At the same time , even though they might not fully admit it , the Jacksonville Jaguars can exorcise some demons in the process – and then move on to Week 3 .
And no , Myles Jack wasn ’ t down . He will never be .
Jaguars Players to Watch
Here are J . P . Shadrick ’ s key players to watch in today ’ s game against the New England Patriots :
• # 5 QB Blake Bortles : This is a simple one . His Week 1 performance against the Giants was far from outstanding statistically , outside of the winning result . The Jaguars need Bortles to improve this week , especially if there are questions in the running game with …
• # 27 RB Leonard Fournette : He left the Week 1 game against the Giants with a hamstring injury and did not return . If he is healthy enough to be active this week , can he be the hard-running , explosive back that he was in the fi rst two quarters in New York ? There is lots of football left this season as well .
• # 56 Dante Fowler Jr .: Fowler is coming off his one-game NFL suspension for a violation of the league ’ s personal conduct policy . He watched last week ’ s game on television . Fowler sounds eager to prove he belongs on the fi eld with a defense that showed a week ago it can be strong without him .
• # 91 DE Yannick Ngakoue : Ngakoue might not have gotten home on Eli Manning last week for a sack , but his pressure caused Manning to step up in the pocket and rush his throw that was intercepted . He is supremely confi dent and is primed to break out . Frustrate Tom Brady ; a stripsack – his specialty a year ago – would be helpful .
• # 95 Abry Jones /# 97 Malik Jackson /# 99 DT Marcell Dareus : Same here , but in the middle of the line . All three played well last week in New York . Don ’ t let Tom Brady get comfortable standing back in the pocket , and the easiest way to do that is to fi nd pressure from the middle to either get home or help the edge rushers .
• # 68 LG Andrew Norwell : In his Jaguars debut last week , Norwell had a key penalty to negate a touchdown and allowed a sack for the fi rst time in a long time . Norwell was a fi rst-team All- Pro guard last year with Carolina and was paid as such in free agency . His attitude and work ethic are as strong as you will fi nd on this team . Another week of this line playing together in a real game will help everyone up front . Look for Norwell to bounce back and play well this week and beyond .
• # 44 LB Myles Jack : Obvious reasons here considering the play that has come to defi ne the Jaguars ’ January loss to the Patriots . Jack played very well a week ago in the opener with a team-high 10 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown . Let the play-making continue for a guy who cannot wait to right the “ wrong ” done in Foxborough .
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