The Jacksonville Jaguars have not started a season 6-2 or better since 1999. That year the team finished 14-2 and went to the AFC Championship game. After starting 2023 1-2, the team has won five consecutive games and is poised to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. This year, however, they are doing it as front-runners in the AFC and they have beaten some good teams along the way.
Entering the year, the Jaguars were the clear favorites in the AFC South and they remain that today. There are a few things, however, that have played out differently than what most people expected. The offense has not been hitting on all cylinders. What was supposed to be the strength of the team has taken a back seat to a really good defense. Josh Allen has nine sacks and the rest of the team combined has seven. Even without an effective pass rush, the defense continues to play well. They are playing so well, in fact, that the Jaguars did not even feel the need to address the lack of pass rush before the trade deadline.
The Jaguars Entered the Bye Week on a 5-0 Run
In honor of the team’s five-game winning streak, here are five things we have learned about the Jaguars during their 5-0 run…
The Jaguars Are a Good Football Team
Everyone knows that this year’s Jaguars are a good football team. In 2022, they surprised some teams and fell into a few wins at the end of the season. This year, they are punching teams in the mouth and walking out most Sundays on top. They have an almost elite quarterback, good receivers, and one of the more versatile backs in the league. Their offensive line is just starting to gel and they added a piece at the deadline. The Jaguars defense is playing as well as any in the league and they are turning the ball over often. They even have a great punter and a really good and consistent field goal kicker. Add to that a Super Bowl-winning coach and a good defensive coordinator and this team has very few weaknesses.
Travis Etienne Needs a Backup Not Named “Tank”
Tank Bigsby was chosen in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It was widely regarded as an excellent pick and a chance to find a solid backup for Travis Etienne. Through eight games, Bigsby has 54 rushing yards on 23 carries, six yards on one reception, and two costly fumbles. At the time of this writing, Bigsby is a liability to this team and not a viable backup for Etienne. D’Ernest Johnson should get the nod as the backup until Bigsby improves his vision and his ability to hold onto the football.
The Defense Is Much Better Than Advertised
With Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Travis Etienne, and Evan Engram, the Jaguars offense is stacked. They are also the second-best unit on this team so far. Many people believed that the Jaguars were going to have to win a few shootouts, but that has not been the reality for this team. Instead, the Jaguars defense is ninth overall in points allowed at just 19.5 per game. Josh Allen is fifth in the NFL in sacks with nine, while Darious Williams and Andre Cisco are tied for fourth with three interceptions each. Foye Oluokon is third in tackles and Tyson Campbell, Tre Herndon, and Devin Lloyd are all playing good football. On top of that, their best interior defensive lineman, DaVon Hamilton, is back and this defense should continue to dominate.
Trevor Lawrence and the Offense Have Not Yet Clicked
At 24.1 points per game, the Jaguars are tenth in the league in points per game. Etienne, while his per-carry average is down, has carried this offense in a lot of games. The rest of the offense looks “clunky.” It often appears that Press Taylor, the offensive coordinator and play-caller, is still trying to figure out how to use the plethora of weapons the team has. There are times when Taylor tries to force the ball to Ridley when he should not and other times when Ridley disappears and is not targeted at all. Evan Engram has a lot of catches, but not a lot of yards. Christian Kirk is the constant and the utility blanket for Lawrence right now. When Taylor figures out how to use the weapons at his disposal, this team could be really dangerous. If you are a Jaguars fan, you just have to hope he figures it out before January.
The Lack of a Pass Rush Could Be Their Downfall
As mentioned earlier, the team did not address the lack of pass rush before the trade deadline. Josh Allen is having a career year and will almost definitely end up with double-digit sacks. Travon Walker, on the other hand, struggles to get pressure on the quarterback. His only move is a bull rush, and with his size and strength, he does it well. It’s the perfect move to be good at if you play on the interior of the defensive line. That is where Travon Walker should be. He is fast, but his agility and pass-rush moves leave a lot to be desired. If he were teamed up with Hamilton and Roy Robertson-Harris on the inside, he could show why he was the No. 1 overall pick. As it stands, he is a liability to the team and the lack of pass rush from that edge position could hurt the team as the playoffs start.
More AFC South
AFC South Fantasy Football Breakdown
Main Photo Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
