At 1-1, the Jaguars are second in the AFC South, while the Dolphins are rock bottom of the AFC East after back-to-back losses against divisional rivals in the opening two weeks of the season.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of TNF.
Kickoff time—The Jaguars host the Dolphins at TIIA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p. m. ET on Thursday, September 24. TV channel—NFL NetworkLive stream—NFL Network website and NFL Network app on connected devices, Yahoo Sports app and fuboTV. Odds—The Jaguars are a 2. 5-point favorite with DraftKings and 22/25 to cover the spread, while the over/under line for total points scored is set at 46. In moneyline terms, Jacksonville is a 33/50 favorite, while Miami is a 5/4 underdog. Series history—The series is tied at 4-4 but the Jaguars have won the last two meetings.
Following an offseason where they released Leonard Fournette and traded Yannick Ngakoue, two of the stars of the team that came within five minutes of reaching the Super Bowl three years ago, the Jaguars were considered prime candidates to tank and secure the first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft and with it Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Two weeks into the season, however, and Operation Tank for Trevor appears on hold. Jacksonville is 1-1 after upsetting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 and losing to 33-30 to a late field goal against the Tennessee Titans last week. More importantly, the Jaguars seem to have already found themselves a quarterback.
Gardner Minshew’s hairstyle and demeanor may have grabbed the headlines last season, but the second-year quarterback has done the talking on the field so far this season. After completing 19 of his 20 passes in Week 1, Minshew passed for 339 yards—the second-highest total in his career—and three touchdowns against the Titans. He enters Week 3 as one of only three quarterbacks alongside reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson to have a passer rating of 115 or higher and a completion ratio of at least 75 percent. Minshew isn’t the only cog in Jay Gruden’s offense to have performed above expectations this season, with rookie running back James Robinson racking up 102 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and arriving into Week 3 with 210 yards from scrimmage this season—the fifth-highest figure by an undrafted rookie at this stage of the season since 1970.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, sit at 0-2 going into Thursday night after losing to the Patriots in Week 1 and falling 31-28 at home to the Buffalo Bills last week, despite running back Myles Gaskin and tight end Mike Gesicki setting career-highs in scrimmage yards, catches and receiving yards respectively.
With star cornerback Byron Jones set to be sidelined because a groin injury, the depth of the Dolphins’ secondary could be severely tested on Thursday night. Jones, who signed for the Dolphins in free agency, injured his groin in the first possession of the game against the Bills and was replaced by Noah Igbinoghene, Miami’s third first-round pick in this year’s draft. The former Auburn cornerback endured a torrid day against Buffalo, with Stefon Diggs torching the rookie for 153 yards and a touchdown.
Miami’s secondary will have to be far better in Jacksonville if the Dolphins are to avoid slipping into an 0-3 hole.
