With no positive COVID-19 tests for the Jacksonville Jaguars (and league-wide), the Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions is a go. The game will be one between teams that should end up atop the draft order, though there is time to turn things around.
Both teams will come into the game with two wins combined, and a win could get some positive momentum going as we approach the mid-season mark. Here’s how the Jags Wire staff is feeling about what the outcome of the Battle of the Felines could be Sunday:
James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Lions 27, Jaguars 24
The Jags and Lions will enter this game with hot seat staffs desperate for wins. Matt Patricia’s time with the Lions has been worse than Doug Marrone’s tenure in Jacksonville (23-32 record) as he’ll enter Week 6’s game with a 10-25 record as their head coach.
As for the teams, both have suspect defenses, especially against the run. That said, the team that does that the best likely will win the game, however, Jay Gruden hasn’t shown that type of commitment to the run. That said, I could see the Jags dropping Gardner Minshew II back over 30 times, which actually might play into Patricia’s hand as the Lions are at least decent against the pass (No. 11).
Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Lions 31, Jaguars 24
Detroit is off to their own slow start after giving up a few leads early on this season. Matthew Stafford also appears to be somewhat off his game thus far. Well, as Jaguar fans we all know that the best way to remedy your quarterback’s struggles is to play against Todd Wash’s defense.
Following three straight losses, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to believe that the Jaguars can right this ship anytime soon. A solid portion of the fanbase would prefer they continue to lose, anyway. Well, they’ll get their wish as Matthew Stafford and T.J, Hockenson will carve this defense up. I expect solid performances from James Robinson and Laviska Shenault, but the Jags will still fall.
Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis): Lions 28, Jaguars 17
The Jaguars are in, well, a slump. The offense and defense are both struggling and some recent injuries have derailed an already thin roster. Hopefully, with the return of some key players this week against the Lions, the defense can slow down an ever-consistent Matthew Stafford. The Jaguars need to return to the run-game and take some stress off the right arm of Gardner Minshew if they hope to win this one. Start FAST!
Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Jaguars 33, Lions 28
The Jaguars need a bounce back after dropping four straight games. With the defense slowly but surely returning to health and cornerback Desmond Trufant for the Lions out, there will be a lot of passing yards from both quarterbacks. Jaguars come out on top in a must win matchup.
Will Frost (@willfrost_): Lions 34, Jaguars 21
Realistically, the loser of this game should probably leave their head coach on the tarmac. Both teams have been overwhelmingly disappointing so far this season, which makes it a winnable game for both sides.
Linebacker Myles Jack and cornerback CJ Henderson being back should help the Jaguars’ defense improve from last week, but Matthew Stafford is far too good of a quarterback to struggle against their lackluster pass-rush. If he’s given time (as most opposing quarterbacks have been so far this year), it could get ugly fast.
Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Lions 34, Jaguars 31
The Jags return home and look to finally put an end to their four game losing streak as they host the 1-3 Lions. Both teams have underperformed and are facing scrutiny from their fanbases. Adrian Peterson has found a home in Detroit and somehow managed to keep Father Time at bay. While he is expected to see limited duty, that just opens things up for D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson to have solid days on the ground against a team that has struggled. Somehow this game turns into a shootout due to poor defense on both sides and Stafford proves he still has enough left in his tank and wins a close one.