Welcome to Massive Cat Nation’s workers roundtable!
Right this moment, we’re previewing Week 3’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium.
What’s your greatest query concerning the crew after its Week 2 choke job?
Travis Holmes: My greatest looming query is when will the change click on in for Trevor Lawrence and the passing sport? Getting into the season, I anticipated defensive ups and downs as issues settled. However the Jaguars are at the moment fourth within the league in whole yards per sport, 14th in passing yards, 1st in dashing yards, and seventh in factors per sport (26.5) whereas their high two receivers in Thomas Jr and Hunter have been nowhere near their ceilings. That’s each attention-grabbing and inspiring, however the query stays – when will all of it click on?
Gus Logue: What the heck is happening with Brian Thomas Jr.? Now that we’ve had a while to let Week 2 marinate, I’m not overly involved about his shying away from contact. It’s one thing to observe as a possible development, however till it does change into a frequent sample, I gained’t get swept up by one or two bang-bang performs. With that mentioned, Thomas has solely caught 5 of 19 targets for 60 yards this season. He has to get going for this crew to get to the place they need.
Henry Zimmer: The largest query with the Jaguars proper now’s how they are going to reply after final week. In interviews, the crew appeared to not assume this drawback would persist. Let’s see if that’s the case towards a crew they often battle with.
What’s a matchup you’re trying ahead to watching?
Travis: I’m extraordinarily curious if this would be the week that Christian Kirk is lastly in a position to make his season debut for Houston. If I’ve had profession years with a corporation after which I’d been traded from that crew for a decrease spherical draft decide, I’d in all probability have that sport circled on my calendar for a really, very, very very long time. The Texans didn’t place Kirk on IR, with an assumed eye on him being out for lower than 4 weeks. With us formally into AFC South play, I’d anticipate Kirk to try to go, after lacking the primary two video games, however working towards as a restricted participant on Wednesday. If the shifty slot can go well with up, the battle between him and Jourdan Lewis will likely be popcorn-worthy and will resolve the matchup.
Gus: Jacksonville’s run offense towards Houston’s run protection. The Texans have allowed the very best dashing success price within the league this season (50%) as a result of the backbone of their protection isn’t as gifted because the shell. Anticipate the Jaguars to wish to reap the benefits of this matchup, particularly after they received away from the run in Week 2.
Henry: Who’s going to beat Derick Stingley Jr.? Stingley performed extraordinarily effectively in primetime towards the Bucs. Somebody from the Jags must beat him ultimately. With Brian Thomas Jr.‘s standing within the air, who’s going to step up?
Who would be the greatest X-factor?
Travis: My greatest X-factor on Sunday is Texans DE Danielle Hunter. With Walker Little coming off a sport the place he almost allowed a game-changing two turnovers on Sunday to Trey Hendrickson, I assure that the Texans have the redzone QB hit that led to an interception and the near-strip sack fumble of Lawrence taking part in on repeat this week. With Little almost surrendering two game-altering performs to an Edge only a week in the past and Danielle coming off of a two-sack sport with a fumble pressured, don’t be shocked if it is a heavy operating again and tight finish chipping week for Jacksonville.
Gus: Nico Collins. Like Thomas, he has additionally gotten off to a gradual begin this season, however we all know what each of these guys are able to. Relying on Kirk’s well being, Collins is the one actual playmaker in Houston’s offense. The Jaguars haven’t been in a position to decelerate opposing WR1s a lot via two weeks, so whether or not Collins can carry the Texans might resolve the sport.
Henry: The Jaguars’ offensive line is my X-Issue. This unit has been large and an enormous breath of contemporary air for Jacksonville. With two video games over 100 yards dashing and just one sack, the Jags might want to hold that up towards a hard-hitting and quarterback-hunting defensive position.
Travis: Jaguars 27, Texans 17
Gus: Jaguars 20, Texans 13
Henry: Jags 17, Texans 24
What are your Week 3 predictions, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback!