JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2023 Record - 9-8
Head Coach - Doug Pederson
Key Additions - Arik Armstead (DL), Ronald Darby (DB), Gabriel Davis (WR), Mac Jones (QB), Darnell Savage (DB), Mitch Morse (OL)
Key Losses - Calvin Ridley (WR), Jamal Agnew (WR/KR), Rayshawn Jenkins (DB), Darious Williams (DB), Brandon McManus (K), Foley Fatukasi (OL)
2023 STATS LINE
PASSING - Trevor Lawrence (4,016 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT)
RUSHING - Travis Etienne (1,008 yards, 3.8 ypc, 11 TD)
RECEIVING - Evan Engram (114 receptions, 963 yards, 4 TD), Calvin Ridley (76, 1,016, 8 TD)
SACKS - Josh Allen (17 1/2)
INTERCEPTIONS - Andre Cisco (4), Darious Williams (4)
OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - Two years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars got hot down the stretch and nearly turned that into an AFC Championship Game appearance. Last season was the opposite as they staggered through the second half of the season, going 1-5 over the final six games and they missed the playoffs. Jags Head Coach Doug Pederson would like to see that be a one-time thing as his team looks to recapture the AFC South division title.
The offense is led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and he has wide receivers Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis, who had seven touchdown receptions last season with Buffalo. Rookie Brian Thomas, Jr. (LSU) will look to make an impact and tight end Evan Engram led the team in receptions last season. Travis Etienne leads the running game and he scored twelve touchdowns last season while breaking the 1,000-yard plateau and catching 58 passes. The Jacksonville offense ranked 13th in the NFL (340 YPG) and averaged 22.2 points per game. Passing was efficient (243 YPG), ranking 9th overall, but the rushing attack could use a boost this season, averaging 97 yards per game, which was 24th overall.
The defense was solid against the run (103 YPG allowed), but the passing defense suffered by allowing 240 yards per game while getting 16 interceptions and 40 sacks. Overall, Jacksonville allowed 343 yards per game (22nd overall) and gave up 21.8 points per game. Defensive ends Josh Allen and Travon Walker lead the charge up front, accumulating 27 1/2 sacks between them last season. In the secondary, safety Andre Cisco is back in the fold and corners Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage come along as free agents this season to try to improve the pass defense.
All in all, the Jaguars are legitimate contenders to make the AFC playoffs this season as long as they stay healthy and minimize mistakes. Lawrence was picked off 14 times last season and the Jaguars were a minus-three in the turnovers category. The Indianapolis Colts and reigning AFC South champion Houston Texans should be right there all season long, battling the Jags for the playoff spots. More of the fierce finish of 2022 would be welcome in Jacksonville as opposed to last season's collapse. A scheduling quirk this season will see the Jaguars (always a staple in the London, England game) play two weeks in a row over seas in October sandwiched in between two home games. That means they will not have a true road game for five weeks. The first six games are a rough looking stretch (on paper) and a quick start would do wonders for the Jaguars in the divisional race. The bottom line is this team should be playing post-season football come January.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Miami
Week Two - vs. Cleveland
Week Three - at Buffalo
Week Four - at Houston
Week Five - vs. Indianapolis
Week Six - vs. Chicago (London, England)
Week Seven - at New England (London, England)
Week Eight - vs. Green Bay
Week Nine - at Philadelphia
Week Ten - vs. Minnesota
Week Eleven - at Detroit
Week Twelve - BYE
Week Thirteen - vs. Houston
Week Fourteen - at Tennessee
Week Fifteen - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Sixteen - at Las Vegas
Week Seventeen - vs. Tennessee
Week Eighteen - at Indianapolis
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