i know theyve had a pretty easy schedule this season but im kind of jumping on the jaguars bandwagon the only above 500 teams they have left to play are the seahawks and the titans and i think the seahawks may be tough but they could definitely come out on top against the titans. also theyve proved themselves capable of beating the steelers so i could honestly see them at 11-5 or 12-4 by the end of the season
They could very well finish 13-3. Look at the remaining schedule. Can they beat the depleted 6-4 Seahawks at home? absolutely. If they win that game, they're likely looking at a 3-loss season going into the final game at Tennessee. With the improvements on run defense (they're allowing like 52 yds/game after adding dareus) and the insane ability of the pass defense, who can't they beat? Do i think they can go on the road and beat the patriots in the playoffs? Um, we saw how the defense dismantled pittsburgh on the road; and we know what belichicks gameplan will be: play very conservative on offense and try to smother the jags offense. A quick forced fumble and a pick could suddenly give the jaguars the lead - and if any defense ever can shut down tom brady, it's this one. Guys like Yannick Ngakoue would be breakout stars on other teams, considering how he took control of the game last week (2.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles), yet he isn't even in the conversation of the top players on the jags defense. When guys like marcel dareus and malik jackson are role players on a defense, you know its really, really good, and has depth to boot.
Furthermore, lets say the jags get the win vs seattle and win week 17 vs tennessee. They'd be
13-3. lets say the pats lose in pittsburgh in week 15, which is a realistic scenario (albeit i would definitely pick the patriots). All of the sudden, the Jags are the #2 seed - and the pats are the #3. Whos the home team now?
People forget that what the Jags did in pittsburgh was a 3-phase effort. At the beginning of the 4th quarter, the jags led a 10 minute drive that started at their own 3 that consisted of nothing but running plays. With a defense that talented, small leads become insurmountable obstacles for an opposing team; so while I'm not saying the jaguars would beat the patriots in January, a few big plays could be a spark that turns into a shocking win.
My point in all this is that with a defense this good and the ability to run the ball the way the jags can, they really can beat anybody. that doesn't mean they will; it means that no matter who they're playing, they have a very good shot to win.