Previewing Jaguars' Post-Bye Surge vs. Raiders

TV Channel: FOX (check local listings)

• Chris Myers (Play-by-Play)
  
• Mark Schlereth (Analyst)
  
• Kristina Pink (Sideline)

The Jaguars are 6-5 all-time against the Raiders and have won two of the last three matchups. Sunday’s matchup marks Jacksonville’s second consecutive season with a visit to Allegiant Stadium after making the first trip to Las Vegas in 2024.

Last season, Brian Thomas Jr. surpassed 1,000 receiving yards when the Jaguars played the Raiders in Week 16, becoming the first rookie in franchise history and 25th NFL rookie receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards. The Week 9 contest is the second of four trips to the West Coast for Jacksonville and their second longest domestic trip of the season at 3,939 round-trip miles.

Amongst the most fascinating storylines entering the game: How the Jaguars plan to defend Brock Bowers, who is healthy for seemingly the first time since Week 1.

“Yeah, I think you look at—maybe last year as well and then early in the season. The first play of the season against the Patriots, they got him the ball the very first play of the entire season. So, you know that when he's healthy and available, he's somebody that they definitely want to get the ball in his hands," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said this week.

"And so, as you go throughout the work week and you see alright, where's 89? We've got to make sure we understand where he is because he’s in the hip at tight end. He is in an inline stance. He's in the slot, he's out at one. They definitely want to move him around as the weapon that he is. So, I think we—I don't want to say over prepare, but definitely more on the side of they're going to want to get them going than not.”