Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Matchup Preview (9/26/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)
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Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Matchup Preview (9/26/21)
Arizona is a wrecking ball.
The Cardinals are 2-0 with the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL (36 points per game). They pulled off a near-miracle victory last week against Minnesota, and they should be 3-0 following this week.
Because Urban Meyer and the Jaguars are a mess. They’re 0-2 straight up but have failed to cover in both weeks, including losing outright to Houston by 16 when they were 3.5-point favorites. Trevor Lawrence has looked good at times, but downright awful at other times. The rest of the team has just been downright awful all the time.
The Cardinals should win this game, but can they cover the 7.5-point spread? Or perhaps there’s another betting angle that would be more profitable?
Let’s dive into this Week 3 matchup.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Odds
I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but it’s time to bet the Jaguars.
Since the turn of the century, only five 0-2 teams have been 7+ home underdogs in Week 3, and all five of those teams covered. Meanwhile, Kingsbury is 4-8 ATS as a favorite in his career.
If the Cardinals had lost in Week 2, the Jaguars probably wouldn’t be worth a bet. But, given Arizona is 2-0, their stock has never been higher. This is an offense that, at the time of this writing, more than 90% of the public is backing. That’s a number so high it’s almost an auto-fade.
I also like the over in this spot. Murray and his receivers should tear apart the Jacksonville defense, but I wouldn’t sleep on the Jaguars’ offense in Week 3. The Cardinals have weak spots in the defense, and I’m hoping Lawrence starts to settle in after a tough home opener.
My predictions: Cardinals win 30-24, Jaguars cover +7.5, over 51.5 points
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You can bet on this NFL game legally. Sports betting has been legalized in the US. You must be located in a legalized state in order to bet online.
TV Schedule
Date: Sunday, September 26
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: EverBank Field – Jacksonville, FL
TV Coverage: FOX
Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Live Stream
Where can you watch Cardinals vs. Jaguars online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Cardinals vs. Jaguars Free Online Now.
Injuries
Arizona Cardinals: WR DeAndre Hopkins (Q), OLB Devon Kennard (OUT), RB Eno Benjamin (OUT)
Jacksonville Jaguars: TE James O’Shaughnessey (OUT), DE Lerentee McCray (OUT), DE Jordan Smith (OUT)
Arizona Cardinals Analysis
Kyler Murray is a wizard.
Through two weeks, Murray has thrown for the second-most yards (651) with the fifth-highest QBR (71.6), which includes seven touchdown passes. Through two games, he’s averaging more than 10 yards per attempt, which is a big step up from the past two seasons (6.6 YPA in 2019, 7.1 YPA in 2020).
His ability to extend the play is unreal:
UNREAL FROM KYLER MURRAY
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/lt6oFICYYr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 19, 2021
Plus his agility-arm strength combination can best be compared to Patrick Mahomes:
Kyler Murray is just absurd
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/sipDptv70X
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 19, 2021
He’s a cheat code, and the Cardinals rank eighth in Pass Offense DVOA as a result. The rushing game has been questionable at best, but Murray’s big-play ability can bail out the rest of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
However, the biggest surprise in Arizona isn’t Kyler Murray, it’s the Cardinals’ defense. It’s highlighted by Chandler Jones’ five sacks in Week 1, but the whole unit has been great, as the unit currently ranks sixth in Defense DVOA.
Through two games, the Cardinals have held their opponents to just 5.4 yards per play, which has allowed the offense to out-gain the opposition by 233 yards so far. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings managed to put up 33 points, but Arizona also held Minnesota to just 3-for-9 on third down.
While Arizona ranks in the top 10 in Rush Defense DVOA, they allowed Dalvin Cook to run all over them. Cook went for 131 yards on 6.0 yards per carry, and the Cardinals rank just 17th in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards through two weeks.
The run defense needs to be cleaned up, but the rest of the team is looking excellent in this young season.
Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart
QB: Kyler Murray
RB1: Chase Edmonds
RB2: James Conner
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins
WR2: Christian Kirk
WR3: Rondale Moore
TE1: Maxx Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars Analysis
If you were high on the Jaguars because of Lawrence, I’m sorry to disappoint you.
This Jaguars roster is deficient in talent and poorly coached. They rank 31st in Total DVOA through two weeks, including 31st in Offense DVOA and 24th in Defense DVOA.
If there’s a bright spot on the roster, it’s the front seven. Jacksonville ranks 12th in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards and 15th in Rush Defense DVOA, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry through the first two weeks. But when you allow Tyrod Taylor and Teddy Bridgewater to light you up for 8.2 yards per attempt and four touchdowns, it doesn’t really matter.
Lawrence can make every throw:
Trevor Lawrence is going to be a problem.#DENvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/MMfnTA6YJZ
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 19, 2021
But he’s also made some bone-headed decisions so far this season:
Trevor Lawrence throws his third interception of the day. pic.twitter.com/QsBVdex5pF
— The Sports Place (@offsportsplace) September 12, 2021
That’s just one of five interceptions he’s thrown through two weeks. It’s okay to make mistakes as a rookie, but no team can win in the NFL when you lose the turnover battle this badly.
Meanwhile, Lawrence has completed just 50% of his passes through two weeks for a measly 5.4 yards per attempt. He ranks 31st in QBR (25.0), and he’s done it all behind an offensive line that leads the league in Adjusted Sack Rate (2.7%) and is fifth in Adjusted Line Yards.
Lawerence has potential, but he needs to dial it back and start giving what the defense gives him. Meanwhile, the rest of the roster is in shambles, and I’d be surprised to see Meyer last another season in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB1: James Robinson
RB2: Carlos Hyde
WR1: Marvin Jones Jr.
WR2: Laviska Shenault Jr.
WR3: DJ Chark Jr.
TE1: Chris Manhertz
Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Daily Fantasy Picks
With DeAndre Hopkins potentially out for this game, I’d look at either A.J. Green or Christian Kirk.
Through two weeks, Green has had the highest Target Marketshare of any receiver on the team (18%). Unfortunately, he’s turned those 12 targets into just five receptions, but he’s taken them for over 13 yards per reception.
Meanwhile, Kirk is the most trusted receiver on the team outside of Hopkins. Plus, he’s been targeted nine times and has caught eight of those passes (89% catch). If he’s targeted more in Week 3, he’s sure to pull those balls down, and he has some big-play upside (15 yards/target through Week 2).
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