Jaguars vs Chiefs: 5 players who will be key to Jacksonville's success

Most of the talk surrounding the week one clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday has been focused on Jalen Ramsey matching up with Tyreek Hill or Nick Foles' first game in the team's new-look offense.

But aside from arguably the team's two most prominent and important players, there are a handful of other players who will determine whether Jacksonville is victorious or not. There are 22 players on the field at a time, and every single one of those players will play some sort of hand in the game's result.

From the defenders who have to try to slow down the reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes to the offensive players who Foles will lead in the huddle, which players hold the keys to the team's success Sunday?

Linebacker Myles Jack:

Fresh off of Myles Jack signing a four-year contract extension worth $57 million, the Jaguars looking for their fourth-year linebacker to take another step in his development and enter the upper echelon of linebackers. To begin that step, Jack will need to come up big against the Chiefs.

From being tasked with limiting elite tight end Travis Kelce to keeping the Jaguars defense n the right allignments against one of the NFL's most multiple offensive schemes, Jack will have his hands full Sunday. He will have to be a factor against both the run and the pass if Jacksonville wants to have a chance to contain the chiefs star-studded offense. There really could not be a better post-contract test for Jack to have to answer to.

Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue:

Patrick Mahomes was a magician in the pocket in 2018, frustrating pass rushers at every turn to his escapability and knack for getting passes into the hands of his receivers despite heavy pressure in his face. Yannick Ngakoue was one of those players as he frequently beat the Chiefs offensive linemen in last year's game and amassed a sack, but he also came within a fingertips grasp of bringing Mahomes down on several other occasions.

This time around, Ngakoue will have rookie defensive end Josh Allen to help him track down Mahomes. But with Allen playing in his first regular season game, the pass rush will have to be carried by veterans like Ngakoue and Calais Campbell. And while Campbell will obviously play a role, Ngakoue's speed will be one of the defense's most important assets on Sunday against an athletic and elusive quarterback.

Left guard Andrew Norwell:

After starting 45 games between 2015-2017, Andrew Norwell struggled through injuries last season and only started 11 games. And when he did start, Norwell did not play to the All-Pro level the Jaguars thought they were getting when they signed him.

Norwell will have his first chance of redemption against one of the league's most dangerous tackles when Chris Jones rolls into Jacksonville on Sunday. Jones, who had 15.5 sacks in 2018, is a force against the run and pass and could singlehandedly derail the Jaguars offense if he isn't contained.

Jones will not line up directly across from Norwell each play, but when he does, the Jaguars are going to need the All-Pro version of Norwell to show up to ensure Nick Foles stays upright and Leonard Fournette has room to run.

Wide receiver Dede Westbrook:

Dede Westbrook was tabbed by local and national analysts alike as the top dog in Jacksonville's receiving corps long before the team's week 3 preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. But after he was targeted on 7 of Foles' 10 throws, it was like the Jaguars were shouting that Westbrook would be a focal point.

For the Jaguars to keep up with the Chiefs uncanny ability to score points, they will need to rack up some touchdowns on their own. The defense can only contain Mahomes for so long, so a Jaguars victory will depend on if the Jaguars can make big plays on offense. And if anyone is going to have their number called to make a play, it will be Westbrook.

Westbrook will also not be facing a pushover Chiefs defense like he did in 2018. The team bolstered their secondary with free agent signing Tyrann Mathieu and rookie Juan Thornhill, and Westbrook will need to be on top of his game to make plays for Jacksonville.

Safety Jarrod Wilson:

While Jalen Ramsey will shadow Tyreek Hill, he can not be relied upon to contain the speed demon himself. Instead, Jarrod Wilson will have to play a large role in preventing Hill from beating Jacksonville's defense vertically, providing Ramsey with the support he needs when Hill inevitably wins a rep here and there.

Wilson will also have to help Myles Jack monitor Travis Kelce, along with making sure rookie Mecole Hardman (4.33 40-yard dash) does not hurt the Jaguars defense after Hill attracts the majority of the attention. Wilson is entering his first season as a starter and a strong performance against an elite offense on Sunday would send a strong message to the team that they made the right choice in not seeking out a more established starter at safety.