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The New England Patriots will play their final home game of the regular season in Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams are on losing streaks, though it's only the Patriots who are still alive in the playoff race. With that said, here are four bold predictions for New England in this upcoming Patriots-Jaguars matchup.
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New England Patriots Week 17 Predictions
4. Patriots give Trevor Lawrence the Zach Wilson treatment – and more
The Patriots’ defense has been brutal to opponents this season, especially against quarterbacks. You can ask New York Jets rookie signal-caller Zach Wilson all about that, as he got tormented hard by New England’s stop unit in two meetings with the Patriots in his first year as a pro. Back in Week 2, the Patriots showed no signs of mercy for Wilson, whom they intercepted a total of four times. Wilson would do a whole lot better in the rematch in Week 7 in Foxborough, but he was still bad in that contest nonetheless, as he went just 6/10 for 51 passing yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.
That is the kind of unforgiving pass defense that awaits Lawrence in Week 17. The Jaguars quarterback has failed to live up to the hype so far this season. While he was expected to struggle in his first season in the NFL, it’s fair to say that Lawrence has many Jags fans wanting more from him. Lawrence has not passed for a touchdown in any of his past four starts.
Over his last nine starts, the former Clemson Tigers star only managed to come up with a grand total of one passing touchdown against five interceptions. As for the Patriots, their defense is third against the pass, second in interception rate (4.09%), and second as well in total interceptions (20). It could really ugly for Lawrence in Week 17.
3. Pats defense gives up fewer than 2.5 yards per carry to Jacksonville
And it’s not just the Jaguars’ passing attack that could get totally embarrassed in Week 17 by New England. Jacksonville’s ground game should also get in a lot of trouble opposite the Patriots’ stop unit. The Jaguars have enjoyed quite a robust production from their running game of late. They rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in Week 15 against the Houston Texans then collected 132 rushing yards and a touchdown versus the Jets the following week. Neither the Jets nor the Texans come across as a great defensive team this season, so even the Jags’ anemic offense can look good in several moments against both those squads. The Patriots are a completely different story.
Even though the Pats are just 23rd in the NFL with 121.9 rushing yards allowed per game, they are tops overall with only 0.5 rushing touchdowns surrendered per contest.
Sure, there are games in which the Patriots have been carved up on the ground this season, particularly by the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts, but the Jaguars don’t have the firepower in the backfield to light it up on the ground in Week 17. Their top two running backs in James Robinson and Carlos Hyde are both on the injured reserve, leaving them Jacksonville with Dare Ogunbowale as their top option in rushing plays.
Ogunbowale is by no means anywhere close to the level of Jonathan Taylor’s, so New England should be able to take care of business against Jaguars running backs.
2. New England gives the Jaguars their worst loss of the season
Out of the 13 losses by the Jaguars so far this season, it’s their 37-7 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams on the road in Week 13 that’s been the worst for Jacksonville in terms of deficit. The Patriots have the opportunity to top that torment.
For one, New England is going to play with lots of extra motivation. The Pats have lost both of their last two games, which resulted in them losing their solo grip on the top spot of the AFC East. They are looking to finally end their two-game win streak and make a huge statement in the process.
The Week 17 matchup against the Jags couldn’t have come at a better time for the Patriots, who should be able to handle Jacksonville at home with ease. There’s no way Bill Belichick is going to let the Patriots lose three games in a row during such a critical portion of the season and against Jacksonville.
1. Mac Jones outshines Trevor Lawrence
At this point of the season, it’s safe to say that Jones has been better for the Patriots than Lawrence is to the Jags. Jones has passed for 3,313 yards and 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, while Lawrence only has nine passing touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions and 3,225 passing yards. Jones is playing in a much better system and in a more stable environment, but it’s still going to feel great for Patriots fans to see the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft outplay the top selection in that class.
