Jacksonville, it could definitely be said, looks far more like a Super Bowl contender under coach Doug Pederson than it ever did under Urban Meyer.
Pederson had the Jaguars rolling last year, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence looking like a young No. 1 draft pick instead of an unsure-of-himself project.
This season, Jacksonville is 4-2, is coming off a win over nearest AFC South division rival Indianapolis, and leads the division. And with Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson now out for the season (Colts’ Richardson will have surgery, done for year), the Jags may very well be the lead dog in a division race that will be wrapped up weeks before the regular season.
That is, if they can keep Lawrence healthy.
The former Clemson star, who has a sprained left knee, is a game-time decision for the team’s game tonight on “Thursday Night Football” on Amazon Prime in New Orleans (With Lawrence hobbled, Jaguars try to prolong win streak against stingy Saints).
The Jaguars are 4-2, have won back-to-back games, and have one impressive win to their credit this season: a 25-20 win over Buffalo in London. Jacksonville swept the season series with Indy already, but lost a division game to Houston.
Lawrence will battle a New Orleans defense that’s one of the best in the league (fifth in total defense), and the Saints now have quarterback Derek Carr back after a shoulder injury.
They did lose the game last week in Houston, however, with Carr firmly in the lineup.
If Lawrence’s knee won’t allow him to play, I’ll be former Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard taking the field instead.
Lawrence has thrown for 1,439 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
The Saints are 3-3 and a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the lead in the NFC South.
Both teams have offensive line issues. The Saints won’t have starting tackles James Hurst or Ryan Ramczyk. Hurst is out with an ankle injury and Ramczyk is in the league’s concussion protocol. Jacksonville could be without both guards: Brandon Scherff is questionable with an ankle injury and Walker Little is out with a knee injury.
The game airs at 7 p.m. on Amazon Prime.
