Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs Preview
The new NFL season is fast approaching. Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs will play the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Florida on August 10th. Both teams have big ambitions as they prepare for the new campaign. This is the first preseason game for these franchises.
Kansas City is the reigning Super Bowl champion. Meanwhile, the Jaguars missed out on the playoffs in a disappointing ending to their season. They hope to kick on again under Doug Pedersen. Now it’s time for Trevor Lawrence to show why he was one of the most highly-rated rookies ever.
The big news is that both starting quarterbacks are likely to appear in this game. Jacksonville hopes to beat the Chiefs in a massive morale boost before the new campaign.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs Key Stats and Head-to-Head
The Chiefs and Jaguars played once last season in Week 2. Kansas City emerged victorious on that day as they won 19-7. Jacksonville’s attack was ineffective as they struggled to make sense of their offensive schemes.
Trevor Lawrence completed 22 of 41 pass attempts for 216 yards. He took four sacks as the Chiefs piled the pressure. Meanwhile, one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Patrick Mahomes completed 28 of 40 with two touchdowns and a single interception.
It’s crucial to note that this is a preseason game, so form goes out of the window. Both head coaches confirmed that their starting quarterbacks will have some minutes. Last year, Mahomes only played the opening series of their first preseason match so it’s likely new backup Carson Wentz will get plenty of reps.
Similarly, Mac Jones is hoping to win the backup battle in Jacksonville. Pedersen wants Lawrence to be sharp ahead of the new season. But he also must protect his starter. The result could depend on which starting QB sees the most action.
On the money 🍚@PatrickMahomes x @RiceRashee11 pic.twitter.com/s7pj2J7avJ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 7, 2024
Kansas City is 10-7 in preseason games in the past six years. They’re up against a motivated Jaguars team with plenty to prove. Lawrence signed a $275 million extension during the offseason and now must show that he’s worth the money.
Kansas City is hoping for a third-successive Super Bowl victory in 2025. Meanwhile, Jacksonville believes they should win the AFC South and have a deep postseason run. This game is a great opportunity to kick-start their campaigns.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs Predictions
Predicted Score: Jacksonville Jaguars 23 – 18 Kansas City Chiefs
Our NFL prediction is for the Jaguars to win this game. This is a road game for Kansas City and the result isn’t a priority. Yes, they’d like to win because it creates a feeling of positivity. But Andy Reid’s chief aim is improving his team’s fitness and deciding his roster for the new season.
Patrick Mahomes and Trevor Kelce will play in this preseason game. We expect Kansas City to have a bright opening quarter. This will probably be the most productive period of the game for the Chiefs. Kelce could score a touchdown before departing the field.
We don’t expect Reid to take any risks with Mahomes. The two-time MVP only played one scoreless drive against the Saints in their last preseason. But Chiefs fans should expect to see plenty of Wentz. His inconsistencies are an issue and we could see him throw a couple of interceptions.
The Chiefs have plenty of attacking flair. They signed Marquise Brown this summer and drafted Xavier Worthy. We expect Mahomes and Brown to combine well with the possibility of an early touchdown. The Chiefs’ most productive period will be in the first quarter.
Mac Jones could be a key player in this preseason game. The former Crimson Tide star has plenty to prove after losing his job in New England. Pedersen will choose between Jones and C. J. Beathard as his backup quarterback. Jones earns twice as much as Beathard, so he must prove his value.
The Jaguars may take over this game in the third quarter. Expect Andy Reid to play four different teams in this game. This will give Jacksonville the chance to snatch a victory. Check the in-play betting odds because they will fluctuate depending on when the secondary units take to the field.
Jacksonville has a new defensive coordinator in Ryan Nielsen. This is a tough but intriguing test for the former Falcons man as he contributed to one of the best NFL defenses last season. The Falcons had twice the number of sacks last year as the previous season. He hopes to have the same impact in Florida.
Pedersen confirmed Lawrence will play for a quarter. However, the Jags are missing several key offensive linemen. They’ll withdraw him quickly for Jones if they need to. Last year, Lawrence played 13 snaps during preseason as he supplied Christian Kirk for one touchdown.
.@ckirk tuddies, so hot right now 🔥
@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/nhwjCZxCwi— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 3, 2024
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs Betting Tips
Jacksonville is a slight -125 favourite to win for anyone betting on this NFL preseason game. This is because they have a home advantage against the Chiefs. They are under more pressure to impress in front of their fans and want to set a positive marker for the new season. A $10 bet on the Jaguars would make $18.00 if successful.
However, there isn’t much to separate these franchises for anyone placing wagers at our bookmaker. Kansas City will enter this game as a -102 underdog. It is an unusual position for the Chiefs because usually, analysts expect them to win. This time, a $10 bet could make $19.80. If you’re making a moneyline bet, it’s smarter to back the Jags.
NFL preseason games are exciting because they can feel very chaotic. Sometimes we see unexpected results because the best teams don’t keep their stars on the field. Check over-under betting because there is plenty of value.
One great option is the number of points in this game. It’s -154 for there to be over 37.5 overall. This correlates with our predicted score and offers a decent profit. A riskier option is over 43.5 points at +125, with the chance to make $22.50 from a $10 stake.
We predict Jacksonville will take the result more seriously than Kansas City. That’s why we fancy the home team to score over 20.5 points. This market is available at -105 with potential earnings of $19.52.
Bettors should also check the player’s markets. There are plenty of options in this clash. Past preseason games saw Trevor Lawrence receive more playing time than Mahomes. That’s why we think the Jags quarterback is more likely to throw a touchdown pass than the Chiefs’ star.
It’s wiser to focus on the backups instead of the superstars. Mac Jones and Carson Wentz will receive more reps than their teammates. NFL fans can bet on the number of touchdown passes and interceptions they’ll throw. Jones has 36 interceptions in three seasons while Wentz has 67 overall. We expect at least four interceptions in this game.
Our online sportsbook thinks Kansas City will score fewer than 20 points against the Jags. There are odds of -132 for this market, with a potential profit of $7.58. This is a good prop bet if you are backing the Jaguars to win outright.
Another smart option is to bet on individual players. Several young stars want to make an impact in this preseason game ahead of final roster cuts. Running back Louis Rees-Zammit is one of the most intriguing Chiefs players as he transitions from rugby union.
However, Jared Wiley is another outstanding player to watch. The Chiefs’ tight end will probably see more minutes in this game than Travis Kelce and could be a long-term option in the position. The fourth-round pick will be a target for the Chiefs’ quarterbacks in this game. He could make 10 receptions if he gets the minutes.
There are several eye-catching preseason games this weekend. Potential Super Bowl contender Houston will play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, Dan Campbell’s Detroit looks to bounce back from NFC Championship disappointment against the New York Giants. You can create a parlay with the favourites across multiple NFL fixtures. You can bet on the Steelers, wager on the Giants, and back the Chiefs to start the preseason with a win.
Jacksonville Jaguars Team News
Doug Pedersen has plenty of injuries to worry about. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead may miss their entire preseason with a knee problem. Meanwhile, there are doubts about Anton Harrison, Cam Robinson, and Ezra Cleveland.
The good news is that linebacker Ventrell Miller is healthy again and should see some playing time. Finally, Mac Jones has a battle on his hands for the Jags’ backup QB spot with C. J. Beathard.
Kansas City Chiefs Team News
The Chiefs also have several key players on their injury list. Defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton are the biggest absentees. Wideout Kadarius Toney is also missing.
Andy Reid won’t take any chances with his biggest names. Running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is training in pads again and should be ready for Jacksonville. Expect to see the first-round pick Xavier Worthy make his debut.
