The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) return home for the first time in three weeks Sunday to face the New Orleans Saints (4-1). Kick-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
The Jaguars split their two-game road trip, defeating the Denver Broncos on a walk-off field goal, 26-24, and falling just short of a comeback in Charlotte against the Panthers, 34-27.
During that road trip, the legend of back-up-turned-rookie sensation Gardner Minshew only continued to grow. The Jaguars' starting quarterback was named the NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week for a third consecutive week on Friday, following a career-high, 374 yard and two touchdown performance against the Panthers. One of those two touchdowns was to second-year wide receiver D.J. Chark, who has now caught a touchdown in all but one game this season.
The Saints are coming off a 31-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and have won three straight.
Where Is "Sacksonville?"
After sacking the Titans' Marcus Mariota nine times in their Week Three match-up, it was assumed that the "Sacksonville" of 2017 was back in business. However, the Jaguars defense pressured but could not bring down Joe Flacco in their Week Four win over Denver; they also sacked Panthers' second-string quarterback Kyle Allen just twice last Sunday.
Equally concerning: the lack of turnovers. The Jaguars are -4 in Turnover Differential, and have only one interception on the season (Ronnie Harrison against the Broncos).
Stopping the Run
The Jaguars' defense held Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay to 53 yards on nine carries in Week Four; that came after holding the Titans' Derrick Henry to 44 yards on 17 carries.
But Christian McCaffrey is more than a Pro Bowl running back.
The Panthers' do-it-all tailback tallied three total touchdowns and 237 yards from scrimmage against the Jaguars. Running mate Reggie Bonnafon added 80 more yards and a touchdown.
Sure-tackling and "filling the gaps" has been a top agenda item for the Jacksonville defensive meeting rooms this week -- especially with an equally as elusive running back, Alvin Kamara, coming to town.
"He does break a lot of tackles and we’re obviously locking into that this week," defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Thursday. "But first of all, it starts with our front seven, having some gap accountability, that was the big thing obviously last week. We have to have a ‘stop-the-run’ mentality, but also a, ‘Just do your job’ mentality."
Will Jalen Ramsey Play?
It's become a weekly question since the All-Pro cornerback's agent requested a trade September 14, and this week is no different. Ramsey was absent completely from last week's trip to Charlotte, instead traveling to Houston to see a back specialist. The result of that visit: Ramsey was back on the practice field this Wednesday, albeit in a "Limited" capacity.
The Jaguars have officially listed the Pro Bowl'er as "Questionable." Ramsey has not played since the Jaguars' Week Three win over Tennessee.
Adding to the speculation: earlier this week, Jaguars' owner Shad Khan told Katherine Ross of "The Street" that he had a "heart-to-heart" with Ramsey and that he expects his franchise player to play against the Saints.
No Brees, No Problem
Since losing their future Hall of Fame quarterback to a hand injury Week Two, the Saints have only lost one game (27-9 at the Los Angeles Rams, in which Brees was injured). They have won all three game started by Teddy Bridgewater.
The former Minnesota Vikings signal caller has a 70-percent completion percentage this season and has thrown for six touchdowns. He has been picked off twice and sacked seven times.
Look for New Orleans to also feature "Swiss Army knife" player, Taysom Hill. The former BYU quarterback has appeared in all five games so far this season, although he has only thrown one pass; Hill does have one receiving touchdown in 2019.
Quick Hits from The Bank
- The Jaguars will take the field for the first time this season without tight end James O'Shaughnessy, a go-to target of Gardner Minshew. O'Shaughnessy suffered a torn ACL in the Jaguars' loss to the Panthers and is out for the year. In a corresponding move, the Jaguars signed tight end Ben Koyack.
- Jaguars' running back Leonard Fournette has now eclipse the 100-yard plateau each of the last two weeks, after not posting a 100+ yard game since December of 2017. If he does the same this week, Fournette will be the first Jaguar to post back-to-back-to-back, 100-yard games since Maurice Jones-Drew (2011)
- The Jaguars have already ruled out rookie tight end Josh Oliver (hamstring) for a sixth, consecutive week. Defensive end Lerentee McCray (oblique) joins Jalen Ramsey as "Questionable."
- The Jaguars are offering a "Minshew Mini-Pack" fan experience, complete with fake mustache and head-band for each fan and an opportunity to take a picture on the field at TIAA Bank Stadium.
- The Jaguars hosted the "NFL Legends Gala" Saturday night at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, welcoming back former players dating back to the Jaguars' inception in 1995. All proceeds benefited the TC Jay Fund. Many of those players are expected to attend Sunday's game against the Saints.