3 Bold Predictions: Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – Week 3

Arizona’s defensive backfield has a day

Through two games, ‘meh’ is the best way to describe the way the Cardinals’ defensive backfield has held up. There are times they look great, and other times where they look like they’d rather keep riding the bench than taking the field.

That will change against the Jaguars and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. First off, let’s credit the Jaguars’ offensive line; they have protected Lawrence well. But the problem is Lawrence, who has held onto the ball far too long and has constantly been late with his reeds.

It doesn’t help that he’s facing one of the league’s best pass rushers in Chandler Jones and a unit that also includes J.J. Watt and Markus Golden. They’re facing a solid offensive line, but that was also the case in Week 1 against Tennessee, where Jones had five sacks.

Look for the pass rush to force Lawrence into making poor decisions all afternoon, and the Budda Baker-led defensive backfield will take full advantage, regardless of who’s starting on Sunday since both Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson have been limited throughout the week. They will pick Lawrence off at least twice and reap the benefits from a sound pass rush.