No faith that the Jaguars can pull the upset in Detroit

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 (2-8) has already matched its loss total from last year with a trip to Detroit (8-1) on Sunday up next.

Kyle Ashley

Season record: 6-4.

To steal a line from my old man, “I am not a pessimist, I am a realist.” The reality of the situation is that I just don’t think the Jaguars have a realistic chance to win this week against the Detroit Lions. As I have stated before, the Jags need just about everything to go perfectly in order to be successful against even lesser opponents. With Trevor Lawrence still out, the odds of that are slim to none. Even if Mac Jones was able to do the unthinkable and have the game of his career, the defense still has to do its job and play out of its mind for four quarters. As much I would like for that to happen it is not something I can envision the team pulling off. The Lions are in the exact position we all hoped the Jags would be in at this point. Instead, they are a 13-point favorite against Jacksonville, and it could be an ugly Sunday. I want to say the Jags are not that far away. Even though they seem so close, they also seem so far away at the same time. I don’t think the team has given up yet and because of that I think they stick around and make it somewhat of a competitive football game. — Lions 31, Jaguars 20.

Justin Barney

Season record: 5-5.

The Lions have become exactly what we thought the Jaguars would develop into after that magical season in 2022. That feels like a lifetime ago. Jacksonville is teetering on a housecleaning. The offense was abysmal last week. Even if it is better in Detroit, the Jaguars don’t have the balance on both sides of the ball to stay with the Lions. They need to hope Jared Goff has another five-interception game and pray Mac Jones channels his Alabama self to have a chance. — Lions 35, Jaguars 21.

Alessandra Pontbriand

Season record: 7-3.

The Lions are the league’s best team, while the Jaguars are the league’s worst. I expect to see why Sunday when the game begins. I hope to see Mac Jones bounce back from last week, especially from the last seven minutes of the Vikings game. I expect Jared Goff will bounce back from his five interception game against the Texans. Two very different storylines going head to head Sunday and I think those storylines will continue to be written. — Lions 28, Jaguars 10.

Jamal St. Cyr

Season record: 4-6.

Really not much of a question here. The better question is will this be the last time we see Doug Pederson leading the Jags? I’d say no. I think Pederson and Trent Baalke will survive until the end of the season. — Lions 40, Jaguars 28.