The Jacksonville Jaguars arrive in London with momentum and a chance to strengthen their early claim as one of the AFC’s most balanced teams, while the Philadelphia Eagles must rebuild their offensive front on the fly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sunday’s matchup places a 3-1 Jacksonville club against an Eagles team coming off a damaging loss to the Rams and a week of major roster upheaval.
Key takeaways
- Jacksonville has won two straight games and is the NFL’s only team to hold every opponent to 20 points or fewer this season.
- Philadelphia lost right tackle Lane Johnson to retirement, placed Cam Jurgens in concussion protocol and then traded Jurgens to Baltimore for a 2028 second-round pick.
- The Jaguars have recorded eight takeaways, tied for the league’s second-highest total through four weeks.
- Rookie right tackle Markel Bell is set to join a reshaped Eagles offensive line against Jacksonville’s productive pass rush.
- Travis Hunter has become primarily a defensive contributor, playing 175 snaps on defense and only 16 on offense this season.
Jaguars look to build on a strong opening month
Jacksonville is making its record 15th appearance in the United Kingdom and will be playing in London for the second time in a row against Philadelphia. The Eagles won the previous London meeting between the clubs in 2018, although the only players still connected to that game are Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott and tight end Zach Ertz.
The Jaguars have gone 12-3, including the postseason, since a 35-7 London loss to the Rams in their previous international appearance. Coach Liam Coen’s team has continued that form into 2026, opening 3-1 and leading an AFC South that has yet to establish much consistency behind Jacksonville.
Defense has driven the start. The Jaguars have yet to allow more than 20 points in a game, and their eight takeaways are tied for second in the league. Hunter, the 2025 No. 2 overall selection, produced his first NFL interception in Week 3.
Jacksonville has also avoided offensive droughts. It leads the NFL with just four three-and-outs, while five different players have scored at least two touchdowns. The Jaguars’ ability to spread production has helped them beat AFC opponents New England and Cincinnati in consecutive weeks.
There are still areas for concern. Jacksonville ranks 31st in passing yards allowed per game, though game script has affected that figure after the Jaguars built large leads against Cleveland and New England. The club has also been stronger at the start of games than at the finish.
Still, a victory in London would give Coen’s group another high-profile result before a punishing stretch: Jacksonville is preparing to play 26 of its next 30 regular-season games away from home.
Eagles test rebuilt line against Jacksonville pressure
Philadelphia’s offense managed only 172 yards in its loss to the Rams, went 0-for-12 on third down and then faced an extraordinary run of personnel changes. Jurgens entered concussion protocol Monday. Johnson abruptly retired Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Eagles dealt Jurgens to Baltimore, receiving a 2028 second-round selection.
The line expected to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts now consists of left tackle Jordan Mailata, 29; second-year left guard Willie Lampkin; second-year center Drew Kendall; right guard Tyler Steen; and Bell, a rookie taking over at right tackle.
The changes come at a difficult time for Philadelphia’s protection unit. Before this week’s overhaul, the Eagles had allowed 12 sacks, fourth most in the NFL, and a 43.2 percent pressure rate, the league’s third-highest figure. Jacksonville, meanwhile, has created 41 pressures without blitzing, tied for fifth in the league.
Johnson’s departure could also affect the running game. Since 2024, Philadelphia has averaged 4.8 yards per carry with Johnson on the field and 4.0 when he has been absent.
The Jurgens deal prompted questions about whether Philadelphia was looking beyond this season, but general manager Howie Roseman maintained that the team’s objective remains unchanged. “Nothing has changed,” Roseman said, stressing that the Eagles intend to win “this year.”
Hunter returns to London in a different role
Hunter’s most productive game came in England last season, when he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Rams. He played 64 of his 76 snaps on offense in that defeat, but suffered a knee injury in practice days later that ended his rookie campaign.
His second season has unfolded differently. Hunter is averaging 43.8 defensive snaps per game, nearly twice his 22.0 average from 2025, and has become a key member of Jacksonville’s secondary. Quarterbacks have posted a 59.2 passer rating when targeting him, down from 85.4 last season. His 58.8 percent completion rate allowed is the best among Jaguars defenders with at least 10 targets.
He played all 71 defensive snaps last week without taking an offensive snap. His 175 defensive plays this season have already surpassed the 154 he logged during his entire rookie year.
With Philadelphia’s offense depleted, Jacksonville could choose to give Hunter a few offensive packages alongside Trevor Lawrence. But the Jaguars may prefer to keep their emerging defender on the field against Hurts and a newly assembled offensive line.
