Jacksonville @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2015 ) Jacksonville 12, N.Y. Giants 22

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. insisted he had matured last month after signing a five-year, $95 million contract extension, and his decision against engaging in a war of words with Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is a step in that direction. Beckham and Ramsey will do their talking on the field Sunday at MetLife Stadium when the Giants open their 2018 NFL season against the Jaguars.

"I think I learned my lesson," Beckham said, referencing his public spat with Josh Norman during the 2015 season. "(Ramsey) is, if not the best, one of the best corners in the league. There is no way around it." Ramsey praised Beckham last month in a GQ interview as a means of throwing shade at two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning, who will face a Jaguars defense that ranked second in the NFL in both points allowed (16.8 per game) and total defense (286.1 yards per game). Jacksonville married that aggressive defense with a conservative offense, with the latter relying heavily on then-rookie Leonard Fournette (1,040 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) to secure the team's first AFC South title since 1999 and two playoff wins before falling to New England in the AFC Championship Game. The Giants, who saw their campaign careen off the rails after Beckham sustained a season-ending broken ankle, look to get back on track with head coach Pat Shurmur making his debut on the sideline.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Jaguars -3. O/U: 43.5

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (2017: 10-6, 1ST IN AFC SOUTH): Blake Bortles turned a deaf ear to public criticism last season and led upstart Jacksonville to within one quarter of an unlikely Super Bowl appearance. The 26-year-old connected on 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,687 yards and 21 touchdowns with a career-low 13 interceptions before signing a three-year, $54 million contract extension in February. His wide receiver corps is in flux, however, as Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns departed in free agency and Marqise Lee is lost for 2018 after being on the receiving end of a low hit during a preseason contest against Atlanta. Promising youngsters Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook will join Donte Moncrief in carrying the load this season.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2017: 3-13, 4TH IN NFC EAST): Rookie Saquon Barkley embraced the bright lights of the New York media market seemingly mere moments after being selected with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The 6-foot, 233-pound running back hasn't been shy in his exposure, appearing on numerous talk shows and publications before seeing his availability limited after tweaking his hamstring during practice last month. "I definitely think I'm ready for a full (workload) the way I've been preparing and practicing," said Barkley, who rushed for 3,843 yards and 43 touchdowns in 38 career games with Penn State. Mammoth tackle Nate Solder, who signed four-year, $62 million contract, joins 2018 second-round pick Will Hernandez as part of a revamped offensive line that was priority No. 1 for new general manager Dave Gettleman.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Jacksonville DE Calais Campbell posted a franchise record with 14.5 sacks last season.

2. New York's Evan Engram, who was removed from concussion protocol on Wednesday, ranked first among rookie tight ends in catches (64) and receiving yards (722) last season.

3. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone is uncertain of the availability of TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is nursing a core muscle injury.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 20, Giants 17