JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars handled business as an underdog last week.
Can they keep that momentum going this week as the favorite?
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The Jaguars desperately needed a win last week and got it by crushing the Chargers. Head coach Liam Coen and players said the Jaguars carried a massive chip on their shoulders after an implosion a week earlier against the Texans that was the biggest second-half collapse in franchise history.
Coen said the players played “pissed off” in Week 11. If the Jaguars (6-4) can channel that aggression into performance like it did against the Chargers, then a run to the playoffs isn’t out of the question. But they have to win the games like Sunday’s against the struggling Cardinals (3-7).
This week, the Jaguars are banged up as usual, and Coen said with as much youth on the team, practice reps are extremely important.
“The jog through, walkthrough reps are so valuable that you have to take advantage of every one,” Coen said. “And you the amount that you have to be locked into the plan and taking reps when others are, taking mental reps has got to be key and critical to our players that are having to take some limited opportunities this week and are expected to go play on Sunday. We can’t miss those ops, so it’s doable. It’s just definitely harder.”
Injuries have piled up for the Jaguars, including players like Anton Harrison, Brian Thomas Jr., Travon Walker and Hunter Long all out this week.
It’s getting to the point of the season where every game carries monumental importance. The playoff picture is congested, particularly in the AFC South. The Colts (8-2) have a two-game lead over the Jaguars and a three-game lead over the hard-charging Texans. But Jacksonville has two games left against Indianapolis, and can’t afford to give up any ground, especially in a game against a struggling team like Arizona.
About the game
When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS.
BetMGM NFL odds: Jaguars by 2 1/2.
Against the spread: Cardinals 5-5, Jaguars 5-5.
Series record: Cardinals lead 4-2.
Last meeting: Cardinals beat the Jaguars 31-19 on Sept. 26, 2021, in Jacksonville.
Jaguars offense: overall (20), rush (8), pass (21), scoring (T13).
Jaguars defense: overall (14), rush (2), pass (26), scoring (T12).
Cardinals offense: overall (14), rush (24), pass (12), scoring (T19).
Cardinals defense: overall (21), rush (16), pass (20), scoring (25).
Turnover differential: Jaguars plus-8; Cardinals even.
Jaguars player to watch
WR Jakobi Meyers has eight catches for 105 yards — and no drops — in two weeks with Jacksonville. Meyers has been a welcome addition for QB Trevor Lawrence, whose receiving group leads the NFL in dropped passes, and likely will continue to be Lawrence’s top option down the stretch.
Cardinals player to watch
WR Michael Wilson had a breakout game last Sunday with the team’s usual No. 1 receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. out of the lineup because of surgery for appendicitis. Wilson set career highs with 15 catches for 185 yards, thriving as the top option for veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Harrison remains out while recovering from surgery, so Wilson should get a lot of looks this week.
Key matchup
Cardinals TE Trey McBride vs. Jacksonville’s defense. The Jaguars have allowed 41 receptions for 508 yards and seven touchdowns to tight ends in their past seven games. McBride has 71 catches for 718 yards and seven TDs this season — all tops at his position.
Key injuries
Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas (ankle), DE Travon Walker (knee), RT Anton Harrison (knee/ankle) and TE Hunter Long (hip/knee) are out. CB Jourdan Lewis (neck), CB Jarrian Jones (quadricep) and TE Brenton Strange (ankle) are questionable.
Cardinals: Two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray (ankle) has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve. ... Harrison and RB Emari Demercado (ankle) have already been ruled out for Sunday’s game. ... LB Baron Browning (concussion), OL Will Hernandez (knee), CB Will Johnson (back/hip), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) and OL Jonah Williams (shoulder) missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries. ... RB Trey Benson (knee) is back at practice and could return.
Series notes
The Cardinals have won four in a row in the series.
Stats and stuff
The Jaguars are 2-3 away from home this season, including 2-2 in true road games. ... Jacksonville ran the ball 47 times last week, the most by any NFL team this season. … The Jaguars had four rushing TDs for the first time since Week 3 of the 2009 season. … Since entering the league in 2021, Trevor Lawrence has the most fourth-most rushing TDs by a QB with 19. … RB Travis Etienne is one of five RBs this season with at least 50 yards from scrimmage in 10 consecutive games. … Rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten had a career-high 74 yards rushing last week. … DE Josh Hines-Allen broke the franchise record with the 56th sack of his career last week. … LB Foye Oluokun has a career-high eight pass defenses in 2025. He’s one of two players (along with Chicago’s Tremaine Edmunds) with 80 or more tackles and eight PDs this season. … The Cardinals have lost seven of their past eight games. ... Brissett completed 47 passes in last week’s loss, which sent an NFL record for completions during a regular-season game. ... Arizona’s McBride and Wilson became the second combo in franchise history to have at least 10 catches and 100 yards receiving in the same game last Sunday. The feat came exactly 17 years after the first time it happened with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. ... Wilson’s 185 yards receiving against the 49ers was the most in a single game in the NFL this season. ... LB Josh Sweat has nine sacks, 14 QB hits, 11 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed in his first 10 games with the Cardinals. ... Cardinals rookie LB Cody Simon had 12 tackles in his second career start vs. the 49ers.
Fantasy tip
Brissett has turned into an excellent quarterback option. He’s thrown for 1,570 yards over five starts, trailing just Patriots QB Drake Maye for the most passing yards since Week 6.
Information from The Associated Press is used in this report