The Jacksonville Jaguars’ New Year’s Eve matchup against the Carolina Panthers was supposed to be an easy win before the playoffs start. But with the game now just a day away, it’s far from a sure thing.
Four straight losses for the Jaguars have pushed the team into a corner and it’ll try to end that slide without Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars’ third-year quarterback suffered a shoulder sprain in the team’s 30-12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. After sitting out practice all week, Lawrence was officially ruled out for Week 17 on Friday afternoon.
Instead it’ll be C.J. Beathard tasked with leading the Jaguars to their first December win against the cellar-dwelling Panthers.
Here’s what experts have predicted will happen Sunday in Jacksonville, although it comes with the caveat that many of the picks came in before news of Lawrence’s availability was finalized Friday:
USA Today
Jarrett Bell: Jaguars, 26-21
Chris Bumbaca: Jaguars, 20-18
Nate Davis: Jaguars, 20-17
Safid Deen: Jaguars, 30-17
Tyler Dragon: Jaguars, 24-14
Victoria Hernandez: Panthers, 20-17
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Jaguars, 27-13
Lorenzo Reyes: Panthers, 18-17
NFL.com
Ali Bhanpuri: Jaguars, 23-17
Brooke Cersosimo: Jaguars, 23-12
Dan Parr: Jaguars, 20-17
Gennaro Filice: Jaguars, 21-17
Tom Blair: Jaguars, 23-17
ESPN
Stephania Bell: Jaguars
Matt Bowen: Jaguars
Mike Clay: Jaguars
Jeremy Fowler: Jaguars
Dan Graziano: Panthers
Kimberly Martin: Jaguars
Eric Moody: Panthers
Jason Reid: Jaguars
Lindsey Thiry: Jaguars
Sam Wickersham: Jaguars
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco: Jaguars
Will Brinson: Jaguars
Jared Dubin: Jaguars
Ryan Wilson: Jaguars
John Breech: Jaguars
Tyler Sullivan: Jaguars
Dave Richard: Jaguars
Jamey Eisenberg: Jaguars
Sporting News
The Jaguars have lost four straight games, and they have 10 turnovers the last three weeks. Carolina – which is winless on the road – should provide the opportunity for Jacksonville to get back on track just in time with Trevor Lawrence. The Panthers have just 11 takeways this season – fewest in the NFL.
Pick: Jaguars 30, Panthers 17
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Week 17 picks
Gary Davenport: Panthers
Brad Gagnon: Jaguars
Ian Hanford: Jaguars
Kris Knox: Panthers
Maurice Moton: Jaguars
Wes O’Donnell: Jaguars
Brent Sobleski: Panthers
Bottom Line
Most experts are picking the Jaguars to get back on track against the Panthers. Here’s the final tally:
Jaguars: 32
Panthers: 7
