I find it interesting when I read people's comments on here regarding beating the so-called "bottom feeders".

 

Right now here is the "state of the NFL" at the mid-point of the season.

 

There are 11 teams that are currently above .500.

There are 17 teams that are currently below .500*.

There are 3 teams that are currently at .500*.

 

*  That could change in the unlikely event that the Colts beat the Panthers tonight.

 

So through 7 and in some cases 8 games through the season, only 1/3rd of the league has a winning record.  The rest are even or have a losing record.  Let's take a look at it as it relates to the Jaguars.

 

Week 1 Carolina @ Jacksonville - 20-10


Many thought that this could have been a "winnable" game, and after the game was played many thought that it was a "should have won" game.  Carolina is one of the 11 teams above .500 and also one of the few remaining teams that are undefeated. 6-0

 

Week 2 Miami @ Jacksonville


Many thought that there was no way that we win this game, yet the Jaguars pulled off the win.  The Dolphins went on to win in a very convincing manner against the Texans and the Titans.  Add their win against the Redskins and they now sit at 3-4 and look to be a decent team.

 

Week 3 Jacksonville @ New England


There was really not a lot of hope that this could be a win for the Jaguars, and it was justified.  They are currently still undefeated and there is talk about another "perfect season" with them not losing a game.  (I don't buy it.  Someone will beat them). 7-0

 

Week 4 Jacksonville @ Indianapolis


There was hope that this could be a win for the Jaguars, especially since the Colts were without Andrew Luck.  If not for missed field goals that would have been the case, but alas, IND still pulled off the win.  So far their only wins are against the AFC South, and they are in the below .500 crowd regardless of the outcome of tonight's game.  Indianapolis sits at 3-4 (probably 3-5 after tonight's game).

 

Week 5 Jacksonville @ Tampa


This was a game penciled in by many as a "should win" with Tampa's bad record last year, in a rebuild, new head coach and new rookie QB.  I would even go so far as to say that it should have been won myself.  However, consider this.  A team that is perceived as being "bad" or an "easy win" just beat one of the few undefeated teams in their own house.  That takes a little bit of the sting off of this loss.  Tampa Bay sits at 3-4.

 

Week 5 Houston @ Jaguars


Again, this was a "should win" game of sorts, especially with Houston's QB issues.  This is also a "should have won game", but as the saying goes "any given Sunday".  This game is the one huge "black mark" on the season so far.  Houston sits at 3-5.

 

Week 6 Buffalo @ Jaguars *


This game gets an asterisk because while technically it was a home game, it was played in London.  I don't think that many people expected the Jaguars to win that one, but win they did.  It was just what the team needed heading into their bye week.  Buffalo sits at 3-4.

 

I guess my point is, so far the team has played against so-called "bottom feeders" while having that title given to them.  2 of the teams that the Jaguars have played are still undefeated* while the others have had respectable performances against other good teams.  In the NFL there is a fine line between "good" teams and "bad" teams.  The line isn't so fine when looking at "average teams" vs. the "great teams".  I see what is happening with the team, and they are becoming one of the "good teams" right in front of our eyes this season.  They will be one of the "great teams" in the future.

 

As the weeks go on, I would bet that the numbers of teams above .500 starts to increase while the number of teams below .500 starts to decrease.

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