The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Houston Texans for a divisional showdown in Week 3. Here are three X-factors for a Jags victory.
Coming off a troublesome outing in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs final week, the Jacksonville Jaguars need to get again on monitor in opposition to the Houston Texans in Week 3. On paper, the Jags ought to maintain business with relative ease on Sunday afternoon, however something can occur within the NFL. Not to say Trevor Lawrence has not had a lot success in opposition to the Texans thus far in his profession. He’s led the staff to only a 1 and three file versus the division rival whereas having a two-to-one interception (6) to landing (TD) ratio within the course of.
This recreation is the right alternative for Lawrence to lastly put collectively a giant efficiency in opposition to a rebuilding Houston Texans staff that’s completely decimated by accidents in the meanwhile. While a great recreation for Lawrence is an apparent blueprint to success, there are another keys to victory on this one as properly. Let’s dive into the three greatest X-factors for a Jacksonville Jaguars win on Sunday.
Josh Allen
Josh Allen entered the 2023 season in a contract yr with the Jags and boy is he enjoying prefer it. The former 2019 first-round decide has been nice to begin the yr and must be in line for one more big-time week in opposition to the Texans on Sunday. It was lately reported that All-Pro sort out, Laremy Tunsil, is not going to play on this one, which units Josh Allen up with a matchup in opposition to Josh Jones on that left aspect, who struggled as Tunsil’s alternative every week in the past. Advantage Allen.
The protection has been spectacular to begin the season and is now primarily being served a beat-up Texans squad on a silver platter in Week 3. They ought to be capable to pin their ears again and go all recreation lengthy in opposition to a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud. If Josh Allen can get to the rook early and sometimes, it can solely make everybody else’s job that a lot simpler on protection.
Rushing Attack
The Jacksonville Jaguars had simply 74 yards on the bottom of their Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, so establishing the run must be a degree of emphasis for a staff that’s nonetheless looking for their rhythm in 2023. Lucky for them, the Texans protection has had bother in that division to begin the season. In the primary two weeks, they’ve allowed a league-high six speeding touchdowns to opposing offenses, with all six of them coming within the purple zone.
Not solely is that this recreation an important alternative to get the speeding assault again on monitor, nevertheless it additionally has the potential to be the right treatment for Jacksonville’s purple zone woes of every week in the past. Establishing the run within the brief area may enable Press Taylor to maintain issues easy for the offense. I anticipate a heavy dose of Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby on this one, with Trevor Lawrence sprinkling in just a few chunk performs together with his legs as properly.
Anton Harrison
Rookie proper sort out Anton Harrison has had his ups and downs by means of the primary two weeks of his rookie season, which is to be anticipated, however the 2023 first-rounder has already gained the respect of not solely his teammates and coaches, however his opponents as properly.
That kind of reward from a participant of Chris Jones’ caliber is sort of the endorsement for Harrison, particularly when you think about the truth that the rookie is simply 21 years old. His potential is thru the roof.
He’ll have one other alternative for some good work in Week 3 as Harrison is about to face off in opposition to one other first-rounder from this previous draft cycle in Will Anderson Jr. The Texans rookie has been a shiny spot on a banged-up protection in 2023, and his mix of velocity, energy and method make him a troublesome take a look at for the Jags proper sort out.
Not solely will this be a enjoyable matchup to look at, however Harrison’s success in opposition to Anderson would go a great distance in serving to Trevor Lawrence and this Jags offense discover their rhythm early.
Who do you assume will show to be an X-factor on this one, Jags followers?
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