The Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) will attempt to win their first game of the 2024-25 NFL Season on Monday Night Football in a tough matchup against a Buffalo Bills (2-0) squad that is looking for their third consecutive victory. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM EST on September 23rd at Highmark Stadium.
Points have been extremely difficult to come by for the Jaguars through the first two weeks of September, as they are currently averaging just 15.0 total points per game. The Bills, on the other hand, have been one of the highest scoring teams in the entire NFL to start the year, racking up 65 total points in just two games.
Jacksonville really looks to be in a tough spot again here in Week 3, as playing Buffalo on the road in the high energy environment of Highmark Stadium is definitely no easy task. The Jags don’t appear to have even close to enough depth on offense after losing Calvin Ridley during the offseason, while the Bills continue to light up the scoreboard despite losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis to free agency.
Matchup Details, Betting Market Information and Where to Watch
Oddsmakers opened this game up with the Bills listed as 5-point home favorites. The spread hasn’t moved at all after early betting, as Buffalo is currently still available at -5 on most sportsbooks. The total for this matchup is 45.5 points. Viewers hoping to watch the game should note that it will be televised on ESPN. In Canada, the game will also be available on DAZN.
Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Woes Continue Against Cleveland
Not much has gone right for the Jaguars on offense to start the year, although a tough schedule to open the season has also certainly played a role. Jacksonville fell behind in the first half against the Browns in Week 2, trailing 13-3 at the end of the first two quarters. While they did manage to outscore Cleveland 10-5 in the second half, it still wasn’t enough to prevent a second loss in a row and a rocky 0-2 start overall.
Trevor Lawrence struggled with his efficiency through the air, completing less than half of his passing attempts while also failing to find the end zone the entire game. Rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. continued to impress in his second NFL game, turning two catches into 94 yards against a tough Cleveland secondary. Travis Etienne Jr. scored the only touchdown of the game for the Jags, finding the end zone on one of his team-high 13 carries for 52 rushing yards.
Jacksonville’s defense continues to keep the team competitive despite their offensive woes, as they held the Browns to just over 300 total yards of offense and only a single touchdown. They were especially effective against the run, as no Cleveland rusher managed to record more than 64 total yards on the ground.
Buffalo Bills Destroy Dolphins On Thursday Night Football
The Bills jumped out to a big lead after outscoring Miami 17-3 in the second quarter and never looked back, embarrassing the Dolphins at home by a final score of 31-10. Josh Allen didn’t have to do too much under center, completing 13 out of 19 passing attempts for 139 yards and a touchdown through the air in a matchup that was pretty much one-sided from the opening kickoff.
James Cook was the star of the game offensively for Buffalo, scampering for 78 yards and two rushing touchdowns on just 11 carries while also finding the end zone through the air on his only catch of the game. Khalil Shakir also had a strong outing, leading the way for the receiving corps with five catches for 54 yards.
On the other side of the ball, the Bills turned in a really strong showing against a Miami offense loaded with talent. Of course, the injury to starting quarterback Tua Tagovolia also impacted the final scoreline after he was forced to leave the game late in the third quarter. Even so, Buffalo recorded three interceptions and held the explosive Tyreek Hill to just 36 total yards.
Our Jaguars vs Bills NFL Betting Prediction and Pick
It’s pretty tough to go against the hot hand in this particular matchup, as Buffalo has come out of the gates firing on all cylinders while Jacksonville has only scored a single touchdown over their last six quarters. Without their strong performance on defense through the first two weeks, the Jaguars would likely find themselves as at least full touchdown underdogs heading into this Week 3 clash on Monday Night Football.
I’m not overly confident that Trevor Lawrence and Co. will somehow find a way to put all the pieces together in this spot either, as the Bills defense really put on a clinic against a tough Miami offense in Week 2. Other than De’Von Achane, no Miami player recorded anything even close to a respectable stat line in a game that Buffalo won by over 20 points.
Against the Spread Betting Market Tip: Bills -5
Laying the five points and siding with the better team playing at home seems like a pretty sharp play overall, as I fully expect Buffalo to continue their strong start to the season on both sides of the ball. On the other side, Jacksonville will likely struggle to keep pace with the high-scoring Bills while their defense might come back to earth a little bit considering the tough matchup.
James Cook should continue to find room to run on the ground, as Jerome Ford averaged 9.1 yards per carry against this same defense just last weekend. Additionally, Josh Allen has quickly adjusted to life without Diggs and Davis being his starting wideouts, as Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Dalton Kincaid have all recorded at least four receptions in a single game already this season. Look for Buffalo to continue to spread the ball around on offense en route to a third consecutive victory. Give me the Bills to cover at home on Monday Night Football!
