By OkayGoal
Preview for New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars will meet on Sunday, with both sides looking to improve to 2-1 after dropping one of their opening two games of the 2026 NFL season.
The Patriots have struggled to get their offense going, with Drake Maye throwing four interceptions through two games, but their defense has been one of the strongest units in the league.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing defeat to Denver last weekend after letting a lead slip away, but the Jaguars remain slight favorites heading into Sunday’s contest.
New England rank second in the NFL in defensive EPA per play and fourth in yards per play allowed. They held Pittsburgh to just three points in Week 2 and have conceded only 16 points across their opening two games.
That gives the Patriots a chance to remain competitive in Jacksonville even if their offense fails to find top gear.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, looked impressive in their season opener when they dismantled the Cleveland Browns, but they were unable to maintain that level against Denver last weekend.
Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonville allowed the Broncos to recover from a deficit and ultimately suffered their first defeat of the season.
New England were among the NFL’s best offensive teams in terms of EPA per play last season, so there is reason to believe their early struggles will not continue at the same level throughout 2026.
The return of TreVeyon Henderson in Week 2 also provided a boost to the Patriots’ rushing attack.