five weeks. They are currently tied for third place in penalties with 47. Last week in the game against the Bears, the Jaguars got on the scoreboard first and stayed competitive initially. However, a combination of penalties, dropped passes, turnovers, and significant plays resulted in the game slipping away from them. The offense and defense both played a part in the defeat. In order to stay in the competition, the Jaguars face a favorable opponent this week in the Patriots, who have also faced challenges. New England, where they rank 31st in points and 32nd in pass yards, will have a rookie QB starting, creating a favorable matchup for Jacksonville’s defense to potentially improve. Despite having young talents like Christian Gonzalez and Keion White, the Patriots’ defense is among the worst in the league in yards allowed, giving up 41 points last week, which could be a chance for Trevor Lawrence to shine. If the Jaguars continue to make mistakes that they cause themselves, they could face consequences in this game, which is considered their best chance to win yet.
3) The outcome of the ground game matchup is potentially very important. Both teams have had difficulty in their passing game, so how effectively they run the ball and which players are fit could play a crucial role in deciding the winner. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby carry most of the workload for the Jaguars, who are 19th in rush yards per game. This duo had performed well, if not exceptionally well, in the first five weeks, averaging 126.2 yards per game. However, the team struggled against the Bears, only managing to gain a total of 68 rushing yards with no player surpassing 28 yards. Adding further injury, Etienne also injured his hamstring during the game and his availability for the next game will be determined right before the game. He ran three times for a loss of one yard before leaving the game. The Patriots have excelled in their run game, ranked 12th in the league, with a strong start of 170 rushing yards in Week 1 against the Bengals. However, the running game struggled last week as top rusher Rhamondre Stevenson was sidelined due to a foot injury. Drake Maye contributed to 38 yards out of the team’s total of 82, while the rest of the team had an average of slightly more than two yards per carry. Stevenson is still on the injury report and did not participate in early week practice, casting uncertainty on his status. Regardless of his availability, the Patriots will aim to reignite their running game to assist their young quarterback. Which team will succeed in starting this aspect of their offense, and how will it affect the end result?
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