The Green Bay Packers (5-2) will attempt to run the win streak to four games when Matt LaFleur’s team takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.
The Jaguars have won two of the last three games and are returning home after a two-week stay in London. Leading a talented but inconsistent offense is quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft. Leading a talented but drastically underperforming defense are top picks Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
Can the Packers go down to Florida and get a road win after an emotional home win last week?
Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Week 8:
Former Packers
Expect to see a couple of former Packers draft picks on the field for Jacksonville. Tight end Josiah Deguara rarely plays on offense but is a core special teamer, while defensive back Darnell Savage has played both deep safety and in the slot for Jacksonville’s secondary. The Jaguars also have offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, another Packers draft pick, on the roster. Sunday will be a reunion for a few Packers specialists, too. Long snapper Matt Orzech (2019) and Brandon McManus (2023) both previously played for the Jaguars. Of course, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was a long-time backup behind Brett Favre in Green Bay.
Follow up performance
Last week, the Packers defense smothered C.J. Stroud, one of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks. Does Jeff Hafley’s group have an encore in store for Trevor Lawrence? A devastating pass rush combined with coverage downfield to hold Stroud — who was without Nico Collins — to only 86 passing yards. The challenge might be more difficult against a healthy Jaguars offense featuring impressive rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and several veteran weapons. The Packers defense continues to ascend, and no one in Green Bay wants to see a letdown performance. Protecting against the deep ball will be important.
Interception spotlight
Much has been made about Jordan Love’s eight interceptions. Some have been bad luck. Others have been the result of over-aggressiveness. Sunday’s trip to Jacksonville is an interesting matchup of an aggressive quarterback against a struggling defense that has just one pick all season. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown 16 touchdown passes and are averaging 8.0 yards per attempt against the Jaguars this season. Can Love take advantage against one of the NFL’s worst passing defenses?
Pass protection conundrum
The Jaguars have two talented edge rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, which has led defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to be blitz-avoidant this season. The Jaguars rank last in blitz percentage, but there’s a problem: Jacksonville is also pressuring quarterbacks at a below average rate. Will Nielsen send extra rushers against Jordan Love, who has struggled against the blitz at times this season? Regardless of blitz rate, Sunday’s matchup is another good test for offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom. The Packers also listed center Josh Myers as questionable to play with a wrist injury, so a shuffle could be coming up front.
Another RB test
The Packers have allowed 90 or more rushing yards to Saquon Barkley (109 yards), Jonathan Taylor (103), Aaron Jones (93), Kyren Williams (102) and Joe Mixon (115) during the first seven weeks. It’s been a gauntlet of running backs facing the Packers, and Sunday brings another big test in the form of Tank Bigsby, who rushed for 126 yards last week and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry this season. He’s been a tackle-breaking machine in 2024. The Packers might not have Quay Walker, who is working through the concussion protocol. Can the Packers keep Bigsby from controlling the game on the ground? Mixon nearly willed the Texans’ struggling offense to a win last week in Green Bay.
Prediction: Packers 30, Jaguars 20 (3-4)
In many ways, the Jaguars look more talented on paper than the AFC South-leading Texans, especially considering all the injuries Houston was dealing with during the trip to Green Bay last week. The Packers say they aren’t taking this trip to Jacksonville lightly, but they have to prove it Sunday. This is an important test for a young but maturing team — can you go on the road and take care of business against what appears to be an inferior opponent, especially after an emotional home win last Sunday? Games against the Giants and Panthers late last year were disappointing but also immature performances. The difference in 2024? Jeff Hafley’s aggressive style on defense, and the blossoming confidence of Jordan Love and the offense. I think the Packers show why they are a different level of contender with a commanding performance on the road.