5 reasons the Packers will beat the Jaguars (and 1 reason why they might not)
For the past several preseasons,the Jacksonville Jaguars have fooled football analysts into thinking that they’ll actually be good. That notion inevitably went out the window by week three when it became obvious that the Jaguars would be the same old terrible Jaguars,not the young,upstart team with a bevy of high draft picks ready to break out that many thought they’d be.
The Jags no longer hold the preseason “bad team ready to finally be good” title belt. The Oakland Raiders stole it from them. Now the Jags are just the Jags again: boring,nondescript,and destined to win no more than six games.
Here are five reasons why one of those six wins will not come against the Green Bay Packers this afternoon:
Because Jordy’s back
Don’t expect Jordy Nelson to go for 10 catches and 150 yards in his return,but he doesn’t have to in order to make an impact. Having Nelson back gives Jags defensive coordinator Todd Wash another impact player to scheme for,which will result in things opening up for Randall Cobb in the slot and maybe even Davante Adams as he begins his bounce-back season.
Sweaty Eddie
Speaking of bounce-back seasons,Eddie Lacy’s begins today. Lacy doesn’t appear to be drastically slimmed down,but he’s playing for a new contract and to show that last season was an aberration. It’s also going to be hot in Jacksonville,meaning Lacy will probably be so sweaty that defenders will slide right off of him.
Falling behind
Since 2014,1,331 of the 2,000 offensive plays Jacksonville has run have been run with the Jags trailing. If the Packers can jump ahead early,look for Aaron Rodgers and the offense to maintain the lead and the defense to force a few key turnovers to seal the victory.
Shushing the whispers
Let’s be clear about something: The Packers are an elite football team. They’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders every season. But the Packers postseason shortcomings since winning Super Bowl XLV have many people whispering that Mike McCarthy isn’t the coach to deliver another championship to Titletown. “Sure the Packers are good,” these people say. “They’ll win 10-13 regular season games,then collapse in the playoffs.” Beating the Jags in week one won’t silence those whispers,but you have to start somewhere. If the Packers lose to Jacksonville,those whispers will get louder,and nobody in the Green Bay locker room wants to start the season like that.
Because it’s Jacksonville…
C’mon. It’s the Jaguars. The Packers aren’t going to lose to the freaking Jaguars.
If,for some reason,God wants to punish the Packers by having them lose to the freaking Jaguars today,this might be how it happens:
Two guys named Allen
Receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns combined for 144 catches,2,431 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2015. Throw in tight end Julius Thomas and his 46 receptions in just 12 games and the Jags have plenty of big receiving targets to torment the Packers defense and possibly steal a victory.
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