We are halfway through the month of November and the Jacksonville Jaguars have just two wins on the season. Many experts thought the draft and free agency period would have catapulted the team into relevance in the AFC South. Unfortunately, that’s not the case yet but there is reason for optimism. The Detroit Lions own a 5-4 record but are a beatable team. If the right things happen, the Jaguars could taste sweet victory this Sunday.
Jacksonville Jaguars Week 11 Keys to Victory
Smart Play by the Offense
This really falls on the shoulders of quarterback Blake Bortles. One could argue that if the offense played better last week against the Texans, the Jaguars would have won. But that game is in the past. This week, the team from Duval will face a defense that allows 272 yards passing a game. But they will also be well rested from a bye. New offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will hopefully find plays that work to the strengths of the offense and Bortles. This isn’t about being flashy, but doing what works. Through nine games it’s easy to see what doesn’t work.
Bortles must not force throws that result in interceptions. Turnovers are a big problem for the team. If the offense can keep the ball and extend drives, it will increase the chance of winning and take pressure away from the defense. One major factor that will help is if Allen Robinson shows up like last week. Robinson had nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. If Bortles plays smart and feeds Robinson, the entire offense could open up.
No Missed Tackles and Inspired Play
Last week the defense and special teams missed some important tackles. Yannick Ngakoue has been doing pretty well thus far as a rookie. But he let Lamar Miller slip past him at the line for a long gain. Admittedly, it was nice to see fellow rookie Myles Jack showcasing his speed to track down Miller but it was inside of the red zone before the tackle took place. The special teams unit also had trouble last week and needs to do a better job of containing the other team on punt returns and kickoffs.
Theo Riddick may not be as popular as Lamar Miller, but he’s a threat as a running back and in the passing game. The linebackers will have to step up this week, especially in the possible absence of Telvin Smith. Smith lost his brother in a shooting incident on Sunday night and his son was born on Tuesday. According to ESPN writer Mike DiRocco, the team isn’t sure if Smith will play this week. http://es.pn/2f50Dap
Stop Matthew Stafford in the Fourth Quarter
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is having a good season and there is even some talk of MVP linked to him. On top of that, the Detroit Lions have been dangerous in the fourth quarter this year. Why? They have trailed in the final stanza in each of their five wins this season. That may sound reminiscent of Blake Bortles and his prolific play at the end of some games. But Matthew Stafford isn’t struggling this year and he wants a big contract extension. The defense needs to play lights out the whole game and especially when it counts to help ensure a Jacksonville Jaguars victory this Sunday in Michigan.
