It’s time for the NFL playoffs. The cream has risen to the top, as the sports cliche goes. And the teams that didn’t qualify are pondering why — and positioning themselves for the NFL Draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the hottest teams coming in to postseason play. After a five game losing streak earlier in the year that seemingly left the team for dead, the Jaguars turned it on, winning seven of their last nine games including a current five game winning streak. Jacksonville has won in every way imaginable during their streak, from close games, shootouts, and defensive battles alike.
With three wins against playoff teams (four if you want to count a Titans team that would have won the division had they beaten the Jags at least one time) the Jacksonville Jaguars look primed to make some noise. A little home cookin’ always does good for the soul, and this weekend will be no different for the Jaguars
GridironHeroics previews all of the NFL teams that open postseason play, and we’ll continue it through the entire playoffs.
NFL TEAM: Jacksonville Jaguars
2022-23 RECORD: 9-8
WEEKEND OPPONENT: Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, 8:15 P.M.
NFL WEEK ONE POSTSEASON SCHEDULE: Who is playing where and when?
TRENDING?: The Jacksonville Jaguars have been on a heater for the better part of three months now. After they dropped five in a row, including losses to the Texans, Colts, and Broncos who have just one more win combined (10) than the Jags, Jacksonville flipped the switch. During their run in the second half of the season Jacksonville’s only losses have been to the Chiefs and Lions, who have been equally as hot.
In their final nine games of the season Doug Pederson’s Jaguars have scored 25.7 points per game compared to just 21.5ppg in the first eight games of the year. A four point difference may not seem like much, but if they maintained that 25.7 points all year that’d have been good for eighth in the league compared to T-16th at 21.5ppg. There is no backing into the playoffs for “DUUUVAL” nation. The black and teal are peaking at the perfect time.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been able to win in every way imaginable and Sunday’s division clinching victory over the Titans was the most recent proof. After several weeks of the offense clicking on all cylinders they hit a speed bump against a desperate Mike Vrabel team. After struggling all night to move the ball, the Jacksonville defense took things into their own hands. The play that essentially sent the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs for the first time since 2017:
JOSH ALLEN FUMBLE RETURN 🔥
pic.twitter.com/SHCzv4GgL6— CatsCoverage.com (@Cats_Coverage) January 8, 2023
The team is battle tested, they’ve played the best and beat the best. Will they be ready for round two vs Justin Herbert and the Chargers?
WHAT IS GOING RIGHT?: When you start the season 2-6 and still make the playoffs that generally means EVERYTHING is going right. The Jags are no exception here, the offense has been on fire and the defense has put the clamps on teams in crunch time. Second year quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been the key cog in the Jaguars success. After starting the season extremely shaky, the Clemson product shook it off and put the team on his back to the tune of throwing 15 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
WHAT IS GOING WRONG?: Well, if you’ve won five in a row, including four games against would-be playoff teams then not much is going wrong right? If I had to be picky, very picky, it would be the inconsistent run game. During the final nine games Jacksonville has rushed for as many as 192 yards and as few as 19 yards. Against a Chargers team that can score in a hurry, they’ll need to be able to salt the clock away and keep the ball out of the “social media quarterback’s” hands.
SURPRISE STAR THIS WEEKEND?: Not as much of a surprise as it will be his signature moment. RB Travis Etienne has had a great season since taking over as the feature back. With all of the attention on Trevor Lawrence vs Justin Herbert look for the Jacksonville running back to take advantage of the NFL’s sixth worst rushing defense. Etienne’s 45 yards on 13 carries against the Chargers in week three was the second lowest total in games which he had 10 or more rushes so he will be looking to avenge his sub-par performance.
THE KEY MATCHUP THIS WEEKEND?: The premier quarterback matchup of the Wildcard round. Trevor Lawrence vs Justin Herbert is a preview of the NFL’s quarterbacks of the near future. Two of the top 10 quarterbacks in terms of passing yards, touchdowns and expected points added per pass attempt will square off on Saturday. Herbert figures to have a slight advantage against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that ranks fifth worst in passing yards per game (238.5) and seventh in sacks this season (35).
THE SUMMARY: Both the Jaguars and Chargers had to go on big runs to close the regular season out in order to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and 2018 respectively. Both teams have promising, young quarterbacks and versatile running backs that can change a game in the blink of an eye.
Los Angeles has the advantage on the defensive side of the ball, but the Jags have been no slouch in that department either in recent weeks. The biggest challenge for the Jags defense will be slowing down Justin Herbert and the slew of weapons LA boast. The Chargers porous run defense will be tested against a streaky Travis Etienne.
THE PICK: Jacksonville by 6 WHY?: The Jaguars are at home, beat the Chargers down earlier in the year, and have a veteran coach that has been to the mountain top. For every edge LA may have talent-wise, they lack in leadership and critical decision making from their head coach. Jacksonville’s youth could be an issue, but Pederson’s Cool Hand Luke mentality on the sideline will keep the boys relaxed.
I look for it to be a closely contested game, but Staley will blink first making a crunch time call that will inevitably be the wrong decision even if it’s the right one — Just seems to be how it goes for him. The Jacksonville Jaguars will live to see another round.
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