The Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the Tennessee Titans to EverBank Stadium on Sunday for his or her penultimate sport of the 2024 season. Listed below are three large matchups to look out for:
Brian Thomas Jr vs Jarvis Brownlee Jr
In a season of despair in Jacksonville, Brian Thomas stands out as a solitary ray of hope. The rookie receiver has confirmed to be a shrewd choice with the twenty third choose on this yr’s NFL Draft, his efficiency in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders final weekend seeing him eclipse 1,000 yards in his debut marketing campaign. He’s the primary ever to hit that milestone in a rookie season for the Jaguars, and he’s performed it on a group that has struggled because the first ball was kicked in opposition to the Miami Dolphins all the best way again in September.
Possibly much more impressively, Thomas has proven he doesn’t want franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence beneath middle to be productive. The previous LSU Tiger has been a dependable goal for backup Mac Jones too, and has regarded increasingly more snug because the season has progressed – with 237 yards and three touchdowns in his final two outings. Trent Baalke has come beneath fireplace for his roster administration, and his historical past deciding on early receivers was not good, however he definitely hit the jackpot with Thomas.
Thomas might be going up in opposition to one other spectacular rookie on Sunday. The Titans have suffered some attrition of their secondary, with accidents to Quandre Diggs and L’Jarius Sneed notable setbacks. However fifth spherical choose Jarvis Brownlee has been a major contributor to this protection all season, enjoying in each sport thus far and beginning 12 of them. Brownlee has registered 65 tackles and one interception thus far in Tennessee – and has no downside matching up along with his opponents’ finest weapon. In response to PFF, solely Trent McDuffie of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs has given much less separation in 2024 – and that’s regardless of groups concentrating on Brownlee (twelfth highest goal price in opposition to this season). Sunday needs to be an epic matchup between two rookies which might be each enjoying like seasoned veterans.
Cole Van Lanen vs Arden Key
The perpetual turnover at left deal with continues for the Jaguars. After assuming the blindside spot following the choice to commerce Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings, Walker Little suffered a excessive ankle sprain in opposition to the Raiders final weekend. Little is certainly out in opposition to the Titans, and head coach Doug Pederson confirms Cole Van Lanen will take his place. Previously of the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the Jags despatched a seventh spherical choose to Wisconsin for Van Lanen again in 2022 – and while his versatility has meant he’s seen time on the sphere as a backup, he’s solely ever began one sport for Jacksonville.
If Van Lanen enters Sunday’s sport as one thing of an unknown for Jaguars followers, the individual he’s going up in opposition to definitely doesn’t. Edge Rusher Arden Key proved to be a really intelligent signing within the 2022 offseason for Trent Baalke, having a bounceback marketing campaign following a disappointing 12 months with the San Francisco 49ers. His 27 tackles and 4.5 sacks in black and teal on a prove-it deal noticed him earn a three-year, $21m contract with the Titans, and he’s greater than earned his cash thus far.
After virtually two full seasons in Tennessee, Key has compiled 67 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 4 pressured fumbles. Little question he’ll be motivated to face his former group, significantly because the Jags left Nissan Stadium victorious three weeks in the past. Van Lanen could also be in for a troublesome outing.
Buster Brown vs Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
If you happen to’re searching for one title within the Jaguars’ secondary who has pleasantly stunned this season, then maybe it’s Montaric Brown. ‘Buster’ has assumed the CB2 position reverse Tyson Campbell regardless of the offseason addition of Ronald Darby and the third spherical number of Jarrian Jones, and he’s blossomed in Ryan Nielsen’s protection. A component-time contributor his first two seasons in Jacksonville, Brown has made a giant leap in 2024 – racking up 65 tackles, seven cross breakups and an interception. Contemplating the plight of this unit this season, I believe that’s greater than anybody might have dreamed of from the previous Arkansas Razorback, who was the 222nd choice within the 2022 NFL Draft.
Final time these two groups met, Montaric Brown was in fantastic type, with 5 tackles and a few cross breakups that helped the Jaguars to a slender victory. The Titans like to maneuver their weapons round, and it meant Brown had quite a few opponents to cope with, together with former teammate Calvin Ridley, who had extra pleasure in opposition to Campbell than he did in opposition to Brown three weeks in the past. However it’s Tennessee’s different outdoors receiver which may present a extra stunning downside this weekend…
Very similar to Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine entered the league to little fanfare, an undrafted free agent that plied his commerce with the Indiana Hoosiers on the faculty stage. Regardless of the robust begin, Sunday will see him swimsuit up for the 77th time for the Titans, a formidable displaying of dedication to forge an NFL profession. Westbrook-Ikhine featured largely within the slot as a rookie, however has locked down an outdoor position on his group – and he has large play skill too, with a 98 yard TD reception on his resume this season. Brown might be requested to do a job whoever he traces up in opposition to this weekend, however he finest stay awake on a receiver that the entire league forgot about 5 years in the past.