Falcons (2-1) at Jaguars (1-2)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. EDT, Wembley Stadium, London
TV: ESPN+
Spread (BetMGM): Jaguars by 3
Falcons’ keys to victory: Atlanta will undoubtedly lean on the rushing combo of rookie RB Bijan Robinson and veteran RB Tyler Allgeier. The Jaguars will likely try to force second-year QB Desmond Ridder to be the one to beat them, though. Ridder couldn’t get much going against Detroit in Week 3, passing for 201 yards. It’s past time for the Falcons to get the talented duo of WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts heavily involved in their offensive approach. On defense, Atlanta has the tools to force mistakes from a Jaguars offense that has made plenty of errors this season.
Jaguars’ keys to victory: The Falcons played games in London in 2014 and 2021, but the Jaguars are seasoned pros at the international trip. It’ll be up to QB Trevor Lawrence in his third trip to London to keep the offense executing with lengthy drives against a talented Atlanta secondary. On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars run defense will be tested. If DL Roy Robertson-Harris, Folorunso Fatukasi and Adam Gotsis hold up against the push of Atlanta, the Jaguars secondary will be in good shape against a young pass attack.
Matchup to watch: Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley vs. Falcons CB A.J. Terrell. Ridley is the most electric player on the Jacksonville offense, and a matchup against his former team adds a little more juice. It’ll largely be up to Terrell, another former Falcons first-round pick, to keep Ridley from running roughshod over Atlanta.
Who wins? The Jaguars use the trip to work out the kinks in their offense.
Jaguars 28-24