The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the New England Patriots at EverBank Stadium on Sunday in a Week 3 matchup that their media analysts expect to turn on line play, protection, turnovers and late-game execution. The Jaguars are coming off a one-touchdown loss to the Denver Broncos, and the analysis published Sept. 26, 2026, framed the game as an opportunity to respond at home.
Frank Frangie, Brent Martineau and John Oehser each identified physical play as a central factor. Their evaluations focused on protecting Trevor Lawrence, creating room for the running game, controlling Drake Maye’s mobility and avoiding the mistakes that could allow New England to change the game’s momentum.
Jacksonville must protect Trevor Lawrence
Frangie, the radio voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars, said the team must win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. He specifically pointed to the Jaguars’ pass protection against Denver and said the offensive line must give Lawrence time while creating more space for the backs.
“The Jaguars will win if: They win the line of scrimmage,” Frangie said in the team’s analysis. He also said New England will need to pressure Lawrence as Denver did, while finding consistency in the passing game and protecting Maye from Jacksonville’s defensive front seven.
Frangie expects Jacksonville to bounce back and improve to 2-1. He also emphasized the importance of the Jaguars’ home games, noting that the matchup is one of six games scheduled to be played in their true home stadium this season.
Drake Maye’s running ability is a concern
Martineau, the Action Sports Jax sports director, set a scoring target for Jacksonville. He said the Jaguars need to score more than 24 points, finish their drives and take advantage of their opportunities after the offense was slowed in Denver.
Martineau also highlighted Maye’s ability to extend drives with his legs. Jacksonville must control that part of the New England offense rather than allowing Maye to create additional opportunities when plays break down.
The Patriots’ path to victory, according to Martineau, includes winning the turnover battle and allowing their defensive front to dominate. He identified the interior of Jacksonville’s offensive line as facing another difficult challenge and said the Jaguars cannot be controlled in the middle of the trenches and still expect to win.
Pressure and mistakes could decide the fourth quarter
Oehser, a jaguars.com senior writer, also centered his analysis on the lines of scrimmage. He described the Patriots as a team that is not flashy but can out-physical and outwork opponents, which means Jacksonville must match New England in those areas.
Oehser said New England could win by pressuring the Jaguars’ offense into mistakes. Jacksonville has been efficient and explosive in recent home games, but Oehser identified pressure on Lawrence and momentum-killing turnovers as ways for the Patriots to counter that production.
Oehser expects the matchup to be decided in the fourth quarter by the team that handles pressure while forcing and avoiding mistakes. That assessment places added importance on protection, ball security and the Jaguars’ ability to finish drives when the game reaches its most important moments.
Analysts favor Jacksonville in the matchup
Frangie predicted a Jacksonville victory and said the Jaguars would reach 2-1. Martineau also picked the Jaguars, providing the only specific score prediction in the analysis: “Jaguars win, 30-17.”
The predictions come with clear conditions. Jacksonville must protect Lawrence, create running room and prevent the Patriots from controlling the interior, while the defense must account for Maye’s passing and running ability.
The Week 3 matchup is scheduled for Sunday at EverBank Stadium. Jacksonville’s response to the Denver loss will depend on whether the Jaguars can turn the analysts’ priorities into consistent execution against New England.
FSB Take
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a straightforward formula entering the New England Patriots matchup: win the line of scrimmage, keep Trevor Lawrence protected, finish possessions and limit Drake Maye’s ability to extend drives. The game could remain competitive into the fourth quarter if New England creates pressure and Jacksonville gives away opportunities. The clearest prediction is a 30-17 Jaguars victory from Brent Martineau, but the broader analysis makes physical control and mistake avoidance the deciding factors.
Source: Original report