Can the Jacksonville Jaguars upset the powerful Kansas City Chiefs?
This is the second weekend of the NFL playoffs and if you caught my article from last weekend’s Chargers vs Jaguars game you know I picked the Jags to win that. I was worried it wasn’t going to happen but what an epic comeback! By the way, I was a perfect 6 – 0 picking the Super Wildcard Weekend winners. Can I keep up that streak this weekend, with the Kansas City Chiefs playing host to the underdog Jacksonville Jaguars?
On paper, this game shouldn’t be close, but it is a rematch of a Week 10 battle between these two teams. The Chiefs won that game 27 – 17, after marching out to a 20 – 0 lead. The Jaguars were able to outscore the Chiefs 17 – 7 down the stretch. I do think this Jaguars team is better than that initial matchup too.
Jacksonville is coming into this game riding a six-game winning streak, that includes the huge 27-point comeback win last week over the Los Angeles Chargers. They closed out the regular season winning their last five games and playing better defensively, allowing an average of 306.6 yards per game. That is actually third-best over that stretch among the eight remaining playoff teams. On the flip side, the Chiefs’ defense allowed an average of only 291.6, the best among the remaining teams.
Could this game become a defensive battle, I don’t think so. The Jags are going to have to put up points and try to keep pace with the Chiefs. I do believe they may have the ability to do that; however, I just can’t bring myself to pick an upset here.
The Chiefs, while struggling down the stretch and allowing inferior teams to hang around, they tend to take their game to another level in the playoffs, as all great teams do. Something that may surprise you too, is the Jags’ offense is tenth in the league. Trevor Lawrence has some weapons, and they can move the ball.
If Lawrence tosses four interceptions again, they don’t have a chance; however, if they can avoid the turnovers, they will make this an interesting game. There is a part of me that wants to pick the Jaguars here but…..
Chiefs move on with a 31 – 24 win.