New England (1-5) is set to face off against Jacksonville (1-5) in London this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. EDT, exclusively on the NFL Network. The betting line from BetMGM has the Jaguars favored by 5½ points. This matchup displays two struggling teams, with New England holding a 1-4-1 record against the spread and Jacksonville at 2-4. Historically, the Patriots have dominated this series, winning 12 out of the 14 encounters, including their last meeting, where they decisively beat the Jaguars 50-10 back in January 2022.
In their most recent outings, the Jaguars suffered a defeat against the Bears, with a score of 35-16, while the Patriots faced a significant loss to the Texans, scoring only 21 points compared to the Texans’ 41. Analyzing the teams’ overall performances, the Patriots are ranked 30th in offense, struggling particularly in their passing game, which is ranked last in the league. Their scoring, too, is only better than one other team, placing them 31st overall. The Jaguars, on the other hand, rank 19th in offensive performance and have allowed more than 35 points in three of their last four games, positioning them 31st in defense.
Highlighting key players, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed promise during his first NFL start, completing 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns, although he did also record two interceptions and a fumble. The Patriots will need him to limit turnovers for a better chance at victory. On the Jaguars’ side, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. leads all rookies in receiving yards but comes off his lowest performance yet, totaling just 27 yards against the Bears. Given that he is quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s primary target, his performance will be crucial for the Jaguars to score more effectively.
One of the pivotal matchups in this game pits the low-scoring Patriots against the Jaguars’ porous defense, which has seen them allow upwards of 35 points multiple times this season. Injuries could play a significant role as well. The Patriots are dealing with several injuries, including offensive lineman Vederian Lowe, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, and cornerback Marcus Jones. The Jaguars will see the return of cornerback Tyson Campbell from injury, but will miss kick returner Devin Duvernay and linebacker Foye Oluokun. Running back Travis Etienne is also uncertain due to a shoulder issue.
In terms of historical context, the Patriots have won nine of the last ten matchups against the Jaguars, their only loss in this duration occurring in Jacksonville back in 2018. This matchup marks the first instance in which both teams have identical records of 1-5 before their game.
Interesting stats include that this will be the fifth time the Patriots are playing outside of the United States, where they remain undefeated during their international games with Tom Brady at the helm. They’ve faced challenges in their last few games, losing five in a row and relying heavily on a young roster. With cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive lineman Deatrich Wise being the only remaining players from their Super Bowl victories, the Patriots are in a rebuilding phase. Meanwhile, rookie Maye has made history as only the fourth Patriots quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in his initial start.
Moreover, fantasy football players should keep an eye on Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas, who had a standout performance in Maye’s last outing, catching six passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. As Douglas faces his local team, the Jaguars, he could be poised for another impactful game.
This matchup in London presents an opportunity for both teams to seek redemption, and with key injuries, emerging player performances, and historic context, fans are in for an intriguing matchup.