Patriots vs Jaguars Prediction: Two 1-5 Teams Meet in Jacksonville (Oct 20)

Our Patriots vs Jaguars prediction is for the visiting Patriots to cover the spread of +5.5 (-108).

Both teams are 1-5 but had radically different hopes for this season. A loss by the Jaguars at home to the tanking Patriots will likely doom their season completely, possibly spelling the end for head coach Doug Pederson as well. Head-to-head, the Patriots have dominated with a 12-2 record.

Offshore Odds: Jacksonville Is Favored at Home

The Patriots’ Rebuild Moves Forward With Drake Maye

Rookie QB Drake Maye has supplanted Jacoby Brissett as New England’s starting quarterback. In his first start, New England lost to the Texans 41-21. Maye struggled at times but showed promising flashes completing 20 of 33 passes for three touchdowns. He was picked off twice and sacked four times.

If the Patriots are ever to return to some semblance of their former glory under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, they will need to properly develop Maye. Offensively, they have been borderline inept, but defensively, they have been respectable once again. Jacksonville has arguably the worst defense in the NFL, particularly against the pass. That should allow Maye to open it up and put some points on the board.

Jaguars Continue to Spiral, Jeopardizing Head Coach

The Jaguars have had high expectations since drafting Trevor Lawrence first overall, hiring Super Bowl-winning coach Pederson, and making an impressive run to the second round of the playoffs one year after going 3-14 under Urban Meyer.

Unfortunately, they stagnated in 2023, going 9-8 and missing the playoffs. In 2024, they’ve been an unmitigated disaster, having won just one game and nearly blowing it in a 37-34 slugfest over the Colts. Apart from firing the overmatched and indifferent Meyer in the middle of the coach’s first season, owner Shad Khan has been patient with his staff. However, if they lose to the Patriots, that could be it for this regime.

Patriots vs Jaguars Prediction: Patriots Will Keep it Close

This game is a litmus test as to how badly the Jaguars players want to save Pederson’s job. With some big-name coaching candidates available (Bill Belichick, Ben Johnson), Khan could say enough is enough with Pederson after a loss to the woeful Patriots. Our Patriots vs Jaguars prediction is that New England will keep it close enough to cover the spread. Rolling the dice on the money line for the Patriots at +205 is not absurd.

Tags:
• Regular Season (NFL)