Earlier we took a look at the offensive players who must bring it for the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Oakland Raiders, but the defense undoubtedly can’t look like the unit we’ve seen since the bye week. They especially had a bad showing last week against the Los Angeles Chargers and will need several players to bounce back Week 15.
Here are three players on the Jags’ defense to watch against the Raiders:
LB Donald Payne
Donald Payne had a solid game Week 13 and was a very active player in the run game. However, he (and the whole defense) followed that up with a terrible showing Week 14 against the Chargers, allowing Austin Ekler to gain yards at will.
With rookie star tailback Josh Jacobs set to play this week, Payne has to find a way to rebound and play like the player fans saw Week 13. He’s going to have to play the running lanes with more precision and eliminate any mistakes as far as penalties go, because if he doesn’t, the Jags will likely allow a lot of points.
Safety Ronnie Harrison
Harrison will be returning into the lineup after missing two games with a concussion and he’ll be a welcomed addition. While Harrison is far from a perfect player, he marks an upgrade over Andrew Wingard, who was up and down in Harrison’s absence.
Harrison should provide better tackling around the line of scrimmage and better coverage in the backfield. With Raiders tight end Darren Waller balling out, Harrison should see a few snaps in coverage against the fifth-year player and needs to be successful in the process
NB D.J. Hayden
There may not be a player on the Jags’ roster who wants to win Sunday’s game more than D.J. Hayden. He was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2013, but they ultimately decided not to keep him. Needless to say, it put a chip on his shoulder and he’s ready to spoil their last game in Oakland.
Earlier in the week, Hayden said that he wanted to make the Raiders “pay” for letting him go. With him already playing great football this season, it’s probably a safe bet to say he’s going to leave it all on the field and could come away with the most impactful play of the game.
