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Packers vs. Jaguars: Final Analysis For Week 8 Showdown Back At EverBank Stadium

1026 Final Analysis Week 8

JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2024 season, Jaguars "experts" – Tony Boselli, 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:

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com Senior Correspondent

  • The Jaguars will win if: They are plus-two or better in takeaway ratio. Packers quarterback Jordan Love is on a tear with 13 touchdown passes in four games since returning from a Week 1knee injury. He also has thrown eight interceptions in that stretch. The Jaguars have only three takeaways this season. If they could get two from Love, that could be the difference the Jaguars have been searching for the first seven weeks of the season.
  • The Packers will win if*:* The Jaguars' secondary doesn't improve. Cornerback Tyson Campbell is back, and the changes they made at nickel and safety in a victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday should be a week stronger as well. But beating a quarterback with as much athleticism, poise and arm strength as Love has is a tall order. Packers wide receivers Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson present a host of matchup issues for the Jaguars' secondary – and if they're running wild, the Packers' offense will light up the scoreboard.
  • As Sexton sees it: This is a winnable game for the Jaguars. The record doesn't agree, but the Jaguars are getting healthy – and quarterback Trevor Lawrence is playing well and getting better. The Jaguars found something on the ground in London that can help them this week and I like their odds against the Packers.

John Oehser, jaguars.com Senior Writer

  • The Jaguars will win if: They play their best game of the season. The Jaguars must force Love into mistakes, and they need above-the-Xs-and-Os plays offensively from their two best playmakers, running back Tank Bigsby and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
  • The Packers will win if: They force the Jaguars into mistakes. Lawrence has dramatically reduced his turnovers this season, but the Packers pressure the quarterback well and have forced a league-high 17 turnovers in seven games.
  • As Oehser sees it: This is a huge game for the Jaguars – and perhaps their last chance to get in position to rally and make a postseason run in the second half of the season. The thought here is the Jaguars will play with energy and play well, but the Packers are good enough to overcome even the Jaguars' best game of the season.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com Senior Reporter

  • The Jaguars will win if: They run effectively, hit a couple of shot plays on offense and create a takeaway or two. Third-and-long is a bad formula this week if the Jaguars are forced to throw into tight windows. Keep it on the ground and wisely pick your spots through the air.
  • The Packers will win if: Love is comfortable in the pocket or gets it out fast. Six different Packers players have two or more touchdown receptions this season, so Love spreads the wealth to all his skill guys. If the Packers have a balanced attack with a Josh Jacobs running game, then that's bad for business for the Jaguars.
  • As Shadrick sees it: The Packers are a team fighting for the toughest division in the NFL through seven weeks, so any game they can get outside of the division is critical for them. The Jaguars got a taste of winning last week in London, and need to carry that idea of all three phases contributing back to Jacksonville. This is a massive swing game for the Jags: a 3-5 record looks and feels a whole lot better than a 2-6 record considering the next three opponents before the bye. It's a gotta-have-it game for the Jaguars, and they must play their best all-around game of the season to get it done.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack and running back Tank Bigsby (4) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 23, 2024.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and Former Jaguars Defensive End

  • The Jaguars will win if: Their offense continues to score while controlling the tempo. The Jaguars' defense had a better performance against the Patriots, but much progress needs to be made if this team is going to be truly able to play complementary football.
  • The Packers will win if*:* They create a bunch of turnovers like they have been doing. Green Bay's defense just got done shutting down Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, holding him to career-low numbers and pressuring him throughout the game.
  • As Lageman sees it: The Jaguars' offense needs to keep the explosive plays coming withThomas. Play action will help make that possible with an effective running game as the foundation. Bigsby is an impressive runner and that needs to continue for the Jags to have success against a powerful Packers offense. Love has weapons – and if Jacobs gets rolling, the Packers will have a day. Battle of the running backs and the $55 million dollar quarterbacks. My popcorn is ready.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

  • The Jaguars will win if: They continue to get the young stars involved. Thomas and second-year players Bigsby, wide receiver Parker Washington and linebacker Ventrell Miller all contributed mightily against the Patriots. The offensive line was very good and Lawrence looked comfortable. The Jaguars need to continue to play the brand of physical football they played in that game. They also need to affect Love, the Packers' terrific young quarterback who also is turnover prone. This team needs to start getting takeaways.
  • The Packers will win if: Love does a better job of protecting the ball; he has eight interceptions already. They are better when they get Jacobs going. And a main goal will be to limit the Jags' rushing game after Jacksonville called 16 consecutive running plays last week. Their goal is to make the Jags one-dimensional.
  • As Frangie sees it*:* The Packers are good. They are 5-2 and have won three in a row. But two of those were at home and the other against the struggling Los Angeles Rams. The Jaguars return to Jacksonville after winning in London last Sunday and could find their own momentum. This is a big one and I like where the Jags are heading into this game.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 23, 2024.

Tony Boselli, Jaguars Analyst and Former Jaguars Left Tackle

  • The Jaguars will win if: They control the pace of the game by running effectively and being good in the red zone. The Jaguars' defense has been struggling to get stops and get off the field. It is important for the Jaguars to win the time of possession and limit the Packers' offensive drives.
  • The Packers will win if: Love is comfortable in the pocket. The Packers have weapons at all the skill positions on offense and a strong offensive line. The Jaguars' defense will need to play their best game by finding a way to pressure Love and get one or two turnovers.
  • As Boselli sees it: This might be the most complete team the Jaguars have played in 2024. They'll need to be at their best if they're going to stack wins for the first time this year. Jaguars 31, Packers 28.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter

  • The Jaguars will win if: They outscore the Packers. I don't think there is any chance of Jacksonville's defense shutting out Love and the Packers. The best we can hope for is a shootout featuring Love and Lawrence. The last one with the ball wins.
  • The Packers will win if: They hold on to the football. The Jags have allowed long drives early in games and takeaways have been rare. That means time of possession usually heavily favors the Jaguars' opponents. If the Packers can string together a few long scoring drives, and maintain ball security, then they will cruise to a win.
  • As Stevens sees it: I've reached the point where very little would surprise me for this game. I think the Jaguars will have good energy as they return home. It has the makings of a trap game for Green Bay if Packers players get caught schedule watching instead of focusing on the task at hand. I'm predicting a close one decided late in the fourth quarter.

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