For the third week in a row, the NFL takes us throughout the pond to London. This go round, it’s going to be the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars squaring off because the motion strikes from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (the positioning of the primary two London video games) over to Wembley Stadium.
For the Jags, taking part in in London is outdated hat, and this sport will mark the eleventh time they’ve performed at Wembley Stadium within the franchise’s historical past. In these prior cases, Jacksonville has gone 5-5 on the facility, however the staff is 7-6 all time in worldwide video games. In the meantime, the Rams are 2-2 of their 4 worldwide regular-season video games.
Each golf equipment come into Week 7 with a 4-2 document and preventing for first place of their respective divisions. For the Rams, they need to win their second sport in a row after taking down the Ravens, however can have to take action with out star wideout Puka Nacua, who’s sidelined as a consequence of an ankle damage. As for the Jaguars, they need to bounce again from an upset loss at residence to the Seattle Seahawks.
Earlier than we soar additional into this matchup, let’s be sure to have all the data you could try this worldwide contest.
The place to look at Rams vs. Jaguars stay
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 19 | Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Wembley Stadium (London)
- TV: NFL Community | Stream: Fubo (strive without cost)
- Odds: Rams -3, O/U 44.5 (odds through DraftKings Sportsbook)
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Key questions
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- Who will step up in Puka Nacua’s absence? Nacua suffered an ankle damage in final week’s win over the Ravens and has since been dominated out for Sunday’s matchup. Naturally, it is a large blow to Los Angeles’ offense as Nacua’s 54 receptions led the NFL whereas his 616 yards receiving have been the second most. Davante Adams will ascend because the No. 1 possibility for Matthew Stafford, and the veteran is at the moment averaging 15.2 yards per reception (profession excessive) coming into Week 7. Past Adams, receivers Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell may see a bump in targets, together with working again Kyren Williams and tight finish Tyler Higbee.
- Will Los Angeles’ uncommon journey plans hinder its efficiency? The most typical apply for groups collaborating in these worldwide video games has been for them to reach earlier within the week to get acclimated to the time change. Nonetheless, the Rams are taking a unique method. They’re arriving in London on Saturday morning, only a day earlier than they kick off their matchup with Jacksonville. It will be attention-grabbing to see if jet lag turns into an element early on this matchup for Los Angeles.
- Has Brian Thomas Jr. turned a nook? It was a quiet begin for the Jaguars promising second-year receiver, catching simply 12 passes for 164 yards by means of the primary month. Nonetheless, Thomas Jr. has began to seem like his outdated self. In his final two video games, he has both matched or exceeded that prior manufacturing, posting 12 catches for 170 yards to associate with a receiving landing. If it is a signal that the 2024 first-round decide is coming into kind, it will make Jacksonville’s offense that rather more difficult for the Rams secondary.
- Will the dam break on the Jacksonville offensive line? Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven occasions throughout final week’s loss to the Seahawks, which was a season excessive. Lawrence had been sacked a complete of six occasions mixed earlier than Week 6. If leaks are beginning to drip alongside the Jaguars offensive line, the offense may very well be in for a impolite awakening in opposition to the Rams entrance. Los Angeles boasts a pass-rushing duo of Byron Younger and Jared Verse that may wreck video games at a second’s discover. Younger has 7.5 sacks (second-most within the NFL) on the yr, whereas Verse has 31 pressures (third-most).
X issue
Matthew Stafford has been dialed in by means of the early portion of the season and enters Week 7 because the league chief in passing yards per sport (280.7). Within the final three video games specifically, Stafford has saved the soccer out of hurt’s approach with zero interceptions over that stretch, whereas tossing seven touchdowns to associate with a 315.0 passing yards per sport common. Jacksonville is permitting 256.3 passing yards per sport this season (backside 5 within the NFL), so Stafford ought to proceed to have success by means of the air, even with out Nacua within the fold.
Nonetheless, the place he might run into bother is within the turnover division. The Jags lead the NFL with 14 takeaways this season, which incorporates 10 interceptions. So, it is a power vs. power matchup, and whoever wins the turnover battle will most certainly win the sport.
Rams vs. Jaguars prediction, decide
Whereas the journey quirk and the absence of Nacua scare me a bit, I nonetheless assume it is a sport Los Angeles ought to pull out. I’ve my questions on Lawrence, and if the offensive line is within the midst of a stoop, Jared Verse and Co. may fully stifle the offense. In the meantime, the Rams offense has sufficient playmakers to get by for a sport with out Nacua, albeit with him being arguably one of the best receiver within the NFL. Whereas Nacua’s absence is essentially the most notable, do not sleep on Jacksonville being with out Devin Lloyd. The linebacker leads the NFL with 5 takeaways this yr, which slows one of many key strengths of the Jaguars protection.
Prediction: Rams 24, Jaguars 20 | Rams -3, Underneath 44.5
