The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to play some Florida football on Sunday.
The two teams will face off on Christmas Eve for a crucial matchup for both teams, as both are attempting to secure a foothold on their respective divisions. The Bucs are 7-7 and on a three-game winning streak while the Jaguars, once one of the AFC’s best teams, are 8-6 on a three-game losing streak. Should the Bucs win this game Sunday, they’ll need to win just one more of their remaining two to clinch the NFC South.
Bucs Wire staff gave our predictions for this matchup, and while we have the Bucs favored, it was not a unanimous decision:
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In theory, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a better team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Games aren’t played in theory, though — as it stands, the Jaguars are far more injured and the Bucs are on a hot streak with the division right in front of them for the taking. QB Trevor Lawrence probably won’t be at his best even if he does play and the Bucs are almost entirely healthy, so I have Tampa Bay taking this one on Christmas Eve and the Jaguars getting coal in their stocking.
Bucs 23, Jaguars 21
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Presuming Trevor Lawrence does not play Sunday, the Bucs have a clear path to the NFC South title. Lawrence was really all that stood between Tampa Bay and the playoffs. The Jaguars defense has given up an average of 26 points per game since Week 10, and their run game has been trending downwards over the same span, averaging just 78.7 yards per game. Conversely, the Bucs’ offense has been ascending, coming off their best game of the season in Green Bay. Without Lawrence, the Jaguars likely do not have the firepower to keep pace with the Bucs, who would need just one more win to secure their place atop the division.
Bucs 27, Jaguars 16
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The Bucs (7-7) return to Raymond James and take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) 4:05 p.m. Sunday. The Jaguars have been on a skid as of late, losing three straight games and four of their last six after they began the season 6-2. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has been scorching hot. The Bucs have won three straight, and Baker Mayfield had the best game of his career against Green Bay and threw nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns. Repeating the performance will be difficult, but I expect Tampa Bay to have momentum entering Sunday and get off to a hot start. Both teams are among the five-worst passing defenses, so the ball will likely be aired out a majority of the contest, especially if Jags QB Trevor Lawrence is able to play. The outcome of Sunday’s matchup will be decided by the Bucs’ ability to defend home turf. Tampa Bay is 3-3 at home, and Jacksonville is 5-1 on the road. I could see Sunday’s outcome swing the way of the Jags — they really need to get back on track in a heavily contested AFC South divisional race. If Lawrence is out though, I don’t expect this contest to be close.
Jaguars 28, Bucs 24
