Three Keys: How Jacksonville Can Extend Winning Streak in London Showdown
The Jaguars plowed through nearly a quarter of their schedule before facing an NFC opponent, but the time has finally come.
Jacksonville (3-1) will take on Philadelphia (2-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET on the NFL Network. The Jaguars have not defeated the Eagles in five matchups, dating back to 2006.
Here are three keys to how Jacksonville can secure its eighth all-time London victory:
Take Advantage of Philly’s Injury Bug
Part of the Eagles’ rollercoaster season can be drawn to their lack of health on the field. The roster has dealt with a surplus of injuries and relied on depth pieces to step up.
Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury during its Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after taking just two carries. He did not return to the field and was ruled out for Sunday’s matchup. Now, the Eagles will look to former Jaguar Tank Bigsby and No. 3 back Will Shipley.
They are also thin at receiver as wideouts DeVonta Smith and Marquise Brown are out for Week 5 after not practicing throughout the week. Dontayvion Wicks was limited Thursday and is questionable. Smith, like Barkley, is dealing with a hamstring injury and offers a massive blow to Philly’s offense.
“It’s about our execution, our game plan, our fundamentals, technique, communication,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said Friday. “They know how to handle adversity. They know how to handle some of these things.”
The Eagles will also have to rely on its inexperienced players on the back end. After blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, the Rams topped Philadelphia 24-20 to hand it its second-straight loss. It was without linebacker Zack Baun who has been in concussion protocol since Week 3 and was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell suffered a knee injury in the loss, but both are trending upward and should be available.
Jacksonville’s defense will have an immense opportunity to capitalize on the Eagles’ thin roster. It held a near-healthy Bengals offense to their fewest points of the season (17), and will have the London faithful on their side.
Capitalize on Jalen Hurts’ Mistakes
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is fresh off his worst game of 2026. He completed 12 of his 27 passes for 93 yards and was sacked four times. Hurts’ Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 39.6 was his worst since Week 1 of the 2024 season (29.8).
His 12 sacks are tied for second-worst in the league, behind Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield with 13. Hurts has seen a massive drop in success when facing pressure. He has a passing grade of 69.3 when kept clean in the pocket, but 43.7 when under pressure.
The Jaguars and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will look to dominate in the trenches and force Hurts into uncomfortable situations. He has been sacked 11 times when facing pressure and completed 41.9% of his passes.
The Eagles have yet to start a season 2-3 or worse since 2021, but are staring down the harsh reality. Hurts’ poor decision-making has been at the forefront of their lackluster start. He has tossed three interceptions and his completion percentage of 59.6 ranks No. 25 in the league.
Jacksonville is tied for first in the NFL in takeaways since 2025 with 39 and its eight this season stacks up to No. 2 behind Las Vegas (nine).
“We know what we’re up against,” Campanile said. “I know that it’s going to be a great challenge; our players know that, and we’re going to have to go out there and play against some great football players, so we got to execute and do our best here on Sunday.”
Flex the Run Defense
If it wasn’t already evident, Jacksonville’s defensive front proved it can compete with the league’s top talent after allowing Cincinnati to post just 23 rushing yards in Week 4. Now, they will face a depleted and injury-riddled Eagles rushing attack.
If Barkley fails to play Sunday, Hurts stands as Philly’s leading rusher with 105 yards. Bigsby and Will Shipley have totaled 142 yards and round out the running back room. The Jaguars have surrendered 74.3 ground yards per game, which ranks No. 3 in the league.
Last week, Jacksonville’s secondary anchored the defense. Safety Rayuan Lane III led the team with eight tackles, including the game-saving stop in the contest’s final minute. Cornerback Jarrian Jones had seven tackles, one for a loss and three passes defended.
Outside of the back end, the Jaguars have elite run protection strewn across the defensive line.
“I think it’s challenging when you have big dudes up front that can plug some of those holes, get off blocks and play violent in the box,” Coen said. “But also when you have a group in the back end that isn’t afraid to come up and tackle and set an edge in the run game.”
Jacksonville has played complementary football since Week 1 and has a solid opportunity to continue to do so against the Eagles.
“It’s cultural on the defensive side of the ball,” Coen said. “It’s the standard. It’s one of our core pillars of success. And I think those guys have bought into it.”
Category: Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
