JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars season is back and our News4JAX sports staff is back with its predictions as well. Each week, we’ll unveil our predictions for the week’s game. Jacksonville (8-7) hosts Carolina (2-13) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. trying to escape a four-game losing streak.
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Jamal St. Cyr
This season: 10-5.
I have gone back and forth with this game. The Jaguars are good enough to beat struggling teams. But they have lost four straight games and Trevor Lawrence is out this week. I’m sticking with what I said in my pick last week. I just can’t pick the Jaguars until they end this slide. Even with CJ Beathard, I think the game will be close and wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled it out but I’m going with Carolina. — Panthers 24, Jaguars 17.
Justin Barney
This season: 8-7.
The Jaguars are spent. This team is beaten up physically and mentally. Trevor Lawrence is out and the defense has been cooked up by Jake Browning, Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield in December. I have no confidence that Jacksonville can get out of this funk. But ... I don’t think Jacksonville is the worst team in the league. That’s reserved for Carolina, which has nothing to play for at this point. Jacksonville does and I think it finds some way to win this game. — Jaguars 21, Panthers 20.
Alessandra Pontbriand
This season: 8-7.
I still believe in the Jaguars, even though they’ve let me down four games in a row ... depressing. This will all come down to CJ Beathard since Trevor Lawrence will miss a game for the first time in his career due to injury. The run games needs to be ignited. Travis Etienne needs to run all over the field like he’s literally on fire. The defense needs to (finally) disrupt a young quarterback. There is too much on the line to lose. — Jaguars 16, Panthers 10.