Curran's Patriots-Jaguars Preview: Revenge of the Jags?

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WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

The best way to deal with a team that has really good corners and a nasty pass rush is to run the ball. The Patriots lost their big back, Jeremy Hill, for the season and their other “main” back, Rex Burkhead, has dealt with a concussion all week. That leaves James White, newly-signed Kenjon Barner and rookie Sony Michel as running back options and Michel is just back from a knee injury. And fullback James Develin. The Jags were 30th in the NFL in rushing defense so this feels like an opportunity missed and the Patriots fortunes will rest on the arm and brain of Tom Brady. The Jaguars corners, A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey get the checkmark over Patriots receivers Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarelle Patterson, and the newly acquired pair Corey Coleman and Bennie Fowler. The checkmark the Patriots will own is with Rob Gronkowski. Even when he was doubled last week – and he was truly doubled at times with two players devoted to him from the snap – Brady still went to him. The Jaguars have that tape to look at and try to do better. Jacksonville has two of the fastest and most productive linebackers in the league with Myles Jack and Telvin Smith while their front includes Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson and Yannick Ngakoue get after quarterbacks pretty good. Against this style defense, James White out of the backfield figures to be an option the Patriots will try to hammer. Brilliant as Brady is, this is not a game where one should expect the Patriots to go up and down the field on Jacksonville. 
 

WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL

Fortunately for the Patriots, the Jaguars offense is not at all threatening. The out-of-body experience Blake Bortles had in the first half of last year’s AFC Championship Game when he was really good is unlikely to recur. Especially going against a Patriots defense that seems to have the arrow pointing straight up. Running back Leonard Fournette is a lumbering type and he’s got a bad hamstring. T.J. Yeldon is … fine. Center Brandon Linder and right tackle Jeremy Parnell are dealing with knee injuries that had them limited in practice this week. Their most productive wideout from 2017, Marqise Lee, is down for the year with an ACL. The Jags managed one offensive touchdown last week against the Giants in a 20-15 win and they should have similarly tough sledding this week against the Patriots. 
 

THE KICKING GAME

The Patriots need to find a punt returner. They released Riley McCarron after he muffed a punt in the fourth quarter last week. Kenjon Barner – signed this week – is a likely suspect to step in. The Patriots were also uncharacteristically bad on kickoff returns allowing more than 30 yards per return. The Jags returner is Jaydon Mickens, he averaged 10.2 on punt returns last year. Ryan Allen and Stephen Gostkowski are coming off solid starts to their season. 

GAME WITHIN THE GAME  

JAGUARS GOTTA STOP

 Rob Gronkowski. Last week, I didn’t bother with Gronk in this spot because I figured Houston would double him and render him less-than-Gronk. It was too easy and too obvious so I said James White. Meanwhile, Houston did double Gronk but it didn’t matter. Tom Brady didn’t care and went to Gronk time after time anyway until Gronk had seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. So we’ll go with Gronk here, presuming that the Jags more talented secondary defenders have a better shot at actually slowing Gronk down. 
 
PATRIOTS GOTTA STOP

Jack makes that so hard to do because he’s so fast and allowed to cut loose and roam in the Jaguars defense. the Steelers the Patriots the Giants THAT SUMS IT UP PATRIOTS STYLE Tom Brady THAT SUMS IT UP JAGUARS STYLE

“Jalen and I have had conversations. Obviously, those conversations remain between me and the player and I’ve said that before. I know that I have the greatest amount of respect for Rob. I’ve known him a long time, know his dad, family, the whole nine yards, and we’ve played against him quite a bit and we have a ton of respect for him. He’s probably one of the best guys, if not the best, that’s ever played the game at his position, and we know that he’s a challenge in many different ways in what he can do. That’s how I feel and that’s how our team feels.” – Doug Marrone, Jags head coach, when asked about Jalen Ramsey’s dismissive comments about Rob Gronkowski.
 
THE CREW, THE BOOTH AND THE LINE
 
Carl Cheffers is the referee. His crew did Bears-Packers on Monday night. There were 13 accepted penalties in that one. The CBS booth will have Jim Nantz and Tony Romo for the 4:25 p.m. start. The Patriots are favored by 1.5 and the total is 45. 
 
THE WINNER IS...


Patriots 17, Jaguars 16

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