Stakes are clear for the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars when the franchises face off on New Year’s Eve.
Jacksonville can inch closer to the AFC South Division title and a repeat playoff appearance by winning the next two weeks. The Jaguars will try to snap a four-game losing streak Sunday with C.J. Beathard taking the place of Trevor Lawrence at quarterback.
A loss would guarantee the Panthers (2-13) the NFL’s worst record and temporarily the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. But that prized selection is headed to Chicago to complete the trade that brought the franchise rookie quarterback Bryce Young in April. Carolina is in full rebuilding mode and with no head coach in place to oversee the U-turn.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Lawrence and the Jaguars were coming off a 3-14 rookie season in 2021, and looking for a new head coach. Enter Doug Pederson, and Jacksonville went 9-8 in 2022 to crash the playoffs last January.
The Panthers are fresh off the most encouraging part of the season — though that’s not saying much. Carolina knocked off Atlanta two weeks ago and then nearly pulled an upset of Green Bay last week before losing 33-30 on a last-minute field goal.
While the Jaguars are uncertain about their quarterback situation, Young is coming off his best game for Carolina. He threw for a career-best 312 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers vs. Green Bay.
“There’s so much more to come,” Panthers receiver DJ Chark Jr. said. “He’s making plays. He’s comfortable.”
Jacksonville is one of three AFC South teams with an 8-7 record. Next week, when the Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans (5-10), the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) and Houston Texans (8-7) go head-to-head in what would currently shape up as a playoff play-in game.
Losing to the Panthers would throw the entire South derby for a loop, but a win, coupled with Colts (vs. Raiders) and Texans (vs. Titans) losses Sunday, would crown the Jaguars division champs.
“Everything’s still right in front of us,” Pederson said. “We have a great opportunity this week to just go 1-0 and that’s our goal. You have to keep that in perspective, but the bottom line is we just have to play better.”
Lawrence, limited all of last week in concussion protocol, was able to play last Sunday but suffered a shoulder sprain in a blowout loss at Tampa Bay. He did not practice this week and was ruled out on Friday, leaving the offense in Beathard’s hands.
Lawrence had started 51 consecutive games (49 regular season, two playoff) for the Jaguars.
Beathard played the fourth quarter of the Tampa Bay game. His last start came in the 2020 regular-season finale when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Jaguars made contingency plans. Quarterback Matt Barkley was signed off the New York Giants’ practice squad and is in line to back up Beathard.
A plus for the Jaguars is that Beathard has been a part of recent game plans and showed promise Sunday. He was 11-for-15 for 94 yards and a touchdown at Tampa Bay.
Ten turnovers in the past three games have been atop the list of troublesome items for the Jaguars.
“The turnovers are the biggest thing,” Pederson said. “That’s the biggest thing right now.”
There is a dose of good news for the Jaguars. Jacksonville could have left tackle Cam Thomas back from injured reserve. He was sidelined with a knee injury in late November.
“Cam brings a level of physicality,” Pederson said.
Jacksonville will be without safety and special teams whiz Daniel Thomas, who suffered a broken arm last week. Wide receiver Zay Jones (knee, hamstring) and offensive lineman Cam Robinson (knee) are questionable.
The Panthers ruled out cornerback Troy Hill (concussion). Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (foot), cornerback Jaycee Horn (toe) and linebackers Marquis Haynes (back) and Frankie Luvu (quad) are questionable.
Carolina is 4-3 all-time vs. the Jaguars, including 1-2 in Jacksonville.
–Field Level Media
