The gamers on both group gained’t need to hear it, however the factor on the minds of followers of each units of followers would be the draft place because the Las Vegas Raiders host the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Raiders are at present tied for the worst report within the NFL with the New York Giants at 2-12, however the Jaguars aren’t a lot better at 3-11, and the results of this sport may have a significant impact on the highest of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In fact, the place the group will draft subsequent 12 months is the very last thing on the minds of the gamers on the sector, and that has been clear for the Raiders, who’ve regularly performed exhausting for head coach Antonio Pierce, whilst they’ve struggled to finish this dropping streak. One factor that ought to assistance is the doubtless return of quarterback Aidan O’Connell, because the offense has checked out its greatest with him below heart.
If there’s a protection to get this offense going, it’s the Jaguars, as they rank useless final within the NFL in passing yards and complete yards allowed whereas additionally having the fewest takeaways within the league. Brock Bowers is coming off back-to-back video games of simply three catches and 45 or fewer yards so a bounceback sport for the stellar rookie could possibly be in play despite the fact that groups are keying in on him extra at this level.
Jakobi Meyers has thus benefitted from all the consideration Bowers is getting and can proceed to be key, however the Raiders’ run sport took a success with the damage to Honest McCormick, which appears to be a season-ending one. Getting one thing occurring the bottom is so essential and significantly advantages O’Connell and the remainder of the offense, so Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah will as soon as once more be relied on.
Defensively, the Raiders face a Jaguars offense that has been decimated by accidents, together with to star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, leaving Mac Jones as the person below heart. However they nonetheless have some weapons that the Raiders should key in on, primarily excellent rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas simply ran roughshod over the New York Jets with over 100 yards and two touchdowns and is greater than able to exploding for enormous performs if the Raiders slip up. Moreover, the duo of Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne within the backfield is an effective one who can gash groups. With the Raiders down Maxx Crosby, to not point out many others alongside the defensive position, Adam Butler must prepared the ground up entrance to maintain this run sport in verify.
This Raiders group has been enjoying exhausting, and the Jaguars current their greatest probability to select up a victory they’ve earned. Even when it’d do injury to their offseason plans the Raiders, if they continue to be locked in, should get a giant win and finish this dropping streak.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
1:25 p.m. PT, Sunday, December 22, 2024Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NevadaTV: CBS
