The Eagles (3-4) face the Jaguars (3-4) in London’s Wembley Stadium at 9:30 a.m. EST Sunday morning.
The Eagles are coming off a devastating 21-17 loss to the Panthers last week, while the Jaguars lost to the Texans last week for their third straight L.
Here are five matchups to watch:
Alshon Jeffery vs. Jalen Ramsey
In his four games since returning from that shoulder injury, Jeffery has been very good. He has 25 catches for 306 yards and four touchdowns. But his worst game this season came against the Vikings, when he was covered by Xavier Rhodes. He caught just two passes (on eight targets) for 39 yards.
That’s worth noting because Jeffery will face another really good corner this week in Ramsey. The Jags’ top corner just turned 24 and is coming off a Pro Bowl and All-Pro season a year ago. Ramsey’s cover skills are eclipsed only by his talking skills. He talks a lot of trash, but before this season had some really complimentary things to say about Carson Wentz.
Eagles’ banged-up OTs vs. good DEs
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The Jaguars have just 15 sacks this season, which isn’t great, but their top two sack-getters have been defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. Each has four sacks, which is the same amount Fletcher Cox has to lead the Eagles.
It’s worth watching these matchups because both Jason Peters and Lane Johnson are dealing with injuries. Peters has a partially torn biceps and a quad injury, while Johnson has been dealing with a high ankle sprain. Johnson played all last game and Peters missed just a handful of snaps, but it’s still worth monitoring their availability and production.
Blake Bortles vs. Eagles defense
The Jaguars are giving Bortles all their first-team reps this week in practice, but they’ve made it pretty clear he’s on a short leash. So if the Eagles play well enough, they might actually take him out of the game. Bortles was once a No. 3 pick, but his career has been disappointing. The Jags got to the AFC Championship Game with him last year, but it certainly wasn’t because of him.
The turnover ratio has killed the Jaguars and Bortles has thrown eight INTs in seven games to just nine touchdowns. If the Eagles get up on the Jaguars and force Bortles to throw, they can force him into a disastrous game like when he threw four picks against the Chiefs.
Dede Westbrook vs. Jalen Mills
Last week against the Texans, Westbrook had his worst game of the season, catching just four passes for 17 yards, but he’s looking at a good matchup to bounce back this week. Westbrook is the Jags’ leading receiver and has averaged 13.0 yards per catch this season. Mills has given up way too many plays this year, including a 4th-and-10 last week in the fourth quarter when he slipped.
Carlos Hyde vs. Eagles
The Jags have really missed running back Leonard Fournette, so they went out and traded for Carlos Hyde from the Browns. This weekend will probably be Hyde’s first action with his new team. The Jags will likely keep things simple on him and not ask too much.
“We’re just excited right now that we have him,” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. “He does fit into the style we like to play.”
Jacksonville wants to be a team that runs the ball and plays defense. That’s how they were built and that’s how they got to the AFC Championship Game last season. Hyde might allow them to get back to that.
The Eagles need to get him on the ground. He’s a big, bruising back, so the Eagles can’t afford to miss tackles, which has been an issue the last couple weeks.
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