cbssports
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to return to London, their home away from home, to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening game of Sunday's NFL action.
Jacksonville (3-1) enters the contest riding impressive victories over the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. The team's success has been fueled by the consistent play of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, complemented by a defense that has surrendered the second-fewest points in the league thus far.
Philadelphia (2-2) endured a chaotic week that saw them suffer a second consecutive defeat, witness the abrupt retirement of perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman Lane Johnson, and trade fellow Pro Bowl lineman Cam Jurgens. The Jurgens trade has raised questions about the Eagles' intentions for the remaining 13 games of the season.
How to Watch
Fans can catch the Jaguars vs. Eagles matchup live on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The game will air on NFL Network, with streaming available on fubo. Follow live updates on the CBS Sports App. As of now, the Jaguars are 7.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 41.5, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Eagles Offensive Line Overhaul
Philadelphia's offensive front will have a drastically different look. Rookie Markel Bell is slated to step in at right tackle for Johnson, while Drew Kendall—if he is healthy—will take over at center for Jurgens. Bell, a third-round pick in April's draft, made his first career start in last week's loss to the Rams and delivered a solid overall performance under the circumstances. He allowed six pressures and an 18.8% pressure rate per drop-back, but he fared better in run blocking, helping the Eagles rush for 104 yards even though Saquon Barkley missed most of the game with an injury. Kendall, a 2025 fifth-round selection, has made four career starts, including three this season. His play gave the Eagles confidence to trade Jurgens.
Injury Woes for Philadelphia
Philadelphia lists a whopping 12 players on this week's injury report. Among them are Kendall (knee), Barkley (hamstring), and wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Marquise Brown (ankle), and Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring). These injuries, among others, surely contributed to the Eagles being sizable underdogs in London.
Diverging Paths
The two teams find themselves in entirely different situations heading into Sunday's game. The Eagles have dropped two straight and appear to be in danger of waving the white flag on the season. Their struggles have been on both sides of the ball: they rank 26th in the NFL in scoring and 17th in points allowed. A major issue has been the uneven play of quarterback Jalen Hurts, which can be attributed in part to instability on the offensive line, injuries to Barkley, a new offensive coordinator for the second straight year, and the absence of A.J. Brown after he was traded to New England. Rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon has caught just 10 passes for 65 yards.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, bounced back from a Week 3 loss in Denver with a blowout win over the Patriots and a five-point victory in Cincinnati. The Jaguars have been excellent on third down and in the red zone, ranking third in the league in both offensive categories. Their defense ranks fifth on third down and second in the red zone. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun has been a force this season with 24 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
Prediction
It's hard to fathom the Eagles falling to 2-3 given the talent on their roster. It's even harder, however, to envision them beating the Jaguars unless Jacksonville beats itself with turnovers and other poor play. Rest assured that Eagles veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will try to make life difficult for Lawrence by taking away the running game and bottling up his receivers. If Lawrence can handle the pressure, the Jaguars should fly back to the States with a 4-1 record. Score: Jaguars 16, Eagles 13.
Originally reported by cbssports.