After three weeks in the United Kingdom, the last London game of the 2024 season begins this Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., as the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) welcome the New England Patriots (1-5) to the Wembley Stadium in a match of teams in desperate need of a win.
The Patriots’ rebuilding season under new head coach Jerod Mayo opened with a surprise win over the Bengals, but the team has since lost five straight times. Looking for a change, Week 6 against the Houston Texans marked the highly anticipated first start of last draft’s third overall pick Drake Maye. Although his debut ended in a 41-21 loss, his presence ushered in a new era for New England.
As for the Jaguars, they started the season 0-4 before picking up their first win of the campaign with a thriller against the Colts. But traveling to London for the first of their back-to-back international matches last week, they couldn’t build on that victory, instead getting crushed by the Bears, 35-16. The Jaguars now remain in the UK for a second consecutive week as questions begin to arise over possible changes in the event of another setback.
Maye is looking for his first NFL victory. Week 6 gave the Patriots a taste of what’s possible with him with three passes for touchdowns to three different players. However, he struggled to protect his ball well, being the victim of two interceptions.
The Jaguars defense has struggled against the passing game, ranking last in yards allowed per game, and Maye won’t want to give them any form of help to increase their confidence in that category.
New England’s offensive line has been overhauled. Maye was the victim of four sacks in the last game and he even injured his knee. The Jaguars defense has had 14 sacks in six games so far this season. The rookie quarterback will particularly need Josh Hines-Allen (2.5 sacks) and Travon Walker (five sacks).
Clash of Titans in the NFC North
At 1 p.m., the Detroit Lions (4-1) visit the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) in a duel at the top of the North division of the National Association.
Detroit’s dangerous attack will try to break down a tough defense in Minnesota and will want to inflict a first defeat this season on their great rivals.
The Lions have scored no less than 89 points in their last two games, massacring the Dallas Cowboys 47-9 last week at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The 89 points scored was their highest total in two games since 1962. They also had at least three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games for the first time since 1962 and the third time in franchise history. the franchise.
“With how well everyone in our division is playing, these division games are going to be really important,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said, referring to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. who trail both teams with 4-2 records.
The Vikings defense will not let itself be walked on. She allowed 15.2 points per game, an average good for fourth in the NFL. The defensive unit also leads the NFL in interceptions with 11 and is third in sacks with 20.
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has never been more dangerous than when he faces the Lions. He has 62 receptions for 1,073 yards in just eight games against Michigan. In his last three games, he has made 29 receptions for 559 yards and two touchdowns.
If the Lions try to do more to guard Jefferson, the Vikings have full confidence in Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and the rest of their receivers to find openings for Sam Darnold.
“We’re trying to create a game plan where teams decide how they want to defend us,” O’Connell said. Then it’s our job as coaches to try to give our players a good plan so that all five eligible players can produce. »
However, the Lions defense will have to make do without a big piece for a long time. Star defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson is expected to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his leg last week in Dallas. Without his best defensive day, the task will be much more difficult for the Lions against the Vikings.
Replay of the last Super Bowl
At 4 p.m., RDS2 offers you a replay of the last Super Bowl game, as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers.
On February 11, the Chiefs won a second Vince-Lombardi Trophy in a row in Las Vegas by beating the Niners in overtime, 25-22.
Fresh off their bye week, the Chiefs will make it their mission to maintain their immaculate 5-0 record.
Andy Reid’s men will play a third game on the road this season.
For their part, the 49ers will want to build on the 36-24 victory obtained against division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, in Week 6.
On the Kansas City side, we will have to keep an eye on running back Kareem Hunt, who has helped revive his club’s ground attack since Isaiah Pacheco fell in action.
His most recent performance represented his first haul of over 100 rushing yards since the 2020 season.
For San Francisco, it will be interesting to see if Brock Purdy continues to improve, after throwing three touchdown passes without committing a turnover, and adding 255 air yards in the victory against the Seahawks.
The Chiefs have won each of the four meetings against the Niners since Kyle Shanahan took the helm of the team in 2017.
Rodgers and Adams: the new chapter
Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are regulars in prime time games.
However, we will see them again in new colors than usual, Sunday evening (8 p.m., RDS2), when the New York Jets will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wilson, 35, will be the starter for the Steelers (4-2) for the first time, while Rodgers will try to restart the season for the Jets (2-4).
And the 40-year-old veteran will try to do it in the company of his faithful sidekick Davante Adams, who was acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, much to the delight of Rodgers.
“It’s been a strange feeling, but it’s great to see my friend again,” Rodgers said of his former favorite target for many years in Green Bay.
If New York wants more from its offense, the same can be said of Pittsburgh, which ranks 26th in the NFL in offensive yards gained.
Tomlin hopes larger chunks of field will be available to the Steelers with reliance on Wilson’s right arm.
