Tag: NFL regular season week 15

Jags Week 15 Player of Game vs. Texans: CB Tyson Campbell

There wasn’t a whole lot for the #Jaguars to be happy about after a loss to a Texans team that is among the worst in the NFL, but Tyson Campbell at least continued to show progress.

By: @DanDGriffis

Long gone are the days of struggling for cornerback Tyson Campbell in Jacksonville. Since returning from a toe injury in Week 8, Campbell has stepped up in a big way for an improving Jacksonville defense.

In a battle of two-win teams, the Jaguars were unable to top the Houston Texans, losing 30-16 to their AFC South rivals. While the offense struggled mightily to put together consistent drives, the defense played mostly well following a 17-play sequence for 75 yards to score a touchdown in the opening drive.

Down 10 points with 14 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Campbell gave the offense a prime opportunity to get themselves within three, picking off Davis Mills for his second career interception.

However, the offense was unable to get anything going and was forced to look to Matthew Wright to kick the field goal. Later in the game, Campbell struck again for the Jaguars, nearly grabbing his second interception of the game, deflecting a long pass attempt in the end-zone from Mills.

He would finish the game with four tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception.

After returning from injury, many players and coaches have discussed Campbell’s heightened confidence and level of play. On the field, it is certainly on display. Starting from Week 10’s Indianapolis Colts game, Campbell has posted quarterback ratings allowed of 63.2, 94.8, 79.6, 69.6, and 68.7.

It remains to be seen what kind of figure his play against the Texans will garner, but with two pass breakups and an interception, it assuredly will be low as well. This marks a drastic improvement from Weeks 1-9 as the rookie cornerback averaged 99.1.

If Campbell can keep up this pace of play and improvement, he may be one of the lone bright spots from the Urban Meyer era. With Shaq Griffin opposite him, the Jags might just be in good shape at cornerback entering the 2022 offseason.

Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins rules OUT with ankle injury vs. Texans

The Jaguars will have to press through Sunday’s game without one of their most vocal leaders as Rayshawn Jenkins has been ruled out and was carted off the field against Houston.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have found themselves down by a score of 14-10 in the first half of their Week 15 game against Houston, but things are going a little smoother than usual on offense.

Unfortunately, on the defensive side, though, the team will have to continue without one of their most vocal leaders in safety Rayshawn Jenkins. The veteran sustained an ankle injury during a kickoff play late in the first quarter where defensive back Tremon Smith  returned a kick for a touchdown.

Jenkins was in a lot of pain after the play as trainers surrounded him. He was eventually carted off after being helped off the ground and the Jags ruled him out not too soon after he was taken to the back.

Daniel Thomas was inserted into the game in Jenkins’ place. Thomas has participated in 12 games this season and has accumulated six total tackles. He also saw two starts last season and will have a big opportunity to show what he’s got as a second-year player.

Jaguars inactives for Week 15 game vs. Texans

The Jags have named their six inactives for Week 15’s game, and it appears TE Jacob Hollister will be getting some play time after weeks of being a healthy scratch.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have released their list of inactive for Week 15’s game against Houston, and six players were on it. Those six players are as follows:

  • 21 CB Nevin Lawson
  • 24 RB Carlos Hyde
  • 76 OL Will Richardson Jr.
  • 89 TE Luke Farrell
  • 92 DE/OLB Jordan Smith
  • 97 DT Jay Tufele

Running back Carlos Hyde was the lone player to surface in the status column for the Jags on Friday’s injury report and was ruled out with a concussion. He missed all of the Jags practices this week while in the concussion protocol after sustaining a huge hit from linebacker Derick Roberson last Sunday against Tennessee in the second half.

Offensive lineman Will Richardson was a late addition to the injury report on Friday with a back injury. While he didn’t surface in the status column, it appears the Jags want to give him time to recover.

Another player worth noting that was listed above is rookie tight end Luke Farrell. He’s played in 12 games so far, but with a coaching change occurring this week, maybe new interim coach Darrell Bevell wants a more experienced option on the field in Jacob Hollister.

As for the Texans inactives, they are as follows:

Watch: Jags safety Josh Jones get a pick on first drive vs. Ravens

The Jags’ defense started Week 15’s game off with a bang, snagging a pick from Lamar Jackson on the first drive.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense came into Week 15’s game against the Baltimore Ravens knowing they would have to have a good day — and that reflected in the first drive. The unit was able to stop Lamar Jackson and company as they were threatening to put up points thanks to a pick from veteran safety Josh Jones.

At the 11:55 second mark of the first quarter, Jackson attempted to hit receiver Marquise Brown in the end zone, however, the pass was slightly underthrown and Jones stepped right in front of him to snag it. He was able to take it from the Jags’ 2-yard line to their 30, however, an illegal block penalty by fellow safety Jarrod Wilson put the Jags back at their 1-yard line.

Unfortunately, the Jags’ offense wasn’t able to capitalize on the opportunity.

In the drive that followed, Gardner Minshew II took a safety to give the Ravens the lead by a score of 2-0. During the next drive, the Ravens offense came away with a touchdown courtesy of receiver Miles Boykin to put the score at 9-0.

Jaguars vs. Ravens: Week 15 staff picks and predictions

The Jags Wire staff isn’t all that confident that Minshew Mania will give the Jags the spark they need Week 15.

The one-win Jacksonville Jaguars will find themselves taking on another team with the playoffs in their sights as they travel north to take on the Baltimore Ravens. Clearly, when looking at both teams, there is a talent gap, and as a result, many have taken the Ravens to win — and quite convincingly.

This week at Jags Wire, we pretty much agreed with most of the national pundits as none of our writers were bold enough to take the Jags for a win. Here are our thoughts and predictions heading into Week 15’s game:

*Update: Calais Campbell was listed among the Ravens’ Week 15 in actives. 

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Ravens 31, Jaguars 20

It’s as simple as this for me, the Ravens have one of the easier three-game stretches fans will see as they try and move up one seed for a playoff spot. Of course, the Jags are apart of that stretch, as are the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.

Simply put, they likely view the Jags as a team in their way and are focused on taking care of business Sunday. However, the game won’t come without a fight, especially with the team having six defensive backs on the final injury report. Two of them are Marcus Peters (calf/ questionable) and Jimmy Smith (was ruled out for ribs and shoulder injuries), so Minshew might have some success in his return.

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Ravens 27, Jaguars 10

The 1-12 Jags take on the quarterback Jay and I were very vocal about wanting back in 2018. They also face off against former Jaguars Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. Baltimore still has very real playoff aspirations and I don’t expect them to allow a one-win team to stand in their way. Minshew Mania makes its return, but I believe it’s in for a rude awakening. Don’t expect any kind of upset in this instance. 

Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis): Ravens 31, Jaguars 20

Minshew Mania is back in full force as Jacksonville faces off against the Baltimore Ravens. Minshew gave the Jags a much-needed spark last weekend and the team looked noticeably better as a result. The question is, will Minshew’s return be enough to get Jacksonville its second win of the season. Against a formidable Baltimore team with Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue at defensive end on defense, it’s tough to see that happening. Ravens take this one.

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Ravens 31, Jaguars 16

The Jaguars will have another tough task against the toughest run offenses in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Jags rank near the bottom of the league in rush defense. Lamar Jackson should have a field day on the ground. 

Will Frost (@willfrost_): Ravens 34, Jaguars 13

The Jaguars opened as 13 point underdogs in this one, and frankly, that feels a bit kind. Lamar Jackson has a game under his belt after recovering from COVID-19 and the Jaguars provide the perfect tonic for the reigning MVP to return to game-breaking form.

The Jaguars may be serious about considering Doug Marrone staying on for 2021 because the team “plays opponents hard,” but it’s going to take every ounce this roster has to remain competitive in this one.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Ravens 35, Jaguars 21

The Jaguars head north to face the Baltimore Ravens this week and it will be a reunion of sorts as two key members of the Sacksonville defense (Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue) will take on their former team. The Jags are coming off of a beat down courtesy of the Titans and the Ravens are starting to look like they did last year. On paper, this looks to be a disaster for the Jags but this team has proved that despite their record they’re one of the more difficult teams to beat. Expect another solid performance from James Robinson as he continues his rookie of the year campaign. Still, the Jags will fall to the Ravens Sunday.

Update on the spread, money line, and over/ under for Jags vs. Ravens

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 13.5-point underdogs when we previewed the spread earlier this week, but with about 16 hours remaining before kickoff, the spread is now a full point lower (12.5). The change comes as the Ravens had a pretty big injury …

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 13.5-point underdogs when we previewed the spread earlier this week, but with about 16 hours remaining before kickoff, the spread is now a full point lower (12.5). The change comes as the Ravens had a pretty big injury report with starting cornerback Jimmy Smith being ruled out alongside five other defensive backs, all of whom are questionable.

The money line also changed from +575 to +550, which means a $100 wager on the Jags would win a bettor $550, which is still a nice chunk of change. As for the over/under, it also shifted going from 52.5 to 47.5.

Sunday’s game will be the Jags and Ravens’ 22nd meeting. The Jags currently lead the series with a 12-9 record. However, the Ravens own the better record at M&T Bank Stadium as they are 6-5 against the Jags there. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that success doesn’t include their last home game against the Jags, which took place in 2015 and resulted in a 22-20 win for Jacksonville.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Jags open the week as 7.5-point underdogs

The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t have to travel far this Sunday as they will be heading to the neighboring state of Georgia to take on one of their annual preseason opponents in the Atlanta Falcons. They will also have some momentum by their side …

The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t have to travel far this Sunday as they will be heading to the neighboring state of Georgia to take on one of their annual preseason opponents in the Atlanta Falcons. They will also have some momentum by their side after a comeback victory over the Oakland Raiders on the West Coast.

The Falcons, on the other hand, also will have some momentum after defeating the San Francisco 49ers, who without a doubt are one of the NFL’s top teams. And while they weren’t favored in that game, they will be this week by a massive margin of 7.5-points per BetMGM, marking the biggest point spread of the year for the Cardiac Cats. The over/under is also currently set at 45.5.

Both teams have had underwhelming seasons and will roll into Week 15’s game with identical records of 5-9. However, of the two, I’d definitely say the Falcons have been more competitive throughout the season because prior to Week 14, the Jags had lost five consecutive games by 15 points or more.

The two teams surprisingly have only played each other six times in the regular season in their history. They will enter Sunday’s game with the series split right down the middle at 3-3 with the Falcons winning the last two games.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Gardner Minshew says he saw a lot of “middle fingers” for comeback victory on Raiders

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II had another comeback victory Sunday, but this time it came at the expense of a very special day for the Oakland Raiders. As most are aware, the organization was playing their last game at …

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II had another comeback victory Sunday, but this time it came at the expense of a very special day for the Oakland Raiders. As most are aware, the organization was playing their last game at RingCentral Coliseum (a.k.a. Oakland Coliseum), which means they weren’t too happy about the outcome, of course.

After Sunday’s game, Minshew stated that he thoroughly enjoyed the win on their historic day like a lot of his teammates. Unfortunately, Raiders fans had a unique way of letting him know he’s their least favorite quarterback in the league on his way out of the stadium.

If there is anyone Raiders fans should be mad with it isn’t Minshew. Truth be told, their offense probably should’ve scored more points than they did as they out-gained the Jags in total yardage by a margin of 364 to 262 (including on the ground and through the air) and had a longer time of possession (34:12 to 25:48). Unfortunately for them, they only had 16 total points to show for it an Minshew, who deserves a lot of credit, took advantage.

Minshew finished the game 17-of-29 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. The game marked his tenth start and the victory brought him to a 5-5 record as a starter, further validating that it was the right move to promote him to the starting spot over veteran quarterback Nick Foles.

Postgame analysis: Jags spoil Raiders’ historic day thanks to some Minshew Magic

The Jags were out-gained in total yards and time of possession but somehow managed to acquire a win over Oakland.

The Jacksonville Jaguars came into Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders with a 2-12 all-time record and a nine-game losing streak on the West Coast but that changed Week 15. With the help of some “Minshew Magic,” the Cardiac Cats were able to rain on the Raiders’ parade in their last regular season game at RingCentral Coliseum (a.k.a. Oakland Coliseum).

After a relatively flat first half on offense, Gardner Minshew II and company were able to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, both of which were courtesy of receiver Chris Conley. Coincidentally, both drives were also the Jags’ first and last drives of the fourth quarter on offense.

The first scoring drive was an 11-play drive for 53-yards. The second scoring drive, which gave them the lead, was another one in which Jags fans will forever tie to Minshew’s name.

Minshew rallied the Jags after a missed field goal by the Raiders by hitting a combination of C.J. Board, Leonard Fournette and Conley along the way with roughly 3:30 left in the game. Before snagging the game-winning touchdown, Conley also contributed a 21-yard reception on the drive. Eventually, the Jags found themselves on the Raiders’ 4-yard line and Minshew threw a dart to Conley on a slant pattern, silencing the Oakland crowd.

Minshew finished the game 17-of-29 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Conley, on the other hand, had four catches for 49 yards and the two aforementioned touchdowns.

Defensively, the Jags allowed 364 total yards, 236 of which came through the air, however, the pass rush came up big for the Jags in some key moments. They finished the game with four sacks on Derek Carr. Two of those sacks came from pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue, who was unstoppable all game and also totaled five tackles. Rookie pass-rusher Josh Allen also had a solid day, acquiring his 10th sac of the season, which put him with interesting company.

Sunday’s win was a weird one, to say the least, as the Raiders out-gained the Jags in total yards (364 to 262) and had a longer time of possession (34:12 to 25:48). In the end, the Jags managed to pull off a win though and that’s all that matters.

The Jags’ next game will be on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. That game will take place at 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 22.

2 Jaguars X-factors to watch vs. Raiders

The Jags will need Keelan Cole to step up and be an X-factor for them against the Raiders because DJ Chark won’t be able to take the field.

The 2019 NFL season has almost come to a conclusion as Week 15 has arrived.

For some teams, they are solidifying their draft position in hopes of finding that franchise piece. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, they will look to see what pieces they currently have to build towards next season.

The Jaguars will look to do that against the Oakland Raiders who will be playing their final game at RingCentral Coliseum. The Jaguars will hope to finish strong from a miserable season where they are well out of the playoff race and will possibly look at making some drastic changes in the offseason.

The players will look to lock down their positions on the job as some may face some uncertainty about their future. A good showing against the Raiders could help management make those decisions easier.

Here are the Jaguars X-factors for their Week 15 matchup against the Oakland Raiders:

WR Keelan Cole

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

With star wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. ruled OUT due to an ankle injury, a player on the receivers corps like Keelan Cole will be asked to take on a more pivotal role.

Cole has been in a premier position before with the team, once leading the team in receiving yards in 2017. With Dede Westbrook also less than 100% with a shoulder injury, Keelan Cole will be called upon to make an impact in the vertical passing game. He has a skill-set that is similar to Chark as he is best used as a deep threat receiver that can stretch the defense.

Cole’s best game came against the Houston Texans in Week 9 when he caught five balls for 80 yards. Those numbers look very attainable for a receiver of his skill and position in this matchup.

CB Tre Herndon

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The secondary has been in shambles lately but Jaguars cornerback Tre Herndon has shown some flashes. Herndon was limited early in the week with a shoulder ailment but will be good to go against the Raiders and will add a sense of stability to the coverage team.

The Raiders don’t have the strongest wide receiver corps as they only rank No. 20 in the NFL in receiving and most of the production has come from tight end Darren Waller.

This is the kind of game that is perfect for Herndon as he is perfectly capable of guarding the Raiders receivers, especially without ascending star Hunter Renfrow, who will miss the rest of the season due to a rib injury.

I predict a six tackle game with an interception for Herndon.