JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2025 season, Jaguars "experts" – Frank Frangie, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Up this week:

The Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

• The Jaguars will win if: They get back to who they were during the first five games. That means running on offense, getting takeaways on defense and playing a cleaner game overall. I think the Jags are better than the Raiders. But they can't keep beating themselves. They must tighten up the unforced errors. That has been a theme, even during the 4-1 start. Defensively, they must find a missing pass rush.
• The Raiders will win if: They control the line of scrimmage and begin to lean more on Jeanty. Bowers is a star receiver, but they don't have a lot of skill outside. Defensively, everyone is trying to stop the run against the Jaguars and force Trevor Lawrence to throw off schedule.
• As Frangie sees it: The Jags are better, they are rested after a much-needed bye and are determined to get back on the winning track. They are the better team. So that should happen.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

• The Jaguars will win if: They run for more than 120 yards and win the turnover statistic. It's time to get back to the first month of the season for the Jaguars, and those games were won on the strength of turnovers and running the ball. The Jags have a big opportunity against Smith, who has 10 interceptions, and against a Raiders defense allowing more than 100 yards rushing a game.
• The Raiders will win if: Running back Ashton Jeanty, Crosby and Bowers have big days. Jeanty has run for more than 75 yards just once this season. Bowers is coming off an injury and Crosby has four sacks this season. Those are good players for the Raiders, and they will have some moments, but they can't dominate the game. If they do, the Jaguars are in trouble.
• As Martineau sees it: Here we go, Jacksonville. It's a ten-game sprint to the finish line and the Jaguars are squarely in the playoff race. This is a huge game that could set the tone for the next two months. I think the Jaguars will come into the game inspired, hungry and detailed. The Jags will look like a playoff team Sunday and take care of business with a 27-17 victory.

John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer

• The Jaguars will win if: They reduce mistakes, stay in positive down-and-distance situations and register at least two explosive plays offensively. The thought here is the Jaguars' defense will at least play solidly. The Jaguars' offense must start making big plays and it must stop hurting itself with avoidable mistakes. If it can't do the latter, it will be hard for the Jaguars to beat any team.
• The Raiders will win if: Tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby are the game's best players. Bowers and Crosby are elite talents. Elite talents can take over games. The Jaguars must control Bowers and Crosby, particularly on third downs. It's there the Raiders' elite duo can control the game.
• As Oehser sees it: This is a tougher game for the Jaguars than the records indicate. The Raiders have talent, and Bowers' return from a three-game absence with a knee injury makes them a dramatically more dangerous offense. The thought here is the Jaguars will win this, but it will be a close game and they will need a clutch play late.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

• The Jaguars will win if: They convert on third down. A lot must happen if they're going to do that. They must avoid dropped passes, big penalties and negative plays on first down – none of which they managed to avoid against the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams in back-to-back losses before last week's bye. The Raiders aren't as good defensively as those teams. If the Jaguars can get near 50% on third down, they will win in Vegas.
• The Raiders will win if: The Jaguars continue to be the NFL's most-penalized team, with 23 the last two games. If the Jaguars beat themselves again, the Raiders will earn their third victory of the season.
• As Sexton sees it: The Jaguars have a golden opportunity to fix what ails them against a Raiders team isn't great at anything in particular. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen should be able to settle his offensive line with a physical running game against a defense that isn't playing the run well, and the Jaguars' defense should be able to get after Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who doesn't have a Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) or Davante Adams (Rams) with whom to attack down the field. The Jaguars should leave Las Vegas with Victory No. 5.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They find some kind of offensive rhythm without wide receiver Travis Hunter available. This means the offensive line must control the game and give running back Travis Etienne Jr. space. He hasn't rushed for more than 50 yards in any of the last three games. That must change for the Jaguars to be at their best offensively. A takeaway defensively would be a plus, as Smith will throw the Jags a couple; they just have to catch them.
• The Raiders will win if: Smith finds a rhythm with Bowers, and the Raiders defense' forces a couple takeaways off the Jaguars. Also, if the Jaguars are consistently behind the chains forcing long passing situations, Crosby can heat up. Double him, chip him, harass him all day - because it will take all day. He usually never leaves the field.
• As Shadrick sees it: This Jaguars team should win against a Raiders team searching for answers. The Jags lost two consecutive games entering the bye, and I was eager to see how they bounced back after a strong week of practice. Now, after Hunter's injury Thursday, it's about how they overcome losing one of their best players who was starting to find his stride on both sides of the ball. With him out for an unknown amount of time, it's up to the rest of the group to rally and find a way to continue to push this team to stay in the hunt with four of the next five on the road.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars team reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They can eliminate penalties and establish the run. It's no coincidence that the last two games the Jaguars have lost have been their worst rushing performances of the season. They must run successfully to open up the passing game for Lawrence. Penalties have been a persistent problem and put the offense at a huge disadvantage. If they clean that up, things will look a lot better.
• The Raiders will win if: They feed Bowers and their defense pressures Lawrence. The Jaguars have a tough time guarding large, physical tight ends and Bowers is up there with the best of them. The Raiders' offense is most successful when it runs through Bowers and they are fortunate to get him back healthy this week from a knee injury. Crosby and Co. can get after the quarterback and make it a long day for Jacksonville's offensive line.
• As Stevens sees it: This is a make-or-break game for the Jaguars' season. The outcome could dictate the focus for the rest of the season and trade-deadline moves. The Jaguars are the better team in this matchup and it's up to them to prove it.