The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Paycor Stadium to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Recent off a win final Sunday, listed here are three matchups to look out for in Week 2:
Arik Armstead vs Dalton Risner
What a begin for brand spanking new Jaguars’ DC Anthony Campanile final weekend! The Jags’ protection suffocated a Panthers offense that had grow to be harmful below the management of Dave Canales in the direction of the tip of 2024, leaning on Chuba Hubbard and the run sport to provide Bryce Younger time to function from the pocket. Effectively, Younger seemed just like the model that received benched final 12 months final weekend as Jacksonville stuffed the run and compelled Carolina into too many apparent passing conditions. Curiously, Campanile didn’t carry the warmth such as you would anticipate; Younger confronted the blitz on simply over 20% of all dropbacks on Sunday and that solely elevated to twenty-eight% when taking a look at common stress. Maybe this was a designed thought to let the secondary blanket cowl Younger’s weapons & drive him into errors. Towards Joe Burrow this weekend, the plan may have to vary…
I anticipate a way more aggressive angle from the line of defense on Sunday. Burrow is among the most deadly quarterbacks from the pocket, and while he’s adept at avoiding stress you do want him off script to get him out of rhythm. Arik Armstead, who was probably performed out of place considerably throughout his early tenure with the Jaguars, seemed far more comfy again at defensive deal with in a four-man entrance. Campanile clearly values his presence on the sphere too; Armstead had probably the most snaps of any Jags d-lineman in opposition to the Panthers (49). It is a deal with that is aware of how you can get inside stress, with 71 QB hits and 22.5 sacks his final seven years with the 49ers. Hopefully Campanile loosens the leash.
With Bengals lineman Lucas Patrick headed to injured reserve (hamstring), new addition Dalton Risner is predicted to proceed at proper guard. You may suppose his unfamiliarity with Cincinnati’s scheme can be a bonus for the Jags, however Risner was impeccable in his debut final weekend. PFF graded him out at 80.5 on cross blocking – solely as soon as did a Bengals lineman obtain that each one of final season. On prime of that, Risner solely allowed one stress throughout 24 cross blocking snaps. Contemplating he’s solely been within the constructing ten days, that’s spectacular. Armstead vs Risner is a trench matchup that might dictate the course of this sport.
Travis Etienne vs Logan Wilson
Even with Carolina’s sketchy run protection in 2024, not many would have anticipated Travis Etienne’s huge day on Sunday. 143 yards from simply 16 carries was the most important distinction maker in a contest the place the Jags outmatched their opponents in a number of areas. For years we’ve been begging for a run sport that permits Trevor Lawrence to maximise his potential; if Etienne is ready to hold this up, then the franchise quarterback has every little thing he must be the man all of us thought he was popping out of Clemson 4 years in the past.
It’s most likely not a coincidence that Etienne’s efficiency was adopted up with the staff buying and selling Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bigsby and Etienne had been listed as 1A & 1B on the depth chart. While there’s apparent confidence in Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen choosing up greater roles if wanted, Etienne is the clear workhorse within the backfield now – the Jags would by no means have made this transfer until they’d complete confidence in him to be a number one working again within the NFL this 12 months.
Etienne will go up in opposition to probably the most constant run-stuffing linebackers within the league on Sunday. Logan Wilson has been a ball carriers’ worst nightmare since he was drafted out of Wyoming in 2019, with 495 profession tackles in six years. If Etienne was provided the liberty of EverBank Stadium by the Panthers in Week 1, it ought to be an entire completely different story because the Jaguars are welcomed to the Jungle in Week 2.
Jourdan Lewis vs Noah Fant
Again to the Jags’ protection now, and one other standout from final weekend was Jourdan Lewis, who thrived because the nickel nook in a really frisky Jaguars secondary in opposition to the Panthers. Lewis just about erased Hunter Renfrow working out of the slot, proscribing the difficult receiver to simply 11 yards from two catches. He had 5 tackles and likewise recorded his first turnover in black and teal to ice the sport, sneaking as much as anticipate a brief cross to the ball provider and reacting fantastically to the tipped ball. Lewis seems to be like a wonderful free company addition to Jacksonville’s protection, and can need to comply with up begin with one other sturdy efficiency in Week 2.
Andrei Iosivas is often the in-line receiver within the Bengals offense. However the commerce for Noah Fant this season means we’re going to see much more 12 personnel from the Bengals in 2025 – a throwback to offenses from the early years below Zac Taylor. I anticipate Drew Pattern to function shallow routes and be leaned on within the run sport, with Fant doing what he does greatest – difficult defenses down the seam. He did simply that on Sunday, serving to Cincy get by the Browns with 26 yards and a landing in his first sport.
That brings Fant into Jourdan Lewis’ territory. The linebackers received’t be capable to carry this tight finish’s athleticism deep, so anticipate Lewis to select up the function of masking him past ten yards from the road of scrimmage. Two veterans who’ve seen all of it and have the numbers to show it ought to make for a cracking matchup on Sunday.