Quote:No, I said "nearly impossible." Impossible would refer to weeks three and four now that Brady is definitely playing.


I'm actually arguinging in a NFL group on FB that I see the Jaguars beating the Panthers, but of course I'm being slammed on all sides for this opinion, and nobody is agreeing with me. They bring up the Jaguars offense vs the Panthers defense with concrete points that are hard to defend aside from how well Bortles has looked this preseason, etc, but issues like Joekel, WR drops, lack of a cohesive, intact running game and no Julius could easily bite vs a defense that some rank as elite. The Panthers have perhaps the best group of LBs in the entire game, very formidable talent on their DL and a young CB by the name of Josh Norman who is every bit as good as Colvin and McCray.


I've turned to rip the Panthers offense saying they won't get anywhere on the Jaguars defense projecting a 17-14 low-scoring Jaguars win, but I'm seeing claims the Panthers will dominate winning 38-17. At least we agree on the Jaguars score. Their running game hasn't necessarily looked stellar this preseason, but they do have plenty of talent there and will be going up against a defensive line with no Sen'Derrick and a questionable young LEO. Let's face it, our defense is a work in progress. My point, however, is that our CBs are top notch and will make the Panthers one dimensional by taking out their shaky WRs with their stud rookie WR out for the year. In the Panthers game it appeared their #2 WR dropped everything thrown his way, but I'm told that was actually their #3. It might actually be a good game, and in fact I have the Jaguars ranked #23 and the Panthers #24, but of course I'm being told I have the Jaguars "way too high" and the Panthers "way too low." Public perception has this game as an impossible win for the Jaguars. I think they do have a shot. It won't be easy, but it's a better shot than they'll have the following week verses a Dolphins team that so far appears to be a legitimate playoff contender.


I hate to be a negative Nancy, but part of my thinking has to do with how desperate the Jaguars are to win out of the gate. It was pointed out above that five of the following seven games after week two are road games, and the first two of the those road trips really do look impossible. The Jaguars simply have to snag at least one win among these four. I know most here are thinking we go 2-2 at least, and I keep hearing that, but I think that's being a bit overly optimistic. I know it sounds depressing, but a 1-3 start will actually make me happy.


I realize the Jaguars at one point last year looked like they might beat the Dolphins and that the Jaguars are much improved, but so are the Dolphins. The Dolphins appear to be a dominating team on both sides of the ball and especially on defense. I won't say it's impossible either, but a win at home over the Dolphins, who are even more accustomed to the humidity, would pleasantly suprise me. The Jaguars are going to have to bring their A game to get that one done with the winner having the early bid for the Ponce de Leon trophy. If the Jaguars do start 2-0, I'm going to jump through the roof with excitement, but I can only confidently predict 1-1 with a win in either week three or four absolutely shocking the begeezers out of me. I love Bradley's attitude of saying we've now built the team that will own the AFC South, but I need to see more to actually believe that. At least we'll have Julius back for the Colts game.

I'm encouraged by what I've seen as well especially from Bortles elevating the offense, but Panthers D is a tough way to start. We have a rookie RB, our biggest free agent acquisition hurt, questions at safety (still), a less than stellar LT and a d-line who up to this point can't get any pressure on the QB. I could see us winning close or Panthers blowing us out due to mistakes and big plays. I really hope I'm wrong, but like you, 1-3 seems more likely than 2-2. We can say all we want "next man up", but losing key players will hurt you on Sunday.

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