Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Prediction, Pick and Odds: Carson Wentz Makes Commanders Debut
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Prediction, Pick and Odds: Carson Wentz Makes Commanders Debut
Jacksonville and Washington are always scrappy, competitive teams but they are almost always the underdogs against an opponent. Oddsmakers are giving the slight edge to the Commanders as Moneyline favorites (-155) but there are a lot of questions surrounding the quality of Washington's personnel. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne will finally be able to reunite with his former collegiate quarterback with a revamped receiving corps and vastly improved coaching staff. A potential upset looms large. Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Sunday's game between the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Commanders.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Start Time, Where to Watch and Odds
- Date: September 11, 2022
- Game time: 1:00 pm ET
- Where to watch: FOX
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Injury Report
Jaguars
RB James Robinson (P - Achilles), DE Jordan Smith (IR - Knee), and WR Jamal Agnew (Q - Hip).
Commanders
S Kamren Curl (Q - Thumb), TE Curtis Hodges (Out Indefinitely - Thigh), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Out Indefinitely - Buttocks), C Keith Ismael (IR - Undisclosed), DB Josh Drayden (IR - Undisclosed), G Willie Beavers (IR -Undisclosed), TE Logan Thomas (Out - Knee), WR Cam Sims (Q - Concussion), C Tyler Larsen (Out Indefinitely - Achilles), and DE Chase Young (Out Indefinitely - Knee).
Jaguars vs. Commanders Line Movement
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Prediction
Washington is dealing with a substantial number of injuries already entering Week 1. Whether it's the absence of talented edge rusher Chase Young, the non-football injury of rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr., or Logan Thomas continuing to recover from a knee injury, there will be added difficulty for Carson Wentz to succeed.
Wentz got off to a slow start during his only year in Indianapolis last season, going 0-3 after squandering a potential upset at home against the Los Angeles Rams. He found his rhythm towards the middle of the season, going 7-3 between Week 4 and Week 13. Wentz was able to accomplish this turnaround with a strong offensive line, a top-three running back, and an excellent coaching staff led by Frank Reich.
While there's still hope for Wentz to consistently play at the level he displayed during his Pro-Bowl 2017 season, his volatility proved disastrous for the Colts in 2021. He did record a 4-1 TD: INT ratio, but Wentz will be short-handed against an improved Jaguars defense. Jahan Dotson is an exciting first-round rookie wideout drafted out of Penn State who should be a nice complement to Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel in the receiving game, but Antonio Gibson's role remains cloudy.
Travon Walker was the first overall draft pick for Jacksonville and he performed well in the preseason. He'll be a force as a strong-side linebacker and hybrid edge rusher, lining up opposite Josh Allen. The Jaguars' secondary remains its weakness, as it surrendered the fourth-most points (445) under former head coach Urban Meyer in 2021.
Washington was not far behind though, allowing s. They actually joined Jacksonville amongst the bottom ten defenses to surrender over 400 points to opposing offenses. The return of Travis Ettiene in the Jaguars' backfield cannot be overstated. James Robinson is coming off of an Achilles tear, but he's been a gold mine of value for Jacksonville since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Christian Kirk and Evan Engram are the newest weapons for Lawrence to target, joining veteran wideout Marvin Jones. Don't overlook the signing of former Washington guard Brandon Scherff, who will be competing against his former teammates. He's an enforcer in the run game and a quality asset with his pass protection, meaning Lawrence could earn a couple of precious seconds to analyze the coverage and make an impact play.
It's hard to trust the Commanders on either side of the football, particularly due to their slew of injuries and an underachieving quarterback who is new to Ron Rivera's system. The Jaguars are healthier and poised to pull off an upset on the road during Doug Pederson's debut.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Washington Commanders Pick
- PICK: Jaguars Moneyline (+135) (Bet $100 to win $135)
Article Author
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.