The Jaguars Vs Patriots matchup on Sunday looks like a simple test of ball security, and New England will know Jacksonville’s defense is built to punish mistakes. Mike Dussault’s warning is direct: if the Patriots keep turning it over, the Jaguars have the kind of defense that can make the game swing quickly.
Through the first two games of the 2025 season, the Patriots offense has committed five turnovers. Drake Maye has thrown four interceptions and Rhamondre Stevenson has lost one fumble, which is exactly the sort of pattern Jacksonville will be looking to exploit.
That matters because the Jaguars’ defense forced the second most takeaways in the league last season. They have already forced three turnovers through two games this season, and they opened the year by dominating the Browns before losing on the road to the Broncos in Week 2.
Jacksonville’s defense is built to create problems
Dussault said Jacksonville’s defense preys on turnovers, and that is the central concern for New England. NFL games often come down to the turnover battle, and he believes that point becomes even more important in this one.
The numbers back that up. The Jaguars have generated four takeaways in five games over the broader recent stretch referenced, and they are still carrying the reputation of a defense that can flip field position and momentum in a hurry.
Since the start of the 2025 season, Jacksonville has also used Cover-6 on 19.6% of its defensive snaps. That matters because it can limit vertical throws, take away boundary one-on-one chances, and force an offense to work underneath.
Maye knows the picture is changing
Maye has already spoken about how defenses are trying to stop him. He said teams are taking away the boundary and the one-on-one stuff, with safeties involved in the run game and extra attention to forcing throws in front of them.
He also said opponents are mixing coverages, clouding one side or the other, and trying to keep things in front. In his view, that still leaves chances to make plays, but only if the Patriots stay patient and avoid giving Jacksonville free opportunities.
That is the balance for New England. The offense has enough talent to move the ball, but if Maye is forced into mistakes again, the Jaguars will be confident they can turn this into the kind of game they like.
For the Patriots, the task is straightforward even if the execution is not: protect the football, stay ahead of the chains, and do not give Jacksonville the short field it wants. If they cannot do that, the Jaguars Vs Patriots contest may be defined by turnovers before anything else.
