How deep can the Jaguars go in the 2023 NFL playoffs?

Sooner or later I think most people expect the Jaguars to return to their 2017 playoff form with star QB Trevor Lawerence and new head coach Doug Peterson, but how can this happen so soon, and can they do it again in 2023?

There has been a complete shift in culture within the Jaguars organization this year. Back to back years in 2020 and 2021, the Jaguars were by far the worst team in the NFL, and it landed them the number one overall pick 2 years in a row. In 2021 the selected star Clemson QB Trevor Lawerence and in 2021 they selected Georgia defensive end, Travon Walker. After leading the league in INTs with 17 in 2021, Trevor Lawerence had a massive breakout season in 2022 and is the face of The Jaguars franchise right now.

Within the the 2022 free-agency window, the Jaguars signed WR Christian Kirk to a massive 72 million dollar deal. This made The Jaguars the laughing stock of the league as Kirk was never a 1000+ yard WR in his time in Arizona with The Cardinals. A questionable move for sure, but it definitely paid off, Kirk was dominant in his first year in Jacksonville. Kirk finished with 1100 receiving yards and 8 TDs. And now with star WR Calvin Ridley coming back after his one year ban for gambling, how will this offense look in 2023?

Calvin Ridley will definitely be the focal point for this offensive, he a premiere route runner in the NFL and used his deadly change of pace to win just about any matchup last time we saw him in Atlanta. Christian Kirk was the best WR on the offense last year, he will still be a crucial part of this team again this year primarily playing as the slot WR. As well a full year of a healthy RB Travis Etienne, the sky is the limit for this offense.

Defensively this group wasn’t the best. They gave up the 9th most total yards in the NFL as well as the 5th Most through the air. What did they do to address this? Nothing. In the draft they didn’t target a defensive player till the 4th round in the draft with LB Ventrell Miller and their secondary looks identical to how it did last year. Is that really acceptable for a team that is entering their championship window?  They do say that defenses win championships and The Jags aren’t doing a great job of providing a championship caliber defense.

Given that the Jaguars play in one of the worst divisions in the NFL, their schedule is quite easy and should be able to win anywhere between 11 to 13 games, a surefire playoff spot.  Last year it took an almost impossible 27 point comeback to advance to the divisional round vs the chiefs.  I don’t think they will be able to pull off something of that nature this year, and given how weak I think this defense will be next year I don’t think they will be able to keep up with the big dogs in the AFC such as The Bills, Chiefs, Chargers and Bengals