Jaguars vs. Saints: NFL Prediction, Picks, Odds, and Best Bets

The "London" Jaguars return to the States after dominating the Colts, but face a tough matchup against the Saints. Trevor Lawrence's injury may impact the game.

The "London" Jaguars have made their return to the United States, and despite facing a revenge-driven Colts team in their first AFC South matchup, they were fully prepared and focused.

On the other hand, the Bills struggled upon their return, barely scraping by with a last-second stop against the Giants.

However, the Jaguars showed their dominance by defeating the Colts with a score of 37-20.

This victory marks their third consecutive win, but they now face a short week and a challenging travel schedule.

Adding to the difficulties, quarterback Trevor Lawrence is dealing with a knee injury that has limited his practice time. Despite this, he still expects to play in the upcoming "Thursday Night Football" game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Jaguars have had two weeks in London, followed by a flight to Jacksonville, and now they must quickly turnaround and travel to New Orleans. While this may sound like a never-ending vacation, it is undoubtedly a demanding schedule to ask of any team.

Such a rigorous travel schedule takes a toll on the players' bodies, regardless of how they may appear on the surface.

In this Thursday night matchup, the Jaguars may be overvalued as they face the Saints, who are favored by one point. The Saints have struggled recently, losing three out of their last four games.

It's easy to overlook the Saints in this matchup, especially considering their offensive struggles since Derek Carr's shoulder injury a month ago. The offense has suffered, and the team has only scored more than 20 points once this season.

The Saints' defense has been their saving grace, with a strong performance that has earned them a sixth-place ranking in PFF's rankings and a top 10 ranking in DVOA.

There is a possibility that Trevor Lawrence's injury may be a smoke screen, with conflicting reports emerging about his availability for the game. It is likely that Lawrence will play, albeit at less than 100 percent, and his positive comments about his progress may be an attempt to downplay the injury.

During Tuesday's practice, Lawrence was limited while backup quarterback C.J. Beathard took most of the first-team reps. It is evident that there is an issue with Lawrence's knee.

Despite the Jaguars' 37-point performance against the Colts, the final score may be misleading due to timely turnovers and favorable field positioning. Lawrence struggled in this game, with a QBR of 51.6 and 0 EPA per play, while the Colts turned the ball over six times.

It is important to note that losing Lawrence's mobility could have a significant impact on the Jaguars' offense. Limited mobility can be detrimental, as we saw with Joe Burrow earlier in the season. Against the aggressive New Orleans defense, not being able to move, scramble, or throw on the run is a significant loss.

This game presents the perfect opportunity for the Saints to bounce back. After playing four of their last five games on the road, and with Carr gradually recovering from his injury, the Saints will have the advantage of returning to the Superdome to face a hobbled Lawrence.

Considering the challenging travel schedule for the Jaguars and their recent winning streak, it is understandable that they enter the game as slight underdogs on Thursday night.

Ultimately, the Saints' dominant defense is likely to lead them to victory, pushing them above a .500 record.

Share With Others