Welcome to Large Cat Nation’s workers roundtable!
In the present day, we’re previewing Week 5’s Monday Evening Soccer matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at EverBank Stadium.
Who have you ever been most impressed by by way of the primary month of the season?
Dillon Appleman: The notion of Devin Lloyd has utterly modified simply 4 video games into the 2025 season. After an inconsistent first few years within the league, Lloyd entered a contract 12 months with lots of query marks surrounding his function and to say he’s answered the bell can be an understatement. His three interceptions lead the league and there’s a actual argument to be made that he’s been the perfect linebacker in soccer this season. If he continues on this trajectory he might go from being on the roster bubble to being in DPOY conversations.
Travis Holmes: For me, the reply is James Gladstone. As somebody who’s usually been a public fan of Brad Holmes (the Detroit Lions Common Supervisor), seeing somebody of the same ilk in Jacksonville has been a refreshing remark, with a number of gamers displaying apparent improvement early on in 2025. Are RT Anton Harrison, LB Devin Lloyd, RB Travis Etienne, or S Dewey Wingard enjoying on the degree they’re with out the numerous ranges of competitors introduced in all through the offseason, whereas additionally selling true and open competitors roster-wide? Most of these gamers haven’t needed to battle for his or her NFL life to those ranges earlier than this offseason, and every is displaying a serious soar in manufacturing – partially on account of teaching but in addition on account of motivation.
Gus Logue: I’ve been most impressed by the inside offensive line. Although I’ve thought that Ezra Cleveland was barely underrated since he arrived in Duval County, I used to be iffy on the additions of Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari this offseason. Every of these gamers rank top-12 amongst all IOL in ESPN’s cross block win fee, and Cleveland and Hainsey rank top-five in run block win fee. Wasn’t anticipating that!
Henry Zimmer: I believe Anthony Campanile deserves some reward at this level within the season. Who would have guessed the Jags can be on the kind of turnover tear that they’re? The one actual enchancment is to begin turning these pressures into sacks.
What’s a matchup you’re wanting ahead to watching?
Dillon: Xavier Worthy vs. Anthony Campanile. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ offense appeared evening and day completely different when Xavier Worthy was on the sector for them this previous weekend as his pace utterly modifications what they’ll do. They appear to get him the soccer in a ton of various methods, which forces defenses to be disciplined, or else he can flip what appears like a five-yard acquire right into a 20-yard acquire. Coach Camp has carried out an incredible job up to now however this can be a enormous take a look at for his protection on Monday evening. He’ll have to have the secondary enjoying disciplined, complementary soccer to maintain Worthy from having an open runway to showcase his 4.2 pace.
Travis: The matchup of DE Josh Hines-Allen versus Chiefs’ RT (and former Jacksonville Jaguar) Jawaan Taylor, in Duval, on Trevor Lawrence’s birthday, could end in an untenable variety of July 2026 infants named Josh. Whereas Hines-Allen usually mans the precise aspect of the road, if Travon Walker is unable to go, he’ll probably flip sides, going through off in opposition to Taylor. With Walker out for the ultimate three quarters in opposition to the 49ers, 19.4% of Hines-Allen’s rushes got here from the left edge. Get your false begin flags warmed up, referees.
Gus: Trevor Lawrence in opposition to Steve Spagnuolo. The previous has been enjoying an increasing number of like a recreation supervisor because the season has progressed, which has helped the offense to maintain the chains transferring. However Lawrence has solely accomplished 1 of 9 makes an attempt on throws 20+ yards downfield. In the meantime, the Chiefs deploy two-high security constructions to restrict explosive performs and disguise coverages to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Can Lawrence create explosive performs in opposition to Spags?
Henry: I will probably be excited to see what sort of protection Campanile rolls out for Patrick Mahomes. This model of the Chiefs shouldn’t be the Chiefs of outdated, however Mahomes continues to be enjoying at degree himself. He solely has one decide this 12 months. Hopefully, Camp and Co. can change that.
Who would be the greatest X-factor?
Dillon: Chris Jones. The Jaguars’ dashing assault has been key to their 3-1 begin however they’ve but to play in opposition to a protection with an elite inside presence like Chris Jones. Even so, the Chiefs have had three straight video games the place they’ve allowed over 100 yards dashing to their opposition which simply makes it much more probably that their emphasis will probably be on stopping the run on Monday evening. If the staff can win persistently on first down with the dashing assault, it might go a good distance in incomes their first win on Monday evening since 2011.
Travis: Chiefs’ rookie working again Brashard Smith will probably be my X-factor for Monday. With the Chiefs’ notably struggling to discover a working again spark with Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, they’ve week by week been growing Smith’s snap fee with the transformed extensive receiver turned working again enjoying 25.7% of snaps of their week 4 win over Baltimore. Because the Jaguars just lately surrendered 92 receiving yards to 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey, in what was basically an extension of the run recreation, I’d count on Smith’s snaps to proceed to extend as Kansas Metropolis appears to spark manufacturing from their RB room in a similar way the place San Francisco had current success. Smith had 4 first-half targets in week 4, when the sport consequence was nonetheless in query in opposition to the Giants (9 to six at halftime).
Gus: Travis Hunter. I’m extraordinarily to see what his utilization on each side of the ball appears like after he solely performed one quarter of protection in Week 4. Given his lack of playmaking up to now this season, perhaps the staff is considering having him stick to 1 place within the brief time period. Jacksonville might actually use him on offense and protection on Monday evening, although, as they want extra huge performs from their receivers and cornerbacks alike.
Henry: Chris Jones is my decide for X-Issue of the week. His matchup with the entrance 5 for Jacksonville might dictate how this recreation goes. If Jones and somebody like George Karlaftis can disrupt the run recreation or the O-Line total, that makes an already anemic Jags offense much more one-dimensional.
Dillon: Jaguars 16, Chiefs 24
Travis: Jaguars 24, Chiefs 17
Gus: Jaguars 17, Chiefs 23
Henry: Jaguars 17, Chiefs 24
What are your Week 5 predictions, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback!