By: Michael Higgins

The Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to take a step back in 2023 with a 9-8 record. This comes a year after winning a playoff game in dramatic fashion. Not to mention, they were also able to add an elite weapon in WR Calvin Ridley to a playoff team. The Jaguars never took off in 2023. They look to turn the page and add key players that can launch them to the next tier. They made tough decisions over the offseason, letting go of SAF Rayshawn Jenkins, CB Darious Williams, DE Dawuane Smoot, Wr Calvin Ridley, and DL Foley Fotukasi.

They were able to bring in a handful of difference makers. Players such as former Bills Gabe Davis and Mitch Morse. To go along with those two, they added DL Arik Armstead, CB Ronald Darby, and WR Devin Duvernay.

In the draft, Jacksonville added a premier weapon for Trevor Lawrence in LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. They also got LSU defensive tackles Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. 

The Jaguars open the season not too far away from home, in Miami to take on the Dolphins in a little Civil War. They go on to host the Browns before traveling to Buffalo for a Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup, and then down to Houston to face a division rival in the Texans. The Jaguars go 1-3 in September.

They open October at home against the Colts, then travel to face the Bears, and have two straight home games against the Patriots and Packers. A tough month sees the Jaguars go 2-2.

November does not get any easier as they are immediately met with a Sunday Night Football game against the Eagles in Philadelphia. The Jaguars host the Vikings and travel to take on the Lions before a Week 12 bye. 1-2 is the record for the Jaguars in November.

The Jaguars host the Texans, play the Titans in Nashville, host the Jets, play the Raiders in Vegas, host the Titans, and close the season out the season in Indianapolis against the Colts. In this final stretch of the season, the Jaguars go 3-3.

I have the Jaguars going 7-10 in 2024. This would be two straight seasons of regression since their playoff win. Where would they go from there? It certainly starts with the inability to build a sound defense. Even if they do not have an elite offense, it has been their strength in the Trevor Lawrence era.

2023 Record 9-8

2024 Prediction: 7-10