The Jacksonville Jaguars are the reigning AFC South Champs. The slobbering hordes of Titans, Colts, and Texans fans are writhing in agony, screeching proclamations that the Jags will falter in 2023. Savvy fans of the NFL know that nothing is guaranteed from year to year, but the Jags are in the driver’s seat of their destiny this year.
The measure of success this season is simply this: make the playoffs. In doing so, the Jags will have back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1999, 24 years ago. The mayo-slurping denizens of Nashville will say the bar is set too low and the Jags aren’t a good team just because they made the playoffs. But these are the same people who said Malik Willis was Steve McNair 2.0. As such, Jags fans kindly invite Titans’ fans to return to fawning over shirtless pictures of Derrick Henry while talking to their pet raccoon and be quiet.
If the Jaguars are to reach their full potential and become anything close to a powerhouse in the league, they have to start by winning and making the playoffs consistently. And here are the three keys to making that happen in 2023.
First Key: Steezy Trev
Trevor Lawrence ended 2022 playing as well as he started. For a big stretch in the middle of the season, he slumped. Trevor has to consistently play at the high level we saw in 2022 throughout the 2023 season. The Jaguars cannot afford a long stretch of games where Trevor is more of a liability than an asset.
Luckily for Trevor, the Jaguars have kept most of their weapons from last season and added:
- Calvin Ridley, WR
- Anton Harrison, OL
- Brenton Strange, TE
- Tank Bigsby RB
There are no excuses for the Trevow Lawrence and Jaguars’ offense this year. Consistent excellence is the only path to success.
Second Key: Defensive Line
The worst-performing unit for the Jaguars in 2022 was the defensive line, specifically rushing the passer. Ranking 25th in the league in total sacks, the Jaguars were ineffective at disrupting opposing QBs. The Jaguars’ defensive line failed to put consistent pressure on a one-legged Patrick Mahomes in their playoff loss. They also let former Jag’s QB Chad Henne lead a 90+ yd TD drive—37-year-old career back-up Chad Henne.
Though the entire unit must play better, there are two players in particular whose 2023 will have the most significant potential impact. The first is Josh Allen. Playing in what is essentially a ‘show me’ year, Allen will be under pressure to deliver on the hype we have heard about him since he was drafted in 2019.
Allen is a polarizing figure among Jags fans. Many people believe he has performed well enough to warrant a new contract. Others, myself included, think he has underperformed and disappeared in big games. This season, Allen must consistently disrupt opposing backfields for the D-line and the team to succeed.
Trayvon Walker is the second player critical to the Jaguars’ success in 2023. My opinion of Walker’s 2022 season is no secret. He wasn’t good. Worse than that, he cost the Jags at least one game last year. When the Texans came to town, Walker’s late game roughing the passer penalty sealed the game for Houston by extending a drive.
First and foremost, this year, Walker must play smarter. In the same way Trevor can’t afford to have a slump, Walker can’t afford to make bonehead mistakes. Secondly, Walker must get to the QB. Sacks on sacks on sacks are what the Jaguars need from their 2022 number-one overall draft pick. Walker must be an impact player for the Jags to repeat and improve upon their success in 2022.
Third Key: Beat the Elite
Four opponents stand out on the Jaguars’ 2023 schedule:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Buffalo Bills
- Cinnicinatti Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens
The reward for winning the AFC South in 2022 is a slate of powerhouse conference opponents. At worst, the Jags must go 2-2 against the best teams in the AFC. In the words of the great wrestling theologian Rick Flair- “To be the best, you need to beat the best!” And that is precisely what the Jaguars must do to succeed in 2023. The task at hand is made more challenging this year, as the Jaguars will not have the advantage of being overlooked. They will not be able to sneak up on anyone, and every week will require maximum effort.
Playoffs or Bust
Anything less than a playoff run in 2023 will be a failure for the Jaguars. The task at hand is tall but not insurmountable. The only question that remains is- can they pull it off?
