3 reasons why the Jacksonville Jaguars are Super Bowl sleepers
After their first playoff win in five years, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to take the next step and embark on their first-ever Super Bowl run. Doug Pederson is one of the elite coaches in the league, and Trevor Lawrence is one of the best, young signal-callers out there. If it weren't for a late fourth-quarter turnover in Kansas City, the Jaguars could've been known as the reigning Super Bowl champions. That is how well this team performed down the stretch.
After finishing in the top 10 in both total offense and scoring defense, the Jaguars enter 2023 as one of the most underrated teams in the league. Here are three reasons why the Jaguars should not be slept on as Super Bowl contenders this upcoming season:
Why are the Jacksonville Jaguars viable Super Bowl contenders?
#1 - Trevor Lawrence's growth
After a rough rookie season under former head coach Urban Meyer, Lawrence took a massive step forward under Pederson's stewardship. The former Clemson Tiger increased his touchdown passes (up from 12 to 25), decreased his interceptions (down from 17 to 8), had a better completion percentage (66.3%), set a career-high in passer rating (95.2), and he had his first 4,000-yard passing season (Pro Football Reference).
The 2022 Pro Bowl quarterback helped turn the Jaguars into a top-10 passing offense (232.9 yards per game) and a top-10 scoring offense (23.8 points per game). Look for Lawrence to become an even better quarterback this upcoming season, especially as he enters year two with Pederson and key receivers Zay Jones and Christian Kirk.
#2 - Calvin Ridley's arrival
Not only does Lawrence have good wide receivers like Jones and Kirk at his disposal, but he is getting even more help this season. With his suspension for betting on games now lifted, Calvin Ridley is officially free to play for the Jaguars in 2023. The former All-Pro is one of the most exciting players in the game when he has the ball in his hands (90 receptions, 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 with Atlanta).
Now 28, Ridley fits right into the deep core that sits in Jacksonville. Not only is Ridley a former 1,000-yard receiver, but fellow Jaguars pass-catchers in Zay Jones (82 receptions in 2022), Christian Kirk (1,108 receiving yards in 2022), and former Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram are great at what they do, too. Look for this Jaguars offense to take a big step forward in 2023.
#3 - Doug Pederson's Experience
Former players make the best coaches. That statement is true depending on who you ask, but it is especially true in Jacksonville. Doug Pederson played nearly a decade-and-a-half in the NFL from 1991 to 2004. He was a member of the 1996-97 Green Bay Packers team that won the Super Bowl (XXXI).
His experience as a coach is also notable. After learning from Andy Reid as an offensive assistant in both Philadelphia and Kansas City, Pederson earned his shot to coach the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. He would end up leading them to their first-ever Super Bowl win in 2017-18 (LII).
Now in Jacksonville, he has this team rolling. After an abysmal three-win season in 2021, Pederson turned this team into a division winner and Super Bowl contender in just one season. Look for the 55-year-old to lead the Jaguars to a place they have never been before, and for his efforts, don't be surprised if he and his team are hoisting the Lombardi following Super Bowl 2024's conclusion.