Sunday's battle between the Jaguars and Patriots may come down to who wins the individual matchup between WR Parker Washington and CB Christian Gonzalez, even if they don't spend the entire game against each other.
One of the highlights of the NFL's Week 3 slate is the heavyweight matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots, two of the AFC's premier teams.
Both teams come into the contest at 1-1. Last week, the Patriots dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 20-3 victory, while the Jaguars saw their nine-game regular-season winning streak come to an end against the Denver Broncos.
Not only does the Jaguars-Patriots Game feature two of the NFL's best teams, but it will also potentially feature a battle between two of the NFL's brightest young stars.
Through two games, Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has picked up right where he left off last season as Jacksonville's most dangerous and dynamic weapon. Washington enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, finishing as the team's leading receiver.
In Week 1's 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Washington hauled in five catches for 83 yards and this beautiful 30-yard touchdown. He would follow with seven grabs for 98 yards against Denver.
Washington's fantastic play was one of the main catalysts in the Jaguars' winning streak. He has quickly gone from a depth option to the team's top WR to one of the best receivers in the league.
Against New England, Washington will potentially be battling cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who, like Washington, has emerged as one of the NFL's best at his position. Right before the season, Gonzalez signed a four-year, $135 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid CB in history.
If the two see plenty of action against each other on Sunday, their matchup alone could be worth the price of admission, and whoever gets the best of it could be the deciding factor in who wins the game.
How Much Will We See The Matchup?
While it would make a lot of sense for the Patriots to put their best corner against Jacksonville's best receiver, that may not be what actually happens.
Washington's versatility and frequency of lining up in the slot may limit his one-on-one battles against Gonzalez. Last week, the Broncos used their top CB, Patrick Surtain II, mainly against WR Brian Thomas Jr. instead of Washington.
If Washington is primarily used in the slot against New England, will the Patriots also use Gonzalez against either BTJ or Jakobi Meyers, or will they want him to try locking down Washington?
If Washington goes against slot corner Marcus Jones for much of the day, he could have another big game. Jones is a good CB, but he isn't Gonzalez. That could be a matchup that quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks to exploit.
On Jacksonville's side, will HC Liam Coen and OC Grant Udinski make it a point to have Washington avoid Gonzalez, or will they be comfortable with the potential Washington-Gonzalez matchup?
Final Thoughts
Though Gonzalez spends most of his time on the outside, it may be in New England's best interest to break that trend and lock him up against Washington.
Will it happen? I guess we will have to wait until Sunday to find out.
Even if the two only line up across from each other a handful of times, whoever wins those battles could be what decides the game between two of the AFC's best teams.
