Jacksonville @ Carolina preview
Bank of America Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2017 ) Carolina 24, Jacksonville 23
The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars both are trying to stay afloat after losing their starting quarterbacks to injury. With the backups at the helm, they’ll both try to buoy their records when the Panthers host the Jaguars on Sunday.
Both teams have fared well despite losing their quarterbacks, as Jacksonville has won two straight with rookie Gardner Minshew at the helm while Carolina has won its last two with Kyle Allen under center. They’ve done it by playing strong defense and running the ball effectively, as this matchup will feature two of the NFL’s top young running backs in Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey and Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette. McCaffrey and Fournette were picked four spots apart in the first round of the 2017 draft and rank first and third, respectively, in the league in rushing through Week 4. The clubs have split six meetings since entering the NFL as expansion teams in 1995.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Panthers -3.5. O/U: 41
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (2-2): Jacksonville has done a good job of taking what the defense gives, and it came last week in the form of 269 rushing yards in a 26-24 win at Denver. Fournette rolled up a career-high 225 yards alone, and his ability to gash defenses on the ground has made things easier on Minshew, who has passed for 905 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception since taking over for Nick Foles in Week 1 against Kansas City. The Jaguars’ defense has been tough in the red zone as it helps mask some deficiencies in the secondary.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2-2): Carolina’s offense has held its own since Allen took over for Cam Newton two weeks ago, but the club was limited to a season-low 297 total yards and committed three turnovers in last week’s 16-10 win at Houston. McCaffrey is the focal point, leading the NFL with 411 rushing yards to go along with 25 receptions for 218 yards. The offense doesn’t have to do too much because of Carolina’s outstanding defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL in total defense and No. 1 against the pass.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Minshew’s 106.9 passer rating is the highest by a rookie with at least 50 attempts in his first four games in the Super Bowl era.
2. Allen joined Carson Wentz as the only quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to win their first three career starts without throwing an interception.
3. McCaffrey has recorded at least 10 receptions six times in his career, tying him with Larry Centers and LaDainian Tomlinson for the most by a running back in NFL history.
PREDICTION: Panthers 23, Jaguars 20