Steelers 2020 Breakdown: Week 11, Jaguars

HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- The Steelers' history vs. the Jaguars is sordid. Fans who have been around a while can remember Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell making plays and beating the Steelers. Recently, it was the horrible loss in the 2017 playoffs, but games between these teams always seem to go down to the wire. Time to break down the Week 11 matchup between these AFC foes.

MATCHUP

Opponent: Jaguars
2019 Record: 6-10
Overall History (W/L):  14-12 for Jaguars
Last 4 Games: 2-2
Opening Line: Steelers (-6)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 22
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Jacksonville

OUTGOING PLAYERS/ FREE-AGENT LOSSES

T Cedric Ogbuehi
WR Marqise Lee
TE Nick O'Leary
TE Seth Devalve

RETIREMENTS

N/A

FREE-AGENT ADDITIONS

ILB Joe Scherbert
DE Rodney Gunter
TE Tyler Eifert
DT Al Woods
DE Cassius Marsh
QB Mike Glennon
RB Chris Thompson
CB Rashaan Melvin

PLAYERS VIA TRADE

Traded DE Calais Campbell to the Ravens for a 2020 fifth-round draft pick.

2020 NFL DRAFT CLASS

Round 1: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
Round 1: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Round 2: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Round 3: DaVon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
Round 4: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s University at Minnesota
Round 4 (from 49ers through Broncos): Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
Round 4 (from Bears): Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Round 5 (from Ravens through Falcons): Daniel Thomas, S, Auburn
Round 5 (from Rams): Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
Round 6: Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
Round 6 (from Seahawks): Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech
Round 7: Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis

OVERVIEW

The Jaguars certainly look different than the team that ended the 2017 Steelers' season at Heinz Field in the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs. Campbell is now a member of the Ravens, Blake Bortles is bouncing around the league and Gardner Minshew has the reins as quarterback heading into 2020.

2019 was forgettable for Jacksonville, and it started at quarterback. The team gave Nick Foles a monster contract, expecting him to bring some of that Eagles magic to Duval County, but he didn't even last a game before getting injured. Leonard Fournette was banged up and the team's defense underperformed with Jalen Ramsey gone to the Rams.

But what exactly went down last season that ended with the Jaguars being 6-10?

Jacksonville's offense mimicked the Steelers', as it averaged just 18.8 points per game, and the defense wasn't nearly as stout as many remember giving up 24.8 points per game.

Looking at Jacksonville's 2019 season, you see a defense undergoing major changes and an offense missing a quarterback with any real NFL experience. With Minshew having almost a full year of starting under his belt, it should be expected the offense takes a step forward in 2020, but will the defense improve? The defensive failures were more of a shock than anything last year, and if that doesn't improve, neither will the Jaguars' record.

PREDICTION

If this game were played at Heinz Field, I feel it would be slam dunk, but the Steelers always seem to struggle in Jacksonville. The last time these teams lined up in was in Florida and it was a busted play that resulted in Ben Roethlisberger rumbling into the end zone for the touchdown, and the win. Can the Steelers duplicate their success in the Sunshine State? I think so.

Steelers, 23-13

Be sure to check out the other 2020 regular season breakdowns:

Week 1 - at the Giants

Week 2 - vs. the Broncos

Week 3 - vs. the Texans

Week 4 - at the Titans

Week 5 - vs. the Eagles

Weeks 6/17 - the Browns

Weeks 7/12 - the Ravens

Week 9 - at the Cowboys

Weeks 10/15 - the Bengals