JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2024 season, Jaguars "experts" – Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Up this week:

The Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

• The Jaguars will win if: They can run the ball a bit and help Jones. That is a key. The Vikings teed off on Jones with the blitz and the Jags must neutralize that. Maybe some screens or some quick game. They also must regain some confidence after struggling late in games, particularly since they have up against one of the league's best teams on the road. They need something good to happen early.
• The Lions will win if: They aren't asleep at the wheel. This one will look easy for Detroit — struggling team, 2-8 record and now one that doesn't have its quarterback. The Lions must continue to play as they have been playing.
• As Frangie sees it: The Jags are more talented than the record suggests. Six of the eight losses have been by five points or less with the deciding play happening in the last two minutes of the game. It has been a strange season. But because of all that, it is harder and harder to find a way to win late in games.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars Analyst and Former Jaguars Defensive End

• The Jaguars will win if: The Jaguars will win if Jones can improve his level of play, and those around him need to do the same thing. A backup quarterback needs a strong running game and running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. must be big factors. The Jaguars' offensive line must have a great performance to elevate this offense. The Jags may need an extra possession or two from takeaways to help.
• The Lions will win if: They control the lines of scrimmage. The Lions' offensive line is arguably the best in the NFL and – with two talented running backs – can take the soul of many defense. The Lions' defensive front seven is physical and has added edge player Za'Darius Smith via trade; he will be activate for the Jaguars for the first time this week. The Lions also have the best safety tandem in the league in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, a duo that has a combined 10 interceptions.
• As Lageman sees it: This game will have a tremendous environment with the Lions returning from a two-game road trip and having been on the road four out of the last five weeks – AND on a seven-game winning streak! The Jaguars' defense must eliminate the explosive plays from wide receiver Jameson Williams and find some of their own from rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to win in the Motor City. The Jaguars' linebackers will have their toughest test to date stopping the Lions running backs and must be sure tacklers. The turnover battle must be on the positive side for the Jaguars to have a chance to win.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

• The Jaguars will win if: They keep getting turnovers and Goff keeps throwing them. Goff had been playing so well prior to Sunday in Houston. Was that a one game thing or the beginning of a midseason slump? The Jags hope it's part of a slump. The Jaguars' defense has been getting some big turnovers, but they will need to be at least plus-two in this game to pull the upset.
• The Lions will win if: They continue to dictate tempo. The Jaguars have only won time of possession once this season. The Lions have a good offensive line that can really control clock. If Detroit keeps the trend, the Jaguars will have very little margin for error.
• As Martineau sees it: I thought the Jaguars could beat the Green Bay Packers and Vikings in recent weeks. They came close, but fell short. I don't think they are in the same class right now as the Lions. Detroit knows how to win; the Jags don't. I expect another good effort, but it looks like the Jaguars are heading to 2-9 at the bye week: 27-16, Lions win.

John Oehser, jaguars.com Senior Writer

• The Jaguars will win if: They play their best game of the season, which means forcing turnovers and playing much better offensively than they have most of the season. Quarterback Mac Jones will need to push the ball downfield better than when he struggled against the Vikings last week.
• The Lions will win if: They play to their identity – and play relatively mistake-free. The Lions are a physical, resilient team that figures to have the advantage on both lines of scrimmage. That combination is tough to beat on the road late in the season.
• As Oehser sees it: This is the Jaguars' toughest test of the season, and the resiliency and fight they have shown in recent weeks will be severely tested. Any team can win on any given Sunday in the NFL, but this would be one of the bigger upsets in franchise history if the Jaguars win.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com Senior Correspondent

• The Jaguars will win if: They are plus-four in the takeaway column. The Houston Texans intercepted Lions quarterback Jared Goff five times on Sunday night and were plus-three – and still lost. The Jaguars were tracking toward beating the Minnesota Vikings at plus-three and couldn't close the deal. If they can make Goff make mistakes, they will give themselves a chance.
• The Lions will win if: They keep the Jaguars' defense on the field. The Jaguars have allowed an average of 425 yards of offense and have been on the field an average of 38 minutes in the last three games – all losses. If the Lions keep that rolling, the Jaguars' defense will be out of gas.
• As Sexton sees it: This is the most difficult game of the season for the Jaguars. The Lions have won seven consecutive games and are 8-1 for the first time since 1954. They're a fast car with a big engine and it's revving for the road to the Super Bowl. This would be hard for the Jaguars with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and seems insurmountable without him.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com Senior Reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They play a near perfect game in all three phases and get a couple breaks. There is little room for error against the Lions. The Jaguars saw first-hand in 2023 Training Camp what the Lions were building when they practiced against them for a couple days up at Allen Park. It has continued to blossom in Motown with last year's run to the NFC Championship Game and this incredible start in 2024. Keys for the Jags: Play ahead of the chains. Stay on the field on offense. No turnovers. Get a couple takeaways. Give the defense a breather now and then. Score early and often. It's a long list. And then … the Jaguars will have a CHANCE to win, but will they execute in the key moment late?
• The Lions will win if: They continue to play their brand of football. On offense, they have a physical offensive line, a stable of running backs, a tight end and wide receivers that are pound-for-pound among the best in the NFL. The defense is an elite unit overall with takeaways and an attitude, even without defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. This is as complete of a team as any in the entire NFL.
• As Shadrick sees it: We have reached the true fall-line of the Jaguars' season. If they win, then there's some kind of energy going into the bye week with a chance to build something in the last month. A fourth straight loss will guarantee a losing record no matter what happens after the Week 12 bye. What's really going on with Lawrence's shoulder? How much losing can the team sustain? What are the long-term solutions to turn it around? We are asking these questions weeks before Thanksgiving, which tells you the disappointment that this team has reached – a near all-time level considering the commitment and investment made for this 2024 season.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They can establish the run and Jones can play with confidence. Jones struggled badly against the Vikings and I'm sure it was a huge blow to the ego for him. If Jones is able to shake that off and confidently run the offense, then the Jags have a chance. The Jags will also have to get the run going early.
• The Lions will win if: They show up. If the Lions come into this lopsided matchup expecting to be given a victory, then they will be surprised by the fight from this 2-8 Jaguars team. If Detroit comes into it and plays its game, the Lions should win by two touchdowns.
• As Stevens sees it: It could get really ugly in Detroit on Sunday for the Jaguars. I've been impressed with the team's effort the past three weeks, but I think that resolve may run out this weekend. The bye week can't come soon enough.