Wake up early on Sunday morning and watch Drake Maye attempt to end the New England Patriots’ five-game losing streak. They will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 9:30 a.m. ET from London’s Wembley Stadium.
The NFL Network will carry the coverage of Maye’s second pro start, after he gave a previously lifeless offense some new hope in Week 6. The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft threw three TD passes, taking some of the sting out of a 20-point loss to Houston.
This will be a matchup where the Patriots QB of the future can show that last week’s flashes of promise were for real. Jacksonville’s pass defense is one of the shakiest units in the league.
The Jaguars are on equal low ground with New England, as both teams come into this game with 1-5 records. We highlight the odds for the matchup and supply you with our Patriots vs. Jaguars predictions and best bets for NFL Week 7.
Patriots vs. Jaguars predictions and best bets
- Patriots +6: -110 at BetMGM
- Over 41 Points: -112 at DraftKings
- DeMario Douglas Over 92 receiving yards: -113 at FanDuel Sportsbook
This appears to be a winnable game for the Patriots. The offense was non-existent under Jacoby Brissett, and the New England decision-makers finally turned the reins over to the guy that may finally stabilize the QB position again.
Maye worked through his shares of ups and downs against the Texans. He did throw the three TD passes but was intercepted twice and sacked four times while being pressured often behind a wobbly offensive line.
The rookie passer did stand in and played with some poise and did not let the bad moments lead to him unraveling. In the week after the game, Douglas said that Maye brought a fresh and confident approach to running the offense.
The New England defense ranks 26th in the NFL. Jacksonville’s defense ranks 31st, so the Over seems to be a viable play.
The Jaguars were overmatched in a 19-point loss to the Chicago Bears last week, but in the previous game, they scored their first win of the season. Even though Jacksonville surrendered 34 points in the victory over the Colts, it put a season-high 37 points on the board.
That may be the formula required for these Cats to scratch out any wins. The Jaguars offense features enough playmakers to compensate for the defensive shortcomings when the matchup is right, as it appears to be this week.
Patriots vs. Jaguars moneyline odds analysis
Why Jacksoville could win as the favorite
Best odds: –250 at BetMGM Sportsbook
The Jaguars are decisive favorites, as they have the more established core of offensive playmakers. The Jaguars will be seeking to take their all-time London record to over .500 with a seventh win there.
Trevor Lawrence finished with three TD passes in each of his last three games. He has yet to live up to the significant advance billing as a pro, but the recent glimpses of increased promise do provide some hope that a true breakout stretch could eventually lie ahead.
Evan Engram led the Jaguars with 10 catches for 102 yards last week. It was his seventh career game with 10+ catches, the fifth-most ever by TE. He totaled 6+ catches and 60+ yards in four of his past five games.
Running back Tank Bigsby is emerging in his second season, with 90-plus rushing yards in two of the past three games. Brian Thomas Jr. leads all rookies with 424 receiving yards this season. Gabe Davis caught two TD passes, and he has three TD receptions in two career games in London. Christian Kirk rounds out a deep WR crew.
Why New England could win as the underdog
Best odds: +220 at FanDuel Sportsbook
The spread is too large against another lower-tier team, and the return on a moneyline bet here is very alluring. Maye gets a good chance to further prove himself against the NFL’s worst pass defense.
Douglas led New England with six catches for a career-high 92 yards and his first TD of season in Week 6. He finished with 6+ catches and 55+ yards in each of the last two games. Douglas totaled 84 receiving yards in only career international game, last season in Frankfurt.
Maye’s immediate impact on the passing game was illustrated by the performance of Kayshon Boutte, who finished with a career-high 58 receiving yards and caught his first TD pass as a pro last week. Hunter Henry also registered his first TD reception of the season.
New England will be aiming to run its record to 3-0 in London games, and 4-1 in international matchups. Much will hinge on their rookie QB in a game that features two defenses to take advantage of. We will see if Maye can build off last week and perform well against an exploitable opponent.
‘
