The Jacksonville Jaguars vs Las Vegas Raiders week 16 matchup is a fight between two teams at the top of the 2025 draft, looking to tank and improve their draft selection while still competing. With the season only three weeks from completion, both teams are looking to find solace amid a terrible season.
Week 16 Jaguars vs Raiders: How the Jaguars Can Win the Tank Bowl
There are a lot of similarities between these two teams. Both teams have lame-duck head coaches Doug Pederson for the Jaguars and Antonio Pierce for the Raiders. They also share similarities with their quarterback issues, having one dynamic rookie and defenses among the worst in the league. However, the similarity that will define this matchup is that both teams are looking to lose.
The Jaguars sit at the fourth pick in the draft, with their three and 11 record, while the Raiders at two and 12 have the first pick. Both teams are looking to maintain that draft pick or improve it. With the Raiders looking for a quarterback and the Jaguars needing a top talent on both sides of the ball, this matchup is incredibly important for the 2025 NFL draft.
Someone has to win the tank bowl in the Jaguars vs Raiders matchup, and while the winner will feel good afterward, the loser might feel better. However, the Jaguars are in good shape to win in week 16, with their superior offensive unit and surprisingly better defense. For the Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 matchup, there are two keys to victory in one of the most impactful games for the NFL draft in week 16.
Jaguars vs Raiders Week 16 Rookie Showdown
For the Jaguars and Raiders, there is no better example of a diamond in the rough than the two rookie first-round picks. Of the Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidates, both Brian Thomas Jr. and Brock Bowers are being forgotten thanks to the play of rookie quarterbacks Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. But, between Thomas and Bowers being their respective teams’ best offensive players by a wide margin, the NFL should not lock in their votes yet.
As one of the Jaguars’ future stars, Thomas has emerged as not just the best offensive player for the Jags but arguably the best non-quarterback offensive rookie from the 2024 draft class. If there was one player that could challenge him for that spot, it would be the Raiders tight-end Bowers.
Both are having incredible seasons and are their team’s leading receivers. Thomas has 64 receptions for 956 yards and eight touchdowns, while Bowers had 90 receptions for 968 yards and four touchdowns. Both lead the league among rookies in every main category and have emerged as future stars. They are also the biggest key to victory in the Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 game.
If either defense can limit the superstar rookie on the other side to a subpar day offensively, then the chances of victory skyrocket. Outside of the two, there isn’t much offensive talent for either team. The Raiders have Jakobi Meyers and Alexander Mattison, while the Jaguars have Travis Etienne Jr. and Brenton Strange as the top options outside of the superstar rookies. Taking the superstar rookie out of the offensive equation equals a highly productive defensive day in most scenarios.
For the Raiders, their cornerbacks will have a tough time holding back the Jaguars receiver. According to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders have the worst defensive coverage grade, at 31.5, with the next closest being 49.4. The horrendous pass defense for the Raiders means the Jaguars rookie receiver should be able to have another explosive day, even with backup Mac Jones at the helm.
The Jaguars’ defense will also have their hands full with Bowers, as he is a tough defensive assignment for anyone. It’s especially interesting as Bowers is lining up in the slot over 55 percent of the time, according to PFF, and with Jaguars rookie Jarrian Jones having slot responsibilities, the rookie-on-rookie showdown will be an intriguing one to watch.
Fortunately for the Jaguars, their biggest area of weakness comes against running backs and wide receivers, as Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, and Jones have all been adequate against tight ends and slot targets. In the showdown between superstar rookie Bowers and Thomas, the Jaguars rookie has a much clearer path towards success.
Overall, while both seasons might be over, the Jaguars and Raiders fans will have an exciting future to look forward to with their superstar rookies. With the losing team coming away with better assets, the solace will be the rookie in-house, which would most likely be the difference in the win. Neither team regrets their decision, and both rookies are well on their way toward being among the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL draft.
Can The Jaguars Defense Hold Up?
Outside of Bowers, the Raiders offense has been severely lackluster. Meyers has been good but nowhere near where he has been in the past. The running game for the Raiders has been the worst in the NFL all year long. Mattison is the Raiders leading rusher with only 341 yards and three touchdowns. Sincere McCormick had begun taking over the backfield, but he suffered a season-ending injury.
While Gardner Minshew is done for the season, the Raiders backup, Aiden O’Connell, has taken over and has been mediocre but significantly better than Desmond Ridder. Zamir White and DJ Turner are also out for the Jaguars vs Raiders game, which further adds to the long list of injuries on offense the Raiders are dealing with.
On the flip side, the Jaguars defense is healthy. Tyson Campbell, Jones, and Montaric Brown are all healthy in the secondary. Both safeties are good to go, as is the linebacker corps. But the most important group is the defensive line, with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker leading the charge. The Raiders are middle of the pack when it comes to pass protection and should pose a decent challenge for whoever lines up against Kolton Miller.
Jacksonville has the advantage across the board, but the pass rush will have a tough task against the Raiders Miller, who has been one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL in 2024. Walker and Hines-Allen, whoever lines up against Miller, can make a huge difference if they can generate pressure. Miller has been good but still allows pressures and sacks. Part of that is thanks to the quarterbacks for the Raiders not being able to escape sacks often.
It’s a good matchup for any defense against the Raiders, and the Jaguars’ defense has a chance to look like what many saw on paper before the season began. Outside of Bowers and Meyers, the Raiders offense isn’t threatening. Ameer Abdullah and Tre Tucker are the other options, neither of which should scare the Jaguars’ defense. Locking up Bowers and Meyers while stifling the run game will set the Jaguars up for success.
The Tank Bowl Ramifications
For most fans, the Jaguars vs Raiders matchup isn’t one to garner a ton of attention. However, it holds massive ramifications for the NFL draft and the future of both organizations. A win for the Raiders would put them at risk of losing out on the first overall pick and potentially a top-five selection. In comparison, a win for Jacksonville could drop them out of the top ten.
The difference in value between a win and a loss for these two teams is stark. With a lot of teams sitting at three and 11 and none looking like they’ll win anytime soon, the Jaguars and Raiders are both competing to win and lose in the same week. It’s no secret that fans of both teams will be more than okay if their teams lose. But, amidst a season with only five victories combined between the two fanbases, a win would be nice to see. With the game in Las Vegas, the Raiders home crowd may be rooting against their team if it gets close at the end of the game.
Both teams are coming off losses, with the Raiders losing to the Atlanta Falcons in primetime while the Jaguars lost to the New York Jets in a tough loss. The Jaguars vs. Jets week 15 matchup provided three cornerstones to build around for 2025, and the most important, Thomas Jr., will play a huge factor in the Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 game.
With a lot at stake, the Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 matchup will be immensely impactful for both teams’ futures. The 2025 draft has a lot of great players, and the NFL standings at the bottom are very close. A win could drastically lower a team’s pick, something that can cripple an organization for years to come. It’ll be bittersweet for the winner and Jacksonville, as long as Thomas and the defense come to play, they will head home to Jacksonville with a worse draft pick.
The Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 matchup is important for the future of both organizations and can drastically alter the offseason plans for both teams as well. Both teams are in a similar situation, from their coaching staff and front office to the team’s dishevelment and superstar rookies. These similarities put this Jaguars vs Raiders matchup into perspective, as the outcome will be the beginning of the branching paths these teams go down.
The Jaguars vs Raiders game is impactful for the draft position of both teams but can have massive ramifications for the Jaguars organization. A win putting the Jaguars on the path to keeping the head coach and general manager could hold the Jaguars back. “Running it back” with Pederson and Trent Baalke would be a massive mistake, and if the Jaguars vs Raiders game can lead towards such a scenario, a win would be very detrimental to the Jaguars’ future success.
With so much at stake despite both playoff teams being out of the playoff race, this matchup is one of the most intriguing of the week 16 slate. A team’s future could change drastically based on the outcome of the Jaguars vs Raiders week 16 tank bowl.
Main Image: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
