Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions: Keep Your Enemies Close - 5 Questions with SideLion Report

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:25 a.m. ET

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Aug 28, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) spins away from Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker (93) in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

As the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Detroit for another seemingly certain defeat, we reached out to our Lions FanSided folks for some insight.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 2-7 right now but they’ve had a chance to win more games. Against Green Bay, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Houston, the Jaguars were within one score in the fourth quarter with opportunities to take the lead or tie the game. They lost all of those games.

It’s a completely different story in Detroit, where the Lions have had to fight tooth and nail in the 4th quarter and sometimes overtime for all 5 of their victories. The Jaguars need to learn how to win while the Lions are showing the Jaguars how to finish in crunchtime.

We wanted to get some intel on our opponent so we reached out to Matt Urben over at SideLion Report. Here’s what he had to say:

1. The Detroit Lions have pulled out a handful of games in the final few minutes this year. Is their record smoke and mirrors or do they have the talent of a division-winning team?

My take:

It feels like every week I keep an eye on RedZone while lamenting yet another embarrassing Jacksonville loss and see the Detroit Lions pulling out a win at the end in spectacular fashion. The miraculous overtime thriller against the Vikings with Golden Tate basking in the glow of his game-winning touchdown was probably my favorite of the finales. Must be nice.

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls a play during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

2. Matthew Stafford was getting some MVP buzz earlier in the season – what’s different this year?

My take:

If you had asked before the season began if I would rather have Stafford or Blake Bortles, I wouldn’t have hesitated before saying Bortles. Things change mighty fast, as Bortles is arguably one of the worst quarterbacks in the league right now and Stafford generated some legitimate MVP talk after the first several weeks. Bortles and Stafford are comparable in some respects, but Stafford has always had an unbelievable arm and he had the good fortune of one of the best wide receivers in league history early in his career. He’s now grown into a good quarterback on his own merits, something Bortles is going to have to do to establish viability as a starter.

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kerry Hyder (61) during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Lions have undergone some serious changes with big names leaving on offense (Calvin Johnson) and defense (Suh, Fairley) over the last 2 years. Who has stepped up on both sides of the ball?

My take:

My guess was that Stafford has been the main reason for their success despite their roster subtractions, but it doesn’t hurt to have a free agent acquisition work out as swimmingly as Marvin Jones has. The former Bengals receivers has become a terrific deep threat and a very good complement to Golden Tate. It’s also nice to see Ebron contributing at tight end after a largely ineffective rookie season.

Defensively, you can tell the Lions lost one of the better defensive lineman in the NFL.  Hyder has played well, but Ziggy Ansah hasn’t been on the field enough and DeAndre Levy hasn’t played since week 1. If I had any confidence and Bortles and the offense, I’d expect a shootout.

Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) smiles during warm ups prior to a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston Texans won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

4. If you could pick one player from the Jaguars to put on the Lions, who would you select?

My take:

Not at all surprised with Matt’s selection. Ramsey is in the mix for defensive rookie of the year and he’s doing it on an irrelevant and comically bad team. He hasn’t nabbed an interception, but he’s been tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top wide receiver multiple times and succeeded enough to warrant some hype. Pairing Ramsey with Darius Slay would give the Lions arguably the best corner duo in the league. Smart pick.

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) celebrates his game-winning touchdown during the overtime against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

5. What’s your prediction for the game?

My take:

I assume Matt is a little bit influenced here by the Lions’ penchant for close games and 4th quarter playmaking, but I find it hard to see this game being legitimately competitive. Matthew Stafford should have plenty of time to throw the ball down the field against an anemic Jacksonville pass rush, and the Jaguar offense will predictably do nothing for the majority of the first three quarters. If it does end up 31-28 in the Lions favor, a majority of those 28 points will likely come in the 4th quarter long after the outcome has been decided.

Are the Jaguars going to show up and put up a decent fight on Sunday? Check out my Friday Fact or Fiction column tomorrow to find out.

Check out my answers to Matt’s questions over at SideLion Report.

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