Tag: Doug Pederson

Jaguars vs. Lions: Reads, odds, where to watch, stream and more

Jaguars vs. Lions: Reads, odds, where to watch, stream and more

The Jaguars will get a break from their long 2024 season next week when they go on bye. But not before they face arguably their biggest challenge of the campaign on Sunday, a road matchup with the red-hot Lions.

Find everything you need to know ahead of Jacksonville vs. Detroit below.

Jaguars (2-8) vs. Lions (8-1): Week 11

Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

When: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Stream: Fubo (start your free trial here)

Radio: 1010 XL/92.5 FM Jacksonville

Series history: Detroit leads, 5-3.

Last meeting: The Lions beat the Jaguars, 40-14, at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 4, 2022.

Odds (as of 10:00 a.m. ET Sunday): Lions -13.5 | Jaguars +13.5, per BetMGM. The over/under is 47 points.

Important stories

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

Key Matchups: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

The Jacksonville Jaguars hope to pull off a significant upset as they travel north to take on the Detroit Lions in a matchup with plenty of disadvantages.

Jacksonville enters Week 11 with the projected No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to Tankathon. The Jaguars are 2-8 and coming off a defensive slugfest of a loss against Minnesota without franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is out again this week with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

Head coach Doug Pederson will not have a ton of edges against the Lions. Jaguars Wire looks at a few key matchups that will be critical against the Lions on Sunday afternoon.

Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Detroit’s secondary

This is a big moment for the rookie receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the better wide receivers in the league this year, an impressive feat for a rookie. Now demanding double-coverage, per Pederson, Thomas will face an uber-talented Lions secondary that will likely continue that trend this weekend.

Thomas’ strength is his vertical game but he is much more than that as a receiver. He has developed into an all-around playmaker who threatens all three levels of the field with his speed, agility, fluidity and route running.

The challenge in Detroit will be taking on cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold and safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

There is an argument that Branch has had a defensive player-of-the-year-worthy season. And while Detroit’s defense has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (244.2) in the NFL this season, it also gives up the third-fewest passing touchdowns per game (0.8).

If Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor manufacture touches for Thomas, the Jaguars could find themselves in scoring positions more often. Thomas is bound for his true workhorse game and this week could be the one.

Jacksonville DE Josh Hines-Allen vs. Detroit OT Taylor Decker

Despite last week’s loss to Minnesota loss, Jacksonville edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen got the better of former teammate Cam Robinson, tallying eight pressures and forcing quarterback Sam Darnold into some rough decisions with the football.

According to Next Gen Stats, Hines-Allen leads the Jaguars in pressures and will line up opposite Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, whose pressure rate ranks in the bottom ten among players at his position at 10.6%.

This is one of the few Achilles heels on Detroit’s offense and there aren’t many of them. Decker is an overall sound tackle but arguably the weak link on the best offensive line in the NFL.

Hines-Allen has been a handful this season and has been continuously worthy of the contract extension that secured him as a true franchise cornerstone on a lowly team. A big day from the former Kentucky standout could keep this game a competitive one through all four quarters.

Jacksonville’s coaching vs. Detroit’s coaching

If you have watched any football between these two teams, it is clear there is a sizeable advantage. If not, this game features a Lions coaching staff that has one of the best offensive minds in the NFL in Ben Johnson, and a defensive coordinator who has his defense playing competitive football in Aaron Glenn.

Not to mention, Detroit is led by Dan Campbell, one of the most respected head coaches in football. It would be fair to expect him to get the most out of his players.

The Jaguars have been under a microscope for most of the season. After entering the season with playoff expectations, those expectations aren’t likely to be met unless they pull off a miraculous run in the final seven games.

If Pederson and the rest of his staff want to tone down the noise about their futures in Jacksonville, they must coach the best games of the season or at any point of their Jaguars tenure.

Last week, there were glimpses of the Jaguars generating more pressure with more blitzes. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen must coach a perfect game in this instance and find a way to force Lions quarterback Jared Goff into bad decisions for the second straight week.

Offensively, as stated in the aforementioned key matchup, having the game plan around getting the ball to Thomas is critical. Travis Etienne Jr.’s return to health helps with the loss of Tank Bigsby. Leaning on Thomas and Etienne will ease the pressure on backup quarterback Mac Jones.

It may seem like a tall task against one of the best coaching staffs in the league headed by Campbell, but the Jaguars have pulled off miracles under Pederson before. They could do it again in Detroit.

Pederson: Defenses are double-covering Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Pederson: Defenses are double-covering Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

It has been a quiet couple of weeks for sensational Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

After averaging roughly four receptions for 72 yards over six targets per game in the first eight weeks of his debut NFL campaign, a stretch in which he scored five touchdowns, Thomas has been limited to seven targets, four catches, 34 yards and zero scores in Jacksonville’s last two games.

Granted, Thomas has played through a chest injury that he suffered in the last game he scored a touchdown, against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

However, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson has dismissed the notion that Thomas’ production is being limited by his injury.

Instead, Pederson has pointed toward the coverage Thomas has faced in the Jaguars’ recent matchups, largely Cover 3 Cloud in Week 9 against Philadelphia and a mix of traditional Cover 2 and Cover 3 Cloud versus Minnesota in Week 10.

Accordingly, Thomas often had two defenders dedicated to keeping him in check during these games.

“If you specifically watch the football game and not follow the ball, you will see what Philly did in kind of normal down situations. Some on third down as they had a corner and a safety. So, they basically doubled [Thomas],” Pederson explained on Nov. 4, noting the Eagles had not previously presented the coverage much throughout the season.

“It’s hard to throw the ball over there to a guy that’s doubled. So, you have to go other places with the ball. So that was part of their game plan.”

To pair, Pederson acknowledged that the Vikings’ impactful pass rush limited Thomas’ opportunities further in Week 10. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones took three sacks and was pressured 10 times over 27 dropbacks on Sunday.

With Jaguars starting slot receiver Christian Kirk’s Week 8, season-ending shoulder injury in mind, perhaps opposing defenses are dedicating more resources to slowing Thomas down.

But Pederson believes the coverage attention Thomas has warranted can be navigated, by the coaching staff moving him around the offensive formation pre-snap and Thomas recognizing potential double-teams.

“I think you can put him in stacks, bunches. You can move him around the formation a little bit, do some things that way,” Pederson said Wednesday.

“The only downside to it is the offense has to be stationary at the snap so the defense can still move and get lined up as well. So do the best we can to move him around the formation, and then on Brian to obviously know that he’s going to be doubled at times. He’s just going to have to work to get himself free.”

Thomas’ next test will come against Detroit’s secondary on Sunday. The Lions have allowed 244.2 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the NFL.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence ruled out vs. Lions

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence ruled out vs. Lions

The Jaguars will be without Trevor Lawrence again in Week 11, as Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson ruled the starting quarterback out against the Detroit Lions before practice on Wednesday.

Lawrence also missed Jacksonville’s Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, after a week of limited practice participation due to a left shoulder injury suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.

“Trevor will be out, we decided this week,” Pederson told reporters Wednesday. “He’s getting close, but to make sure that — again, you guys know how I am with injuries, we don’t want to put a player out there that’s not 100%. So, we’re going to rest him one more week.”

Lawrence is reportedly nursing a “significant” AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder.

Lawrence has completed 168-of-274 (61.3%) passes for 2,004 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine starts this season. He has also rushed for three touchdowns.

Pederson acknowledged the benefit of Jacksonville’s bye week following the Jaguars’ matchup with the Lions, effectively giving Lawrence a three-week recovery window given his light workload in practice last week.

That said, Pederson did not guarantee Lawrence would be ready to go come the Jaguars’ Week 13 home bout with the Houston Texans.

“It’s still a question mark. But, you know, I’m optimistic,” Pederson said.

Jacksonville native Mac Jones will start against the Lions, in Lawrence’s place for the second consecutive week. The Jaguars’ backup quarterback completed 14-of-22 passes for 111 yards with two interceptions and a fumble against the Vikings.

Pederson, Jaguars trying to ‘stay positive’ amid 2024 slide

Pederson, Jaguars trying to ‘stay positive’ amid 2024 slide

Doug Pederson and the Jaguars are trying to “stay positive” amid their three-game losing streak and a 2-8 season.

Jacksonville has done anything but meet the winning expectation Jaguars owner Shad Khan set in a team meeting before the preseason, opening the year with its sixth 0-4 mark in franchise history and sliding into the No. 1 spot of the current 2025 NFL draft order by Week 11.

Pederson has not lost hope yet, however. He believes the Jaguars still have room to turn their campaign around.

“I think our goals and everything are right in front of us,” Pederson expressed Monday. “Despite the mistakes and the losses, obviously.”

In Pederson’s eyes, the Jaguars still have a chance to right the ship in an AFC South which includes only one winning team, the Texans (6-4). Jacksonville will face Houston and the Indianapolis Colts (4-6) once more apiece, having already beaten the latter in Week 5, and the Tennessee Titans (2-7) twice.

Jacksonville will also face the New York Jets (3-7) in Week 15 and Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) in Week 16.

If the Jaguars managed to turn their year around, it would not be dissimilar from the club’s run to the 2022-23 AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, when Jacksonville won its division by finishing 9-8, on a five-game winning streak.

“You show them where we are. You show them our division, you show them what’s left on the schedule, and you try to stay positive,” Pederson explained his approach to keeping the Jaguars confident. “I still feel like it’s a great opportunity for us as a team. We’ve got to figure out how to win a game.”

What gives Pederson confidence is the effort he has witnessed from the Jaguars in their losses, six of which have been decided by five or fewer points.

He pointed to what was effectively a loss-sealing penalty by Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday as an example of the team’s fight.

Walker was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a 3rd and 7, six-yard run by running back Aaron Jones. Walker aggressively tried to punch the football out of Jones’ grip and force a takeaway deep in Minnesota territory with 52 seconds left in the game, as Jacksonville trailed 12-7.

Pederson commended Walker’s desire to make a potential game-changing play, on the Jacksonville defense’s 80th play of the game, no less.

“It’s a crazy business and it can change for us in a hurry the other way and get positive in a quick way. But the guys haven’t checked out whatsoever. They put in the time during the week,” Pederson said.

“It’s hard. You hurt for the guys because you just see how much they put into it. And then they’re not rewarded for it. To have six one-score losses, six games. It’s hard. That’s hard. Sometimes we make it hard. But yet the guys, like I said, they see it. They understand it. We’re all in it together and we try to fix them and move on.”

Oddsmakers are not confident Jacksonville will achieve its seventh one-score loss of the season in Detroit on Sunday, with the Lions currently considered 13-point favorites over the Jaguars in Week 11.

With Jacksonville on bye in Week 12 and Khan’s megayacht having docked in town last week, speculation abounds regarding Pederson’s future with the Jaguars.

An upset victory over Detroit could, at least temporarily, dispel any notion Pederson’s end in Jacksonville is near, and perhaps offer the Jaguars the spark they have been looking for this year.

Pederson updates Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, OL Ezra Cleveland

Pederson updates Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, OL Ezra Cleveland

The Jaguars will monitor the statuses of a pair of injured starters, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and left guard Ezra Cleveland, throughout Week 11 as Jacksonville prepares to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson considered it “hard to tell” if Lawrence, who missed Jacksonville’s Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a reportedly “significant” AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, will be able to play against the Lions.

“We’ve still got a couple of days. I don’t have any definite answers right now,” Pederson said about Lawrence.

Pederson added that Lawrence has not spoken with the Jaguars about undergoing surgery on his injury, which was called “possible” by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on Sunday.

“There’s not been a talk on surgery, so I don’t know where the surgery talk is coming from,” said Pederson. “Nothing like that.”

Lawrence has completed 168-of-274 (61.3%) passes for 2,004 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine starts this season. He has also rushed for three touchdowns.

Cleveland hurt his ankle in the Jaguars’ Week 8 loss against the Green Bay Packers and has been sidelined ever since. He missed Jacksonville’s last two games and has not practiced since Oct. 25.

Pederson suggested Cleveland could return to practice on Wednesday in an unclear capacity.

“As of Monday, today, tomorrow — he’s going to get some rest on it again and he should be out there at practice and maybe get a few snaps,” Pederson said. “We’ll see where he’s at.”

Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ lethargic loss to Vikings

Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ lethargic loss to Vikings

The Jaguars (2-8) had every opportunity to upset the Vikings (7-2) at home on Sunday, with Jacksonville’s defense intercepting Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold three times.

However, Jacksonville’s lethargic offense failed to generate any points following those turnovers. After quarterback Mac Jones turned the ball over three times himself in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars ultimately fell to the Vikings, 12-7.

Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s third-consecutive defeat and eighth loss of the 2024 season below.

On Pederson’s assessment of the game: 

DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I thought defense did an outstanding job with the type of firepower they have on offense. I know there was yards, time of possession, but to hold that team to four field goals, it gives you a chance. Obviously we had the drive in the first quarter, touchdown drive and then after that, we couldn’t stay on the field. Credit Minnesota on what they did defensively, Coach Flores [defensive coordinator Brian Flores], they did their stuff. And we didn’t overcome a few things. Had a couple of setbacks on first down. Had too many seconds and longs. But this game is not about one person or one man. It’s a team sport, and we just didn’t do enough today.”

On what kind of feedback QB Mac Jones gave him about his two interceptions:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Honestly, we’ve got to watch the tape tomorrow, watch it with them, the players, get feedback, because I didn’t necessarily speak to them after. The two change of possessions like that, we were right back on defense, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him at that time.”

On if Pederson received any feedback from Jones in the locker room postgame:

DOUG PEDERSON: “He’s hurting. He’s taking it hard. I just told him, it’s again it’s not about one guy. This is a team deal and offensively we didn’t do enough around Mac — and I’m not — listen, it takes 11 guys.”

On why it was difficult for Jacksonville to get its wide receivers involved against Minnesota: 

DOUG PEDERSON: “Minnesota did a nice job. They showed, if you watch the game, they showed a lot of six up, seven up, which they do. Play a lot of Cover 2, spin out to Cover 2, a lot of cloud stuff. Then, of course, the pass rush. So it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge. And we obviously have to do a better job when we see that kind of stuff and execute. As coaches, we can prepare a little better there and help our guys out. But I credit what they did.”

On what Pederson’s level of disappointment is this season given the Jaguars are 2-8:

DOUG PEDERSON: “Never expected to be here. We had five or six games, they’re one-score games. It’s hard. As a team, as coaches, we’re making it hard, too hard. And the guys are frustrated, and they should be; and they’re angry, and they should be because we all are. But we have to channel it in a positive way and get ready for another one.”

On how to get WR Brian Thomas Jr. involved and if Minnesota played more cloud defense: 

DOUG PEDERSON: “They did play it more. I mean, this is a Cover 2 defense. And they did a lot of that today. Then, again, their pass rush did a nice job. Got some pressure on Mac, made him scramble early, and then so it’s a combination of both. It’s what they did schematically to us and then just our execution offensively.”

On what was supposed to happen during the play in which Jones threw his second interception:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m not going to go through the details of the play because you guys wouldn’t figure it out. But we’ll look at the tape tomorrow and we’ll make those corrections.”

On if Pederson is shocked that the Jaguars moved the ball so well during the beginning of the game but not throughout the whole game:

DOUG PEDERSON: “I wasn’t shocked during the game. That’s what we’re expected to do. I think as the game progressed, it just got seemingly worse, right, first down, run the ball, we got behind the chains. Second and long. It just got harder offensively. That was the frustrating part, I think, just not staying positive on first down because you go back to that drive, that’s what we did. We were able to stay on the field and stay positive on first down.”

Breaking down the issues with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense

Breaking down the issues with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter their Week 10 home bout against Minnesota with questions surrounding their defensive play which has been, at best, inconsistent since early in the campaign.

Jacksonville’s offense has become a strength as the season has progressed, at least when it has been healthy, with much of its success coming from quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s right arm, the legs of second-year running back Tank Bigsby and the hands of rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

However, the Jaguars’ defense continues to give up numerous big plays every week. The unit currently ranks in the bottom five in points allowed per game and expected points added (EPA) per play allowed.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at why the defense has struggled and what improvements are needed at the halfway point.

Inconsistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks

On paper, Jacksonville has enough talent to be an aggressive defense, especially when it comes to getting pressure on the quarterback. First-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen relies on his four-man fronts to generate the pressures without the constant need for blitzes.

While the experiment looked promising in Week 1, it has not been successful in the eight games since. The Jaguars have the 11th-fewest pressures in the league, the fourth-lowest quarterback pressure percentage, the sixth-lowest sack rate, and the lowest blitz rate.

Defensive linemen are not winning at the point of attack. Some are not winning their matchups and struggle to generate effective pass-rush moves and combinations to defeat their blocks.

The only exceptions are defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, who have been terrors in recent weeks against opposing offensive tackles. Both pass rushers have 34 pressures each while the rest of the defense has 31 in total.

For the Jaguars to improve their efficiency in chasing the quarterback, Nielsen must begin to be more creative in generating pressure. They also must sacrifice some of their man coverage deployment. This leads to the next issue.

Jacksonville must become more diverse with its coverage calls

In theory, man-heavy defenses can be successful. You need stout defensive linemen in the trenches, especially ones that can generate pressure and win one-on-one matchups consistently.

Linebackers must have the athleticism and fluidity to cover running backs and tight ends. Cornerbacks need to be physically at the line of scrimmage while also bestowing steady technique in their footwork and press jams.

Jacksonville doesn’t have enough of those kinds of players. This defense continues to struggle more often than not in this regard. Its contributors’ skill sets are not fit for man-heavy defenses that force little margin for error.

According to Football Insights, the Jaguars have played man coverage at the second-highest rate in the NFL this season behind Detroit while having one of the lowest zone coverage rates in the league. They are a true Cover 1 and Cover 2-man unit.

It’s a defense that could turn itself around quickly with more Cover 3 and quarters coverage while maintaining their base looks out of single or two-high.

If Jacksonville is to turn its season around by some miracle, diversifying the coverage variations would allow a talented unit to play to their strengths instead of being forced out of position through the system.

Better discipline in all phases is required

Earlier in the season, it looked like the Jaguars were set to have a stout defense, especially with their performances against Miami and Cleveland in the first two weeks. Instead, the defense has turned into one of the league’s worst.

While Jacksonville has a talented defense, it remains undisciplined in all phases. While plenty of the blame can be placed on the players themselves, this is a coaching issue and it starts with defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Defenders have struggled to tackle in space and the statistics can back this up. The Jaguars have allowed the most yards after the catch (1,379), the 11th-most YAC over-expected (plus-147) and the most yards per play in the league (6.0).

Nielsen’s unit has been giving up way too many big plays this season. A couple of notable ones have been against Green Bay and Philadelphia in the last two weeks.

 

On film, players are often out of position relative to their assignments and responsibilities, specifically against the pass. For a defense that was supposed to be a strength this season, its lack of success falls on coaching and a lack of proper fundamentals instilled.

Head coach Doug Pederson replaced most of his defensive staff coaching from last season yet the unit has regressed under new leadership. It is now fair to wonder if Pederson will get another chance to fix the unit’s issues this offseason.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson has a simple answer for what makes Sam Darnold better

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson spoke to the media about the matchup before he was asked a simple question to which he gave a simple answer.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings faceoff on Sunday in a Week 10 matchup. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson spoke to the media about the matchup before he was asked a simple question to which he gave a simple answer.

When asked what has allowed for Sam Darnold to turn things around this season, Pederson gave a simple answer: “Justin Jefferson.”

To his credit, Pederson did laugh after giving the answer and went on to credit the coaching staff led by Kevin O’Connell and the scheme they are executing. The answer of Jefferson though perhaps was a glimpse into the truth that teams around the league feel about him.

The All-Pro wide receiver is on pace for a monster season with Darnold. Through nine weeks he is pacing for 102 catches, 1,663 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Of course, he makes anyone he plays with better, but Darnold plays a part in Jefferson’s production, as much as Jefferson helps out Darnold.

Pederson updates Jaguars OL Cooper Hodges’ ‘significant’ leg injury

Pederson updates Jaguars OL Cooper Hodges’ ‘significant’ leg injury

Jaguars offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, who made the first start of his NFL career Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, “probably” suffered a season-ending leg injury in the game, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson revealed on Monday.

Pederson did not offer specifics about the injury.

Hodges went down on Jacksonville’s successful two-point conversion with just over five minutes left in the third quarter and was carted off the field. Pederson said after the game that Hodges was transported to a hospital.

“That was a significant leg injury during the game,” Pederson said Monday. “We’ll miss him.”

Hodges, a seventh-round NFL draft pick by Jacksonville in 2023 and a native of nearby Glen St. Mary, has appeared in nine games with the Jaguars and filled in for left guard Ezra Cleveland against the Eagles and when the starter suffered an ankle injury against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Blake Hance, who signed to Jacksonville’s active roster from its practice squad last week, took over at left guard upon Hodges’ exit from the game.