Game Day Primer / Sun, Sep 27
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01 / Why this game matters
New England visits Jacksonville after beating Pittsburgh 20-3, while the Jaguars are coming off a 20-13 loss to Denver. Both teams can move to 2-1 with a win, but their most recent offensive performances point to different challenges: the Patriots produced 327 total yards, compared with 268 for Jacksonville.
02 / Know these people
Drake Maye / New England's primary passer and an occasional rushing threat
New England Patriots · Quarterback (QB)
Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards in Week 2 and added 17 rushing yards, but he also threw an interception. Watch whether he can preserve the efficient completions while avoiding another giveaway.
TreVeyon Henderson / Lead runner in the Patriots' recent backfield workload
New England Patriots · Running Back (RB)
Henderson handled 16 carries for 76 yards and scored New England's rushing touchdown in Week 2. His ability to keep the offense ahead of the required yardage will shape how much is placed on .
03 / Watch for this
On early pass plays, watch whether looks first toward or Brian Thomas Jr. If Thomas becomes more involved after catching only three of nine targets last week, Jacksonville may be finding a broader and more efficient passing structure; if most throws continue toward , the offense may remain concentrated around one target.
04 / Sound smart
turned only three catches into 96 yards in New England's Week 2 win.
The central storyline
New England visits Jacksonville after beating Pittsburgh 20-3, while the Jaguars are coming off a 20-13 loss to Denver. Both teams can move to 2-1 with a win, but their most recent offensive performances point to different challenges: the Patriots produced 327 total yards, compared with 268 for Jacksonville.
A read on both sides
Patriots
Team vibe
Mike Vrabel's Patriots are 1-1 after a 20-3 win over Pittsburgh. Their Week 2 offense paired and Stevenson for 119 rushing yards, while 's passing production included a 96-yard contribution from but also an interception. The defense's evidence shows pressure coming from multiple levels, including sacks by , Barmore, Farmer and Ponder.
Jaguars
Team vibe
Liam Coen's Jaguars are 1-1 after losing 20-13 to Denver. Tuten supplied 65 rushing yards and Jacksonville's lone listed touchdown, while accounted for more than half of 's 189 passing yards. The central offensive question is whether Jacksonville can maintain 's rushing production while getting better results from throws intended for Thomas and the rest of the receiving group.
Current storylines
Teach Me What to Notice
On screen
Look for: Watch the space around after the snap and note whether a Patriots defender reaches him before his receivers finish their routes.
If you see it: If is forced to step away, throw quickly or absorb contact from different rushers, New England is creating pressure without relying on one defender.
Here's what it means: Repeated early disruption would make it harder for Jacksonville to develop longer passes and could funnel the offense toward short throws.
On screen
Look for: Look for running beyond the nearest defensive back while holds the ball long enough to throw farther downfield.
If you see it: If repeatedly finds for gains well beyond the line of scrimmage, Jacksonville is failing to remove New England's quick-strike option.
Here's what it means: Successful deep completions would let the Patriots gain yardage without assembling long drives and could force the Jaguars' defensive backs to play farther from the line.
On screen
Look for: On punts and kickoffs, note whether the returner reaches open space before the first wave of coverage arrives and where the offense takes over.
If you see it: If Marcus Jones, Ameer Abdullah, or Josh Cameron consistently advances the ball beyond the initial coverage group, that team is shortening the field for its offense.
Here's what it means: Better starting position reduces how many successful plays an offense needs to reach scoring range, which matters when both quarterbacks are coming off games without a touchdown pass.
The central storyline
New England visits Jacksonville after beating Pittsburgh 20-3, while the Jaguars are coming off a 20-13 loss to Denver. Both teams can move to 2-1 with a win, but their most recent offensive performances point to different challenges: the Patriots produced 327 total yards, compared with 268 for Jacksonville.
A read on both sides
Patriots
Team vibe
Mike Vrabel's Patriots are 1-1 after a 20-3 win over Pittsburgh. Their Week 2 offense paired and Stevenson for 119 rushing yards, while 's passing production included a 96-yard contribution from but also an interception. The defense's evidence shows pressure coming from multiple levels, including sacks by , Barmore, Farmer and Ponder.
Jaguars
Team vibe
Liam Coen's Jaguars are 1-1 after losing 20-13 to Denver. Tuten supplied 65 rushing yards and Jacksonville's lone listed touchdown, while accounted for more than half of 's 189 passing yards. The central offensive question is whether Jacksonville can maintain 's rushing production while getting better results from throws intended for Thomas and the rest of the receiving group.
Current storylines
Teach Me What to Notice
On screen
Look for: Watch the space around after the snap and note whether a Patriots defender reaches him before his receivers finish their routes.
If you see it: If is forced to step away, throw quickly or absorb contact from different rushers, New England is creating pressure without relying on one defender.
Here's what it means: Repeated early disruption would make it harder for Jacksonville to develop longer passes and could funnel the offense toward short throws.
On screen
Look for: Look for running beyond the nearest defensive back while holds the ball long enough to throw farther downfield.
If you see it: If repeatedly finds for gains well beyond the line of scrimmage, Jacksonville is failing to remove New England's quick-strike option.
Here's what it means: Successful deep completions would let the Patriots gain yardage without assembling long drives and could force the Jaguars' defensive backs to play farther from the line.
On screen
Look for: On punts and kickoffs, note whether the returner reaches open space before the first wave of coverage arrives and where the offense takes over.
If you see it: If Marcus Jones, Ameer Abdullah, or Josh Cameron consistently advances the ball beyond the initial coverage group, that team is shortening the field for its offense.
Here's what it means: Better starting position reduces how many successful plays an offense needs to reach scoring range, which matters when both quarterbacks are coming off games without a touchdown pass.
Players & Coaches
Players & Coaches
New England Patriots · Quarterback (QB)
Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards in Week 2 and added 17 rushing yards, but he also threw an interception. Watch whether he can preserve the efficient completions while avoiding another giveaway.
Players & Coaches
New England Patriots · Running Back (RB)
Henderson handled 16 carries for 76 yards and scored New England's rushing touchdown in Week 2. His ability to keep the offense ahead of the required yardage will shape how much is placed on .
Players & Coaches
New England Patriots · Wide Receiver (WR)
Doubs gained 96 yards on three receptions against Pittsburgh. That production gives Jacksonville a specific downfield threat to locate whenever has time to wait for routes to develop.
Players & Coaches
Jacksonville Jaguars · Quarterback (QB)
Lawrence went 17 of 29 for 189 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in Week 2. Jacksonville needs more production from its passing opportunities without adding turnovers against a New England defense that recently generated pressure from several players.
Players & Coaches
Jacksonville Jaguars · Wide Receiver (WR)
Washington drew 12 targets and produced seven catches for 98 yards in Week 2. He was both 's most productive listed receiver and part of Jacksonville's return game.
Players & Coaches
Jacksonville Jaguars · Running Back (RB)
Tuten carried 13 times for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver. A repeat of that efficiency would give Jacksonville an alternative to asking to drive the offense through the air.
Players & Coaches
New England Patriots · Linebacker (LB)
Elliss recorded 12 tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit in Week 2. He is a defender casual viewers can track around the ball, particularly when Jacksonville runs or holds the ball.
The Stakes
This is an early-season chance for two teams with identical records to separate. A win produces a 2-1 record; a loss produces a 1-2 record, while a tie would leave the teams at 1-1-1.
Why it matters
The Patriots' win over Pittsburgh included 136 rushing yards and several defensive pressure contributors. Reproducing those two elements on the road would show that the approach can carry from one matchup to the next.
Why it matters
had seven catches, but Jacksonville finished with 189 net passing yards and no passing touchdowns. More efficient involvement from Thomas, Meyers or the tight ends would give options beyond repeatedly returning to .
Why it matters
and each threw an interception in Week 2, and New England was charged with two total turnovers compared with Jacksonville's one. The team that removes those lost possessions has a direct opportunity to improve on its latest offensive output.
Conversation Starters
Conversation Starters
Can Jacksonville make Brian Thomas Jr.'s nine targets more productive after they yielded only three catches and 40 yards?
Conversation Starters
Will New England continue giving most of the carries, or use Stevenson more after he averaged over seven yards on his six Week 2 attempts?
Conversation Starters
Does Jacksonville have an answer for ' big-play ability if gets enough time to look downfield?
Conversation Starters
Which quarterback breaks through first after both and finished Week 2 without a touchdown pass and with one interception?