Allison: Travis Hunter is a generational talent, but if you watched the Broncos game, you might have wondered why he’s barely touching the ball on offense. Is Liam Coen hiding his best weapon? Or is there a bigger problem with Trevor Lawrence’s protection that we need to talk about before Sunday?
Derek: It’s not just about hiding him, Allison. It’s about scheme design and leverage. But yeah, if Lawrence can’t get the ball out quick against New England, those offensive line issues are going to haunt us again.
Allison: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, home of daily, deep-dive sports coverage for fans who actually want the truth. I’m Allison, and I’m joined by my analyst Derek. We are live on September 26th, 2026. If you’re new here, grab your coffee because we’ve got three massive topics today.
Derek: Hey everyone. We’re looking at the Jacksonville Jaguars as they sit 1-and-1, leading the AFC South, coming off a tough 20-to-13 loss in Denver. Our roadmap: First, we break down the Patriots matchup and why this game feels different. Second, we dive into the injury report and the Travis Hunter usage mystery. And third, we give you our keys to victory and a bold prediction for Week 3.
Allison: That’s right. Last week we talked about Lawrence’s efficiency struggles, and we said it had to turn around. Let’s see if the script flips against Bill Belichick’s squad. Stick with us, because Segment One starts right now.
Allison: Okay, let’s set the stage. The Jaguars are 1-and-1. They beat their first opponent, lost to Denver, and now they host the New England Patriots. On paper, this should be a winnable game for a team trying to establish dominance in the AFC South. But Derek, when you look at the Broncos film from last Thursday night, what stands out as the biggest story heading into this Patriots game?
Derek: The story is balance, Allison. And specifically, the lack of it. In Denver, Trevor Lawrence went 17-for-29 for 189 yards and an interception. That’s inefficient football. You can’t sustain drives like that against any competent defense, let alone a Patriots team that’s still 'finding themselves,' as the headlines say. The Jaguars need to find more balance in the passing attack immediately.
Allison: Right. And it wasn’t just the stats; it was the rhythm. Jaylen Waddle had 138 receiving yards for Denver, while our Parker Washington managed 98 yards on seven catches. It felt like Lawrence was playing checkers while Bo Nix was playing chess. Do you think the Patriots present a different look defensively that forces Lawrence to adjust his pre-snap reads?
Derek: I do. New England doesn’t have the same pass-rush havoc creators that Denver did with Malcolm Roach getting pressure. But they also don’t have the secondary depth to cover Brian Thomas Jr. one-on-one all day. The key here is personnel grouping. If Jacksonville stays in heavy sets too much without establishing the run, the Patriots will stack the box and force Lawrence into difficult throws. They need to use motion to create mismatches.
Allison: Which brings us to the elephant in the room. Travis Hunter. He’s listed as a WR, he’s playing half the defensive snaps, but on offense, he’s barely seen. Head coach Liam Coen says it’s by design. Are you buying that, or do you think they’re overthinking it?
Derek: I’m skeptical of the 'by design' narrative when the results aren’t there yet. Look, using a two-way player like Hunter requires immense schematic creativity. If you’re not leveraging his speed and athleticism in space, you’re wasting a superpower. Against New England, if they expect to win, Hunter needs more touches. Not just one screen per game. We’re talking about jet sweeps, crossing routes, maybe even some direct snaps if they’re feeling spicy. But right now? He’s being used sparingly, and it’s hurting the offense's ceiling.
Allison: That’s a bold take. Some might say protecting him from excessive wear is the priority since he’s playing both ways. But if Lawrence isn’t getting efficient, how does the team win? The headline says the Jaguars expect a favorable response against the Patriots because New England is struggling to find itself. Do you agree with that assessment?
Derek: I agree that New England is vulnerable, but I disagree that it’s an easy win. The Patriots are still figuring things out, which makes them unpredictable. Unpredictable defenses are dangerous because you can’t rely on standard tendencies. Lawrence has to be ready for anything. If he’s looking for redemption after that 189-yard performance, he needs to elevate his decision-making. No more forced throws into tight windows.
Allison: So, no more INTs. Bo Nix threw one, Wil Lutz kicked field goals, and the Broncos controlled the clock. Jonah Coleman rushed for 39 yards and a TD, which killed any momentum Jacksonville had. We need to keep this momentum going. Let’s pivot to the people on the field. Who are the key players we need to watch this weekend?
Derek: Well, obviously Trevor Lawrence is #1. But let’s talk about Bhayshul Tuten. He had 13 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown in Denver. That’s solid production. If the offensive line can’t protect Lawrence consistently, Tuten becomes the safety valve. Every time Lawrence looks for a receiver and sees pressure, Tuten should be in the flat. He’s reliable. He’s fast. He needs to be the go-to guy when things break down.
Allison: Tuten is definitely someone to watch. What about the offensive line? We’ve been talking about protection issues for weeks. Ezra Cleveland, Anton Harrison, Walker Little—how are they holding up? Are there any injuries affecting the front five?
Derek: Looking at the roster, the OL looks relatively healthy compared to some other units. You’ve got Ezra Cleveland at guard, Anton Harrison at tackle, Walker Little at tackle. These are veterans. The issue in Denver wasn’t necessarily individual mistakes; it was collective timing. When Bo Nix was moving the chains, the Jaguars’ pass protection collapsed. For Lawrence to succeed, the tackles need to set the edge and prevent outside pressure. If Josh Hines-Allen or Arik Armstead on defense are going to get pressure, the O-line must communicate blitzes better.
Allison: Speaking of defense, Foyesade Oluokun had seven tackles in Denver. He’s the heart of that unit. How important is it for him to step up against a Patriots offense that might be relying heavily on play-action given their QB situation?
Derek: Critical. Oluokun is the quarterback of the defense. If he misses a tackle or gets caught out of position on play-action, the Patriots will eat. Alex Singleton had nine tackles for Denver, showing how central linebackers are in stopping the run. Oluokun needs to be faster than Singleton. He needs to read the formation, identify the play-action fake instantly, and fill the gap. If Jacksonville’s defense can stop the run early, they force New England into obvious passing downs, which plays into the hands of Jarrian Jones and Jourdan Lewis in the secondary.
Allison: Let’s talk injuries, because the list from the Broncos game was long. We know Jonah Coleman and Jonathon Cooper are out for Denver. What about the Jaguars? Are there any concerns on this side of the ball that could impact Sunday?
Derek: From the brief, the Jaguars’ injury report is surprisingly clean regarding key starters. The Broncos were decimated—Jonah Coleman out, Jonathon Cooper out, Nick Gargiulo out, plus several guys on IR like Frank Crum and Sam Mustipher. That level of attrition hurts. For Jacksonville, having a full complement of weapons is huge. Travis Hunter is active. Brian Thomas Jr. is active. Jakobi Meyers is active. That’s a stark contrast to Denver’s depleted roster. This is an advantage for the Jags if they can manage the physical toll of two-way players.
Allison: It really is. And Cam Little nailed two field goals in that loss, including a 44-yarder. Special teams wasn’t the issue; the offense just couldn’t score touchdowns consistently. Only one TD for Jacksonville against three for Denver. That’s the margin right there. If Lawrence can connect with Parker Washington more, or get Hunter involved, those field goals become touchdowns. Let’s move to Segment Three. What are the keys to the game?
Derek: Key number one: Speed the game up. Short drops, quick releases. Don’t ask Lawrence to hold the ball for five seconds against a Patriots defense that’s still finding its identity. Get the ball out. Key number two: Utilize Travis Hunter in space. If he’s not seeing more snaps on offense, something is wrong. Key number three: Turnovers. Lawrence threw an INT in Denver. He cannot afford that against New England. One turnover kills drive sustainability.
Allison: I love those keys. Speed, Hunter, turnovers. Now, remember back on Tuesday and Wednesday, we made some predictions? We said Trevor Lawrence would improve his passing efficiency against New England. We also predicted the Jaguars would defeat the Patriots 21-17. And on Wednesday, Derek added that Lawrence would throw for over 250 yards and zero interceptions. Still standing by that?
Derek: I am. The Patriots are vulnerable, and Jacksonville is motivated. After that 1-1 start and the stinging loss to Denver, this team needs a win to stay atop the AFC South. Lawrence has nothing to prove but everything to gain. I still project him to throw for over 250 yards, zero picks, and lead the Jaguars to a 21-17 victory. It’s a gritty, low-scoring affair, but the Jags close it out.
Allison: Bold. I’ll take it. 21-17, Jaguars. Lawrence cleans up his act, Tuten keeps the runs going, and Travis Hunter finally gets the spotlight he deserves on offense. If you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed to the Beatline Podcast Network so you don’t miss our post-game reaction tomorrow. We’ll be right here to tell you if we were right or totally off base.
Allison: Before we go, I want to say something real. This show is built by you, for you. If today’s breakdown helped you understand the Jaguars better, or if you enjoyed hearing Derek break down those coverage schemes, please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. Your support keeps this network free and daily. We appreciate every single one of you.
Derek: Thanks for listening. Go Jaguars. Let’s get this W.
Allison: We’ll see you next time. Beatline out!