The Jacksonville Jaguars are underwhelming in a big way this week.

The Jaguars hold the worst record in the NFL at 2-8 and will now be tasked with taking The best team in the NFC in the Detroit Lions.

For the Jaguars to pull off an upset, though, they’ll need some of their top players to step up on a big stage. So which players will the game come down to? We break it down below.

Travis Etienne

The Jaguars offense has failed to get the running game going in any way shape or form in recent weeks. That needs to change this week if they want to keep the game from getting out of hand and force Mac Jones into a bigger role. With Tank Bigsby out with an ankle injury, it could be Travis Etienne who is tasked with leading the running back.

DaVon Hamilton

The Jaguars saw their interior defensive line have their most disruptive game of the season last week. To have a chance against an elite Lions offense, they will need to repeat the performance. Leading that performance will likely have to be tackle DaVon Hamilton, who has played his best football of the season in recent weeks. Hamilton can be strong against the run and an effective pass rusher, and this will be a big chance for him to step up.

Mac Jones

Simply put, the Jaguars need more from backup quarterback Mac Jones this week. Jones was put in a tough spot last week with injuries at left guard and wide receiver, but the opponent’s difficulty doesn’t get any easier this week. Jones expressed a lot of confidence in his ability to return this week. If the Jaguars are going to have a chance, they’ll need him to do just that.

Jarrian Jones

The Jaguars will need all hands on deck in the secondary this week. The Lions spread the ball around on offense and make sure to get a lot of different players involved. Perhaps the most important of these players is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who does a lot of his damage from the slot. How well Jarrian Jones slows down one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers will dictate the success of the defense.

Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jaguars haven’t been able to get their best playmaker involved the past two weeks for a number of reasons. However, four catches and 36 yards in two games is unacceptable, and the Jaguars know they have to change if they want to have a chance on offense. The Lions will likely give Thomas extra attention, so how the Jaguars respond will speak volumes.

“Yeah, I mean, we have to do something. I think the biggest thing is to try to give him those opportunities. There are times when you call things where you really think he’s going to get the ball right here and something happens. take the game,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said.

“Whether it’s a pressure or the ball wasn’t thrown for whatever reason. We called screens the other day that weren’t even thrown to him at times. There are opportunities and we’ve got to continue We’ve got to keep giving him opportunities because , as we say every week, he is dynamic for us and therefore needs opportunities to get the football.”

Be sure to follow on X (Twitter) @JaguarsOnSI and @_John_Shipley and never miss another breaking news.

Please let us know what you think when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK HERE.