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

Up this week:

The Seattle Seahawks at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

• The Jaguars will win if: They get Sam Darnold off his spot. He has been very good, last year with the Vikings and this year with the Seahawks, when he has time. But he can make big mistakes, as the Jags saw last year, when under pressure. They also must contain Kenneth Walker, a very good back, and keep Seattle behind the sticks. The Jags' offense must get the passing game going, where consistency has been the one missing piece. They must find that in this game in which running the ball will be harder.
• The Seahawks will win if: They stuff the run and make Trevor Lawrence throw off schedule. They must get Jaxon Smith-Njigba, one of the NFL's best young receivers, going. And they probably need to have a lead late as the Jags have been very good late in games.
• As Frangie sees it: The surging Jags have learned how to win and are playing with great confidence. And they still haven't played their best game. The Seahawks are better than many realize, including the best defensive front the Jags will have seen this year. This one will be physical and likely close. But the Jags have proven they are good late in games. They have confidence they will make one more play each game. Play a clean game and that will continue against Seattle.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end

• The Jaguars will win if: They continue to be resilient. The Jaguars' offense continues to be a work in progress and if they can find a way to run against a stiff Seattle defense, it will open up some opportunities that exist against the Seahawks' secondary. The Jaguars' offense must handle some injuries from this past game to center Robert Hainsey and tight end Brenton Strange. The next-man-up philosophy will apply.
• The Seahawks will win if: Darnold is comfortable in the pocket. Darnold has the NFL's third-highest completion percentage and the third highest passer rating. Given time, he will pick apart any secondary. His main weapon, Smith-Njigba, is a top-end talent at wide receiver that may line up on the left side.
• As Lageman sees it: This is a challenging test for many reasons: Handling the success of Monday night, handling a short week, handling the Seahawks' eight-game road winning streak and handling the impending travel arrangements to London. All are things that can distract a team. But Head Coach Liam Coen has had his team ready to play hard every week, which has been impressive. Seattle is banged up defensively and the Jaguars' offense must take some steps forward with their overall execution to allow the Jags to surpass their entire win total from 2024.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

• The Jaguars will win if: They force the Seahawks into two or more turnovers and run for 100 yards. The Jaguars want to keep the turnover and big-play stretch going. They have 14 takeaways this season and Darnold threw three interceptions in Jacksonville last season with Minnesota. The Jags also need to be effective running against a very good Seattle front. If they can keep that defense honest, some big plays should be available for Lawrence.
• Seattle will win if: They run effectively and Smith-Njigba has a big day. The talented wide receiver is second in the NFL with 534 yards receiving and the Jaguars just made a trade for cornerback Greg Newsome II. We will see how the secondary lines up and if the Jaguars can keep the Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba connection in check.
• As Martineau sees it: Let's keep this thing rolling in Jacksonville. This is a hard matchup for both teams. Seattle is coming across the country and playing an early game, but the Jaguars had an emotional and physical Monday nighter from which to recover on a short week. I think the Jags will handle their recovery and win another home game, but it will be a tight one, 26-23.

John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer

• The Jaguars will win if: They run effectively enough to make the Seahawks concerned about the run and connect with big plays to wide receivers Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. The Jaguars are 4-1 without much offensive explosiveness. They may need easy touchdowns to beat a physical Seattle defense.
• The Seahawks will win if: They force Lawrence into mistakes, particularly in the red zone – and Darnold stays hot. The Jaguars forced Darnold into mistakes in a Jaguars loss to the Minnesota Vikings last season. Darnold must play cleaner Sunday.
• As Oehser sees it: This is a tough test for the Jaguars, coming six days after an emotional victory over three three-time defending AFC Champion Chiefs. Winning this would be a real sign that this team can navigate tough stretches of an NFL schedule and contend.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

• The Jaguars will win if: They give quarterback Trevor Lawrence time to find open receivers. The Seahawks' defense is among the best in the NFL. They're loaded up front and on the back end. Seattle hasn't allowed any of its last four opponents to run for more than 89 yards and likely will try to force Lawrence to beat them with his arm. That means the Jaguars' offensive line must hold up against Seahawks linemen Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and Co. when they send the pass rush.
• The Seahawks will win if: They are as effective down the field as the Kansas City Chiefs were against the Jaguars Monday. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is coming off a four- touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, leading five consecutive touchdown drives in the second half to force overtime in Seattle. He's playing at a very high level and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has posted 100-plus yards in three of the first five games. The Seahawks can throw the ball and the Jaguars are ranked 27th in passing yards allowed.
• As Sexton sees it: I think the Jaguars will ride the momentum of Monday Night Football into a home victory Sunday. The Seahawks are really good on both sides of the ball but they're traveling east for a one p.m. start – 10 a.m. their time – and against a team that isn't playing great football but still found a way to beat San Francisco and Kansas City in back-to-back weeks. I like the Jaguars' chances to go 5-1 for the third time in franchise history and the first time since 1999.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They continue to improve the consistency on offense. The pre-snap issues still pop out occasionally. The downfield passing game showed glimpses of success last week, but it still needs to take a step forward. The run game must continue to be a priority, even against the third-ranked run defense in the league.
• The Seahawks will win if: They get a balanced attack and let Darnold mix it up in the passing game down the field. If the Jags' defense can stuff running back Kenneth Walker III and force longer down-and-distance situations, then the pass rush can get home.
• As Shadrick sees it: This Jaguars team is 4-1 despite not yet playing close to a clean game all the way around. If the offense gets some things going, if the defense can continue to get takeaways and if the special teams is clean – then this team can trade punches with any team. Don't let the Monday Night hangover hit you, there's another game fast.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars team reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They get something going in the passing game and take advantage of a beat-up Seattle secondary. We have yet to see a well-rounded game from the Jaguars' offense and this is the perfect opportunity for Thomas or Hunter to have a breakout day.
• The Seahawks will win if: Darnold keeps rolling. He is getting comfortable with his new team and he's surrounded by many dangerous weapons. If Darnold and Smith-Njigba get going early, then it will be a long day for this Jaguars defense.
• As Stevens sees it: I'm worried about this matchup because I think it will be a high-scoring game and I'm not sure if the Jaguars' offense can keep up. I also think there is a natural let down after such a huge win over the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. I think Seattle steals a win here at EverBank Stadium.