JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars, looking to rebound from a one-touchdown road loss to the Denver Broncos, will host the New England Patriots Sunday at EverBank Stadium at 1 p.m., with both teams entering the Week 3 matchup at 1-1.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence said the Jaguars’ ability to answer adversity will define the team’s early-season character. “It’s football,” Lawrence said. “It’s how you respond. That’s what it’s all about. We all know that have played, and if it’s not your first season, it’s the NFL and you’re going to play some good teams, you’re going to have some tough losses and you have to be able to respond the next week. And that says everything you need to know about your team.”
The Patriots, the defending AFC East and AFC champions, arrive in Jacksonville under Head Coach Mike Vrabel. New England quarterback Drake Maye has thrown four interceptions in two games, though the Jaguars have struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks - a problem that also surfaced against the Buffalo Bills in last January’s postseason.
Head Coach Liam Coen’s Jaguars have built their identity around physicality and the run game, and protecting Lawrence against a Patriots defensive line that Coen’s staff views as elite is listed among the team’s top priorities Sunday. Second-year running back Bhayshul Tuten, who has started Jacksonville’s first two games, is expected to see an increased workload as the coaching staff looks for a breakout carry.
“I’m confident that we’re going to respond and that we’re going to be ready to go against New England,” Lawrence said. “That’s what good teams do. You bounce back and you play better than you did the week before.”
Kickoff at EverBank Stadium is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.