10 Things Jaguars Must Do to Beat Eagles in Week 5: Lean Into London

Oct 09, 2026 at 02:32 PM

Jaguars Senior Writer

LONDON – The Jaguars are good. They have proven as much.

They have proven it through four games of the 2026 season by doing what contending teams do. They have won close games and one-sided games. They have won when playing their best and when "winning ugly." They have been dominant at times and clutch at others. Up next:

The Philadelphia Eagles.

The Jaguars will play the perennial NFC powers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday, with many observers favoring the Jaguars because the Eagles uncharacteristically have lost two consecutive games and have had an uncommon slew of injuries in recent weeks.

But while all that is true, it's just as true that the Eagles are a proud, well-coached team with an elite quarterback in Jalen Hurts. They're also accustomed to winning, which makes them a dangerous and capable opponent for a 3-1 Jaguars team that leads the AFC South entering Sunday by a game over the 2-2 Indianapolis Colts.

The early weeks of the NFL season are about establishing identity and getting to the second half of the season in position to make a run. For the Jaguars, the early weeks also have been about establishing themselves as one of the better teams in the NFL. A victory Sunday would further establish that.

Here are 10 things the Jaguars must do to do that Sunday:

Run. This remains and likely always will be No. 1 for this Jaguars team under Head Coach Liam Coen. They have looked increasingly strong here so far this season. If the Jaguars can run Sunday against a strong Eagles defense, it will be a huge step toward dictating the game.
Stop the run. The Jaguars are elite here, which sets the tone for one of the NFL's best defenses. Eagles All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley has a hamstring issue. Reserve running back Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve. Injured or not, the Jaguars must stop an Eagles team that historically runs well.
Get physical. When the Jaguars are the more physical team, they are usually the winning team. It has been that way since Coen's arrival. The Eagles are a big, physical team. That makes physicality an intriguing matchup in this game, one the Jaguars can – and must – win.
Focus on "us." The Eagles enter Sunday amid a lot of "noise." Coen's message to the Jaguars has been to ignore that noise and focus on "us." It's how the Jaguars can avoid distraction, play their own style and dictate the game. If that sounds like CoachSpeak, that doesn't make it wrong.
Withstand the fury. The Eagles won't be favored Sunday. They will have heard a lot of doubters this week. Teams in that situation are dangerous, particularly early in games when belief remains strong. The Eagles will have energy and belief to start the game. The Jaguars must play through that and get control early.
Turn. It. Over. The Jaguars lead the NFL with a plus-six turnover margin. They are the NFL's best team turning turnovers into points. The Jaguars run defense consistently puts opponents in bad down-and-distance situations, and they are adept at taking advantage of those situations. When the Jaguars turn the ball over, they usually win.
Pressure Hurts. The Jaguars pressured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow consistently last week. He threw for more than 400 yards, but the pressure affected him enough that the Jaguars intercepted him twice and were in control much of the game. The Eagles' offensive line is injured and in transition. The Jaguars must take advantage and make Hurts uncomfortable.
Keep spreading the ball. Five Jaguars receivers have caught touchdown passes this season. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and this offense are at their best when passes go to the open receiver rather than a pre-determined "target." It's a versality thing and a balance thing. It's also a thing that must continue Sunday.
Lean into London. The Jaguars have the most experience of any NFL team traveling internationally. That experience isn't everything, but it's not nothing.
Seize the moment. The Jaguars are playing as well as any team in the NFL. Fans and observers are noticing. This team isn't about praise or outside approval. But Sunday's game is nationally televised and the opponent is a traditional power team. You want to stay among those "much-discussed" teams? Win Sunday.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller (51) and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (37) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 7, 2026.