Week 2: Jaguars vs. Patriots AFC Championship rematch

Hunter Horstman

The Jaguars are coming into this matchup with a huge chip on their shoulder after losing to the Patriots 24-20 in the AFC Championship game back in January.  But this is a new NFL season seven months later with two completely new teams.

Graphic by Drew McDonald

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrated his forty-first birthday earlier this year in the summer but he is not playing like a 41 year old. Brady finished with 277 passing yards and three touchdowns in their week 1 matchup against Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. With Tight End Rob Gronkowski lighting up defenses, it is going to be very hard on the Safeties and Outside Linebackers to cover the 6’6 265 pounder.

In week one, Gronkowski finished with 123 receiving yards and a touchdown.  Even though the Jaguars have one of the best Cornerbacks in the league in Jalen Ramsey, the former Seminole had trouble defending Odell Beckham Jr. as Ramsey gave up 111 yards to Beckham.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Jaguars lost a key star in Leonard Fournette due to a hamstring injury in week one.  Leonard Fournette is the Jaguars top rusher, ranked eighth in rushing in the NFL last year. The biggest question is if backup running back T.J. Yeldon can step in to get the job done while the star running back is out for the week. Yeldon impressed fans last week as he rushed for 51 yards in 14 attempts with key rushing TD that propelled the Jags to a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants. For the Jags to win this game, it’s going to take a dialed in defense and a balanced attack for the offense.

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