Boasting a 3-1 record and sitting atop the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars will head to London for a two-game stint to face the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans.
The Jaguars played their first London game in 2013 and have a 7-7 record in games played across the pond. They trail the all-time series with the Eagles 5-3 after five straight losses. The last time Jacksonville faced Philly in London, the Eagles left with a 24-18 victory. Since then, the Jags have lost two one-score games to the Eagles — 29-21 in 2022 and 28-23 in 2024. They’ll look to earn their first win over Philadelphia since 2006 and cement a 4-1 start to their season on Sunday.
"It's a big week of mental toughness, a lot going on with the travel and the preparations, and leaning into those guys will be critical," head coach Liam Coen said. "We're going to need some mental toughness throughout this week to go out there and make sure that we're physically and mentally prepared to go play this physical game on Sunday against Philly."
A key to success in London will be Jacksonville’s ability to establish a run game early and allow quarterback Trevor Lawrence to find his footing. The Jags’ split backfield has proven efficient through four weeks, with running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. totaling 385 yards and four touchdowns on 86 carries. Tuten is averaging nearly 70 rushing yards per game, and both backs have averaged over four yards per carry.
Philly’s defense, meanwhile, has struggled to contain the run, allowing 122 yards per game on the ground (No. 23 in the NFL). The Eagles have also surrendered at least 100 rushing yards in each of their first four games.
Additionally, if the Jaguars are able to control the trenches and provide Lawrence with ample time to work through progressions, he should be able to build off his 227-yard performance in Week 4.
Jacksonville has flashed a versatile receiving room thus far, with four different pass catchers totaling at least 100 yards. In Weeks 1 and 2, receiver Parker Washington saw a majority of the Jags’ target share, but in Week 3, Jakobi Meyers broke out for seven receptions and a touchdown. Washington and Meyers have logged 16 receptions for 228 yards and 14 receptions for 167 yards, respectively. They have also scored two touchdowns apiece.
Last week, it was Brenton Strange who tormented the Cincinnati defense, catching seven passes for 95 yards. The fourth-year tight end has totaled 165 yards and a touchdown on the season. Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has also been productive as the Jags’ third-leading receiver, catching nine passes for 105 yards.
"There are plenty of games," Washington said. "We have a lot of opportunities. The best part about this offense is we love to see other guys making plays. We feed off that energy and continue to keep going."
With a slew of weapons at his disposal, Lawrence has been able to spread the ball around efficiently, and a strong protection scheme would prove fruitful for Jacksonville’s passing game in London. Through four weeks, Lawrence has completed 72 of 104 passes for 843 yards, and he has an 8-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The sixth-year quarterback has been sacked eight times, though, highlighting room for improvement in the trenches. The Eagles are allowing 222 yards per game through the air, good for No. 17 in the NFL.
On the defensive side, Jacksonville has proven strong in the trenches, shutting down opposing running backs and consistently pressuring quarterbacks. The Jags have recorded 10 sacks and six interceptions through four games, and they’re coming off a Week 4 win in which they intercepted Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow twice and held Cincinnati to 23 rushing yards. Jacksonville’s defense ranks second in the NFL in both points allowed (53) and rush yards allowed per game (74.3), and is entering a favorable Week 5 matchup against a Philadelphia offense that’s averaged less than 270 total yards per game.
Veteran quarterback Jalen Hurts is having one of the worst seasons of his career thus far. He’s completed less than 60% of his passes for 713 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has been held to 105 rushing yards and just one touchdown on the ground after recording eight or more in each of his six seasons as Philly QB1.
But Hurts’ play has been hampered by the rest of the Philadelphia offense falling apart at the seams.
After struggling in 2025, the Eagles hoped that running back Saquon Barkley would regain his 2024 form. Barkley had been much more efficient through the first quarter of the season (5.1 yards per carry), but a hamstring injury has put him out of action for the foreseeable future. Tank Bigsby, Barkley’s primary backup, was placed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury, leaving Will Shipley and former Gator Dameon Pierce as the primary options in the run game.
Durability has been an issue on the other units in the offense, too. Leading receiver Devonta Smith will not suit up for a second consecutive week due to a hamstring injury. Philly’s third-leading receiver, tight end Dallas Goedert, is also on injured reserve. That leaves Dontavyvion Wicks, rookie Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper as the only other Philly wide receivers who have caught a pass this season.
But the root of all of the Eagles’ issues this season has been the health and play of their offensive line. While left tackle Jordan Mailata and right guard Tyler Steen have been mostly dependable, the rest of Philly’s front five has struggled mightily.
Former Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens, who surrendered 12 quarterback pressures in four games, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. Drew Kendall is his likely replacement, but he was ruled out Sunday, so Jake Majors, a former UDFA, is likely to get the start. At left guard, Landon Dickerson remains on injured reserve, so 5-foot-11 guard Willie Lampkin is expected to start on Sunday.
But the biggest change for Philly’s line is at right tackle. Future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson abruptly retired on Tuesday, citing both his mental and physical health as reasons for his departure. Rookie Markel Bell is his replacement.
"I mean, I think everybody goes through stuff, right?,” Coen said of Johnson. “As human beings. And you've got to remember that there is life outside of this game, and this is a job. It's our job."
The Jaguars’ red-zone defense has also been elite thus far, allowing touchdowns on just 28.57% of opponents’ red-zone trips. That percentage makes them the second-most-efficient red-zone defense in the NFL behind only the Minnesota Vikings (18.18%). Philly, meanwhile, is converting on a solid 61.54% of their trips inside the 20, but that number pales in comparison to the Jags’ impressive mark.
However, Jacksonville has allowed a whopping 280.3 passing yards per game, the second-highest mark in the NFL. Burrow threw for 428 yards in Week 4, and the Jaguars will need to limit explosive passing plays to extend their win streak in London. But with Hurts struggling and the Eagles likely down their two best playmakers, the Jags should be equipped to succeed.
"We have more to prove," two-way player Travis Hunter said. "We still have more games. We have more weeks to come, and every team is going to want to beat us. So go out there and play. We have to go out there and win. Nobody is going to give us a win."
Sunday’s kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom. The game will be aired nationally on NFL Network, and fans in the Jacksonville market can find the game on FOX30.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @maxbernstein23.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Max Bernstein is a fourth-year sports and media journalism major and sports management minor. This Fall, he is a Sports Editor and a Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars reporter at The Alligator. Now in his ninth semester with The Alligator, Max previously served in roles including Digital Managing Editor, Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor and Football Reporter. He has also made appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. In the rare moments Max isn't working, he's usually with his girlfriend Reese, watching sports with his fraternity brothers or missing his family and his two cats.
Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his sixth semester at The Alligator. He is currently a sports editor and football beat reporter for the Gators and the Jaguars. He previously served as a men's tennis and sports enterprise reporter, and he is pursuing a public relations minor.
