AGAINST THE SPREAD: Carolina 4-9-2, Jacksonville 8-7
SERIES RECORD: Panthers lead 4-3.
LAST MEETING: Panthers beat Jaguars 34-27 on Oct. 6, 2019, at Carolina.
LAST WEEK: Panthers lost to Packers 33-30; Jaguars lost to Buccaneers 30-12.
PANTHERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (19), PASS (30), SCORING (29)
PANTHERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (21), PASS (4), SCORING (30)
JAGUARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (26), PASS (8), SCORING (T-13)
JAGUARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (11), PASS (29), SCORING (20)
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Panthers minus-6; Jaguars minus-3.
PANTHERS PLAYER TO WATCH: wide receiver DJ Chark, who was selected by Jacksonville in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, makes his first visit to the Jaguars. The veteran is coming off one of his best games with the Panthers, catching six passes for 98 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The previous week, Chark made an unlikely reception near the sideline against Atlanta, which helped set up Eddy Pineiro’s game-winning field goal as the clock ran out. JAGUARS PLAYER TO WATCH: Evan Engram, who has 98 receptions for 824 yards and three touchdowns, needs to make two catches to become the second player in franchise history, after Jimmy Smith (1999, 2001).
ESSENTIAL MATCHUP: Jacksonville’s struggling secondary with Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. After throwing for 312 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-30 loss to the Packers, the top pick in the 2023 draft is coming off of one of his best games as a professional. Young appeared to settle into the game as he displayed composure and moxie in the pocket. The Jaguars give up 257.1 passing yards per game when they play. The Jaguars’ ability to put pressure on Young will be crucial, but their 32 sack total is the lowest in the league.
KEY INJURIES: OLB Amare Barno was placed on injured reserve by the Panthers this week, and the condition of CB Troy Hill is still uncertain due to a concussion. Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback for the Jaguars, is expected to play despite a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. After missing games due to injuries, LT Cam Robinson (knee) and WR Zay Jones (knee/hamstring) will return.
SERIES NOTES: This is the sixth meeting between the two expansion teams from 1995. Since December 9, 2007, the Jaguars and Panthers have lost three straight games, with Carolina emerging victorious. It is a squad that has never won a Super Bowl.
STATS AND OTHER INFORMATION: The Panthers are 0-8 on the road this season. Last season, they won on the road in Week 18 at New Orleans. This season, the Panthers have not taken a snap from center while leading in the fourth quarter. Each of their victories came on the game’s penultimate play, while down, before winning field goals by Pineiro. … Adam Thielen’s 7,646 receiving yards rank eighth among undrafted players. … TE Tommy Tremble was more active in the offense against the Packers last week, with four catches for 59 yards. Last week, Panthers OLB Frankie Luvu had 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Pineiro is presently the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history, with an 89% accuracy percentage.
… The Jaguars have lost four straight games, but they still have a chance to win the AFC South. With a win and losses by Houston and Indianapolis, they can clinch the division. This season, Jacksonville is 2-5 at home. Lawrence has eight touchdowns (five passing, three rushing) and no interceptions in his last three home games. He needs 264 yards passing to become the first player in franchise history to pass for 4,000 yards or more in consecutive seasons.
He’s been injured all season, but he’s started 51 straight games. Travis Etienne needs a running touchdown to become the fourth player in franchise history to have 10 or more in a season. OLB Josh Allen needs one sack to tie the team record (14 1/2) set by Calais Campbell in 2017…. OLB Travon Walker has a half-sack or more in five of his last six games.
FANTASY TIP: Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has five touchdowns in his last five games. With Christian Kirk out and Jones battling with nagging ailments, Engram and WR Calvin Ridley have emerged as Lawrence’s go-to options.
