Detroit Lions Penei Sewell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Travon Walker is the key tackle

On Sunday, the Lions — owners of the NFC’s best record at 8-1 — will battle the AFC South cellar-dwelling Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) at Ford Field.

Detroit, the heavy favorite on paper (-13.5), will look for its eighth straight win in the Week 11 contest. If able to accomplish the feat, the Lions will need to make a concerted effort to limit the production of Jaguars EDGE Travon Walker.

Walker has had a solid start to his third NFL campaign. Through 10 games in 2024, 2022’s no. 1 overall pick totaled 7.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 37 total tackles, including nine for loss. He has also forced a fumble, had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and generated 35 total pressures. While doing so, he has earned an overall grade of 67.6 from Pro Football Focus.

In this Week 11 affair, Walker will have his hands full with Lions All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Sewell has been the game’s very best right tackle, with one PFF overall grade of 89.4.

Along with that, he’s allowed zero sacks and just two QB hits, and he’s only been penalized three times. He has been a better run-blocker (90.8 PFF grade) than pass-protector, but has still also been a capable pass-blocker (77.1 PFF mark).

Sewell expects a “physical” battle with Walker Sunday.

“Both are very physical players,” Sewell said of the challenge facing Walker and fellow Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen. “Twentyman in the Huddle” podcast. “When you look at them, they already have the size, the height, the arm length. So off the paper they just look already. But on film, they’re just really physical. They play really well with their hands. I think that’s the battle we have to fight. We have to get out there and play physical.”

In this Week 11 matchup, the former Oregon Ducks offensive lineman will look to bounce back from a rough performance against the Houston Texans. In the week 10 competition, it was 2021 no. 7-overall pick responsible for two QB hits against Detroit signal-caller Jared Goff, and he received just a 53.6 PFF pass-blocking grade for his efforts. It was the lowest pass blocking mark for Sewell this season, as well as his lowest pass blocking mark in the past three years.

It won’t be easy, but I think the 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive tackle will bounce back with a respectable performance against Walker & Co. I predict Walker will get sacked but still find a way to record a QB hit and three total pressures against Goff.