Chiefs vs. Jaguars: five questions to the enemy

Editor's note: We welcome as a contributor Ryan O'Bleness of Big Cat Country – our sister site covering the Jacksonville Jaguars– for "Five questions to the enemy" as we approach the match of week 1 between Kansas City Chiefs and the Jaguars should be held Sunday at noon.

1) How much confidence has QB Nick Foles considering the fan base in the potential for 2019? How did it seem in limited images this pre-season?

If you ask the Philadelphia Eagles fans, the majority of them will tell you that Foles is a "very diverse" player (but he is still loved in this city, anyway). What this means is that, depending on the situation, there will be parts in which it will absolutely amaze you, and there will probably be as many parts that will leave much to be desired, and of course, a good number of pieces between the two extremes. So this is what the majority of Jaguars fans really expect from Foles: a big variance. We understand that he is significantly better than Blake Bortles and that confidence is now greater at this position, but we also understand that he still has a lot to prove as a full-time starter. Very few of us expect him to be the next Tom Brady, but there is something to be optimistic about.

Foles has only played one pre-season game, the third against the Miami Dolphins. He completed six of his 10 passes for 48 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He looked true to the "great variance" form. Start the game with two or three practice sessions, then develop an excellent touchdown, crowned with a nice shot in the end zone of Dede Westbrook. He then chained with an interception on the next disc, and that's all he's done during the pre-season.

2) What is it realistic to expect from Leonard Fournette on Sunday after a difficult year filled with injuries in 2018?

Fournette really put the emphasis on improving his body during the off season and he impressed at the training camp. He is supposedly entering the season in the best shape of his life, so there is good reason to believe that his sustainability issues are behind him. That said, I will not believe it until I see it and it's hard to predict injuries. He missed several games due to an injury (or suspension) both at the university and in the NFL. If he is able to play 14 to 16 games this season, I'm expecting a bounce season when he's approaching 1,100 yards or 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns. The new offensive coordinator, John DeFilippo, also wants to involve Fournette in the passing game. So, if it can stay healthy, 300 or more contacts for Fournette looks pretty realistic in 2019.

3) Jalen Ramsey should follow Tyreek Hill all the game. How do you expect the Jaguars to fight the next threat of the leaders, Travis Kelce?

I would wait to see zone concepts for Jaguars in defense. Obviously, Kelce is a great talent and, on a foul already loaded, it is difficult to play against him against everyone. The Jaguars have some great athletes able to contain Kelce in linebacker Quincy Williams (brother of Quinnen Williams Jets), and security player Ronnie Harrison for the second year. Williams has high speed, but it will be a difficult task for a rookie in his first game coming back from a knee injury. Harrison is a hitter who could try to separate the ball from Kelce's hand. Filip Prus, another Big Cat Country writer, discusses in more detail the possibility of a possible confrontation.

4) What is the Officially Named Offensive Player to Watch for Sunday Jaguars? Why?

He must be wide receiver Dede Westbrook. While he can line up all over the field, look for him to often line up in the slot (DeFilippo preferred to throw the slot at some of his previous stops). He will work as the de facto catcher of Foles and is arguably the most talented player out of Fournette. If the aforementioned prep match against the Dolphins is an indication, Foles will target Westbrook early and often. Westbrook caught four catches on six targets (targeted for six of Foles' 10 shots) for 29 yards and a touchdown against Miami. We will rely on him as a playmaker for an offense that seems to be lacking in this department. He is also a former winner of the Biletnikoff Trophy (best receiver of the country) in Oklahoma in 2016.

5) What makes you think that Jaguar defense can regain the courage it lost last year?

Photo of James Gilbert / Getty Images

What many people do not realize is that the Jaguars still had a strong defense in 2018. Jacksonville was second on the points allocated, second against the pass and fifth in total defense. But there was an obvious difference between the 2017 and 2018 units. The 2017 defense is proud of its big games – setbacks, sacks and touchdowns – and was able to get its opponent out of bad situations because that these things happened so often. Last year, the Jaguars were sorely lacking in these regions. The team had only 37 bags (22 NFL) and 17 take-away races (tied for 22). I expect these two figures to improve this year. The Jaguars added Josh Allen to the repechage, which cost them 7th overall. I do not want to invest too much in the pre-season, but it destroyed the No. 1 unit of the Miami Dolphins a few weeks ago. The beauty is that Allen has guys like Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell to learn, and he does not have to be pushed on the ground at any moment. It has all the assets of a future Pro Bowler or even potentially All-Pro.

I've already mentioned the addition of rookie Quincy Williams, who also turned heads at the training camp before his injury. Ronnie Harrison and Jarrod Wilson, new duo youth on safety, will be interesting to watch as they will replace older veterans Church Church and Tashaun Gipson. Then, of course, you still have the likes of Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Myles Jack and Marcell Dareus. This defense is absolutely charged, and I think 100% that it will be tied with the defense of 2017 and could be the best defensive unit of the league this year.

Bonus: score prediction

I think the Chiefs' mighty offensive will be slowed down by the tough defense, the heat of Jacksonville and the potentially difficult playing conditions that follow the impact of Hurricane Dorian (I hope everyone in Jacksonville has been safe) this week). But that being said, there is simply no betting against Patrick Mahomes.

I think the game is close, but Kansas City wins. Heads 28, Jaguars 24.