The Detroit Lions (8-1) come home to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) on Sunday at 1:00 PM. The Lions are currently 14-point favorites. The Jaguars have been in a tailspin all year, and with a 2-8 record, the worst in the NFL Doug Pederson seems to be on his way out, they’re just looking for wins to take some momentum into their 2025 season. The Detroit Lions are coming off a primetime win versus the Houston Texans, where they miraculously won the game 26-23 after throwing 5 interceptions.
Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Football History & Excerpts
The Detroit Lions’ record against the Jacksonville Jaguars is 5-3, and they have won the last four matchups.
After a huge win on Sunday Night Football, Dan Campbell indicated to the media that he wanted his team to use this game to improve on some things that he felt they’d struggled with all year or in the past few weeks. Campbell said, “I want to feel like we can get our efficiency back offensively. Look, we’ve been efficient in spurts, and I’m not even talking where you’re scoring touchdowns every time. You just want to know you are getting out there converting first down, first down, first down. At least you’re moving the football because that gets us in a rhythm. I think that’s important and some of that is the fundamentals and details of what you do.” While it isn’t exactly an area where the team struggles or has the potential to hold them back, it is an area of improvement Campbell is looking for from his team.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is again going into a game with his team as a heavy underdog. The Jaguars season is officially over with a loss on Sunday versus the Lions. About his optimism about the rest of the season, Pederson said, “Yes. 100 percent. I think our goals and everything are right in front of us. Despite the mistakes and the losses, obviously. It’s a crazy business and it can change for us in a hurry the other way and get positive in a quick way. But the guys haven’t checked out whatsoever. They put in the time during the week. It’s hard. You hurt for the guys because you just see how much they put into it. And then they’re not rewarded for it. To have six one-score losses, six games. It’s hard. That’s hard. Sometimes we make it hard. But yet the guys, like I said, they see it. They understand it. We’re all in it together and we try to fix them and move on.” Making sure the guys on the team aren’t mentally checked out is the most crucial element for this team. Even if they are eliminated from playoff contention later in the season, bringing some momentum and playing well late is incredibly important.
Key Players for the Lions
Injury Report: Tight End Sam Laporta is out(Shoulder), Defensive Tackle Brodric Martin is out(Knee), Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu is out(Ankle/Finger), Cornerback Emmanuel Mosley is out(Pectoral), Linebacker Ben Niemann is questionable(Ankle)
Quarterback Jared Goff had his worst game of the season last week. He threw five interceptions, but the Lions still managed to win. This week is the perfect week to allow him to get back into rhythm and give him the confidence for the rest of the season. He is Detroit’s guy, so the coaches must show that this week. Tight end Sam Laporta will not play this week. Look for Brock Wright to have a more active game in the passing attack this week. Right tackle Penei Sewell told the media he didn’t have the game he wanted to last week, and he knows he needs to be better the rest of the season. Returning left tackle Taylor Decker will also help the team’s protection and run blocking.
Defensively, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith will make his highly anticipated debut for the Lions this weekend. After taking the week off last week, as the coaches told him to do, he will slide into Detroit’s starting defensive unit as a full-time edge rusher. The defensive tackle also had a huge week against a bad Texans interior offensive line last week. Cornerback Carlton Davis was the difference maker last week with two huge interceptions. Look for him to have a huge impact this week, especially on Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Key Players for the Jaguars
Injury Report: Running back Tank Bigsby is out(Ankle), Linebacker Yasir Abdullah is out(Hamstring), Guard Ezra Clevland is questionable(Ankle), Defensive tackle Maason Smith is questionable(Ankle), Runningback Keilan Robinson is questionable(Toe)
Quarterback Mac Jones has taken over for the time being as Trevor Lawrence battles injuries. Jones had a solid game versus the Vikings last week. He is looking to prove he is a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. The offensive line has struggled this year, making it difficult for the shift running back Travis Etienne to find holes to run through. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been a sensation and one of the best rookies from the draft last year. He has cemented himself as Jacksonville’s wide receiver 1, and should be a staple in the Jaguars offense for years.
The unit struggles significantly defensively. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen have had solid years on the edge, and linebacker Devin Lloyd is also having a great year. The interior defensive line has struggled to create push in the run game, and the secondary has struggled due to a poor defensive scheme.
Keys for the Lions to Win
1)Come Out Fast
The Jaguars have played almost every game close, including against some of the best teams in the NFL. The Lions must score quickly and efficiently to keep the Jaguars out of this game and improve on some minor details. Dan Campbell wants the team to improve ahead of the second half of the season.
2)Get Jared Goff Back to His Former Self
The Jaguars have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. So Jared Goff using this game to get back into rhythm and playing the uber-efficient football he was playing in the first half of the season is critical. As the Lions’ schedule ramps up, Goff using this game to regain the confidence he may have lost is critical.
3)Watch for Za’Darius Smith
The Lions desperately needed an edge rusher, so they grabbed the best one on the trade block. Smith will immediately impact a group that has struggled to generate a significant pass rush from the edge since Aidan Hutchinson went down. Smith was a massive contributor to the defense of the Cleveland Browns last season, one of the best in the NFL. Expect him to have a huge, immediate impact against a struggling Jaguars offensive line.
