(03-22-2022, 11:05 PM)JagFan81 Wrote:

(03-22-2022, 09:57 PM)Bullseye Wrote: I totally agree that the AFC as a whole has taken a huge step up from top to bottom over the past few years.  Most teams have their QBs of the present, and most of them are in their early primes.    Sadly, I can't recall who on the board made this astute observation (apologies to that individual), but he stated our way of making the playoffs is to win the division.  If Trevor Lawrence makes the improvement this year thanks in part to Pederson's coaching and better personnel, it's possible that the games against division opponents will represent the games most likely to feature the Jaguars with an edge at QB.  Though he has performed decently in their system with Henry running the ball, I don't think the tacks really trust Tannehill.  Worse for them, their offensive line can't seem to pass block worth anything.  Although the Colts just traded for Matt Ryan and he is still viewed favorably around the league, the Colts still need a LT to protect him and receivers to which to throw.  Furthermore, he is...what...36-37 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons in his career.  He may be an improvement over last years' performance by Wentz, he still does not represent their long term answer at QB, and in another year or so, they'll be looking for his replacement.  Davis Mills was a pleasant surprise for the Texans, and the Texans have a bunch of picks over the next three seasons in the aftermath of the Watson trade.  But few actually think he'll be better than Trevor Lawrence being coached by Pederson, much less anywhere close to Watson.

That said, even with that possible roadmap, it wn't be easy under most reasonable expectations, even if our division has the worst QBs in the AFC.  Tennessee owns us until we prove otherwise, as Henry embarrasses us like no other RB has.  Houston isn't far behind, though at least on paper last year we had the better team.  We have had success against the Colts, but fron 1-53, they have the most talented roster in the division.

Bottom line, it's going to be an absolute fight for teams in the AFC to reach the playoffs because of all of the quality QBs.

You make some very good points. While i dont think we are playoff ready yet, this team did improve over those last few games with Bevell and i think we are better than our record says we are. The big thing we need to overcome is beating ourselves. When we make a mistake we get absolutely killed by it. A missed tackle goes all the way for a TD, a good drive killed by a dumb penalty, missing FG's that come back to haunt us. If we can get back to just playing clean football and making teams beat us with plays and out-executing us than that will make a huge difference.

Looking at the South, its up for grabs really. The T*tans have owned it the last few years but they threw it away against the Bengals being the #1 seed. Slowing Henry down and getting Tannehill to beat you with his arm is the formula to beat them. Yes Ryan is a step up from Wentz for the Colts and the running game really helped them last year. They have a solid D but they have a tough schedule. Houston look in full rebuild and like you say, they have plenty of draft picks but we should be ahead of them easily this year.

I think the first few weeks will he huge. If we can get some nicer matchups earlier to try and get some motivation and good feelings going then we could hit a run. I think we can beat most of our division rivals but like you say, theyve had our number the last few years and we need to prove we can beat them.

Im waiting for this team to step up and im really hopeful that Pederson is the guy to do that with thos team. We have plenty of the pieces and like the 2017 team, these guys are sick of losing and being the joke team.

We agree the Jaguars are not quite ready for the playoffs.  For that to change this year, Baalke would need his best ever draft, which would include actually drafting a productive WR-something he has never done, Pederson would have to do a fantastic coaching job, Trevor Lawrence will have to take a huge step forward and the team will have to stay healthy.

More likely is the team improves this year, but not quite enough to get over the playoff hump.  But if this is the year the Jaguars surprise everyone and makes the playoffs this year, it'll be because they won the division.  Us playing the AFC West doesn't help us any.

---

(03-23-2022, 08:23 AM)Mikey Wrote:

(03-22-2022, 09:57 PM)Bullseye Wrote: I totally agree that the AFC as a whole has taken a huge step up from top to bottom over the past few years.  Most teams have their QBs of the present, and most of them are in their early primes.    Sadly, I can't recall who on the board made this astute observation (apologies to that individual), but he stated our way of making the playoffs is to win the division.  If Trevor Lawrence makes the improvement this year thanks in part to Pederson's coaching and better personnel, it's possible that the games against division opponents will represent the games most likely to feature the Jaguars with an edge at QB.  Though he has performed decently in their system with Henry running the ball, I don't think the tacks really trust Tannehill.  Worse for them, their offensive line can't seem to pass block worth anything.  Although the Colts just traded for Matt Ryan and he is still viewed favorably around the league, the Colts still need a LT to protect him and receivers to which to throw.  Furthermore, he is...what...36-37 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons in his career.  He may be an improvement over last years' performance by Wentz, he still does not represent their long term answer at QB, and in another year or so, they'll be looking for his replacement.  Davis Mills was a pleasant surprise for the Texans, and the Texans have a bunch of picks over the next three seasons in the aftermath of the Watson trade.  But few actually think he'll be better than Trevor Lawrence being coached by Pederson, much less anywhere close to Watson.

That said, even with that possible roadmap, it wn't be easy under most reasonable expectations, even if our division has the worst QBs in the AFC.  Tennessee owns us until we prove otherwise, as Henry embarrasses us like no other RB has.  Houston isn't far behind, though at least on paper last year we had the better team.  We have had success against the Colts, but fron 1-53, they have the most talented roster in the division.

Bottom line, it's going to be an absolute fight for teams in the AFC to reach the playoffs because of all of the quality QBs.

While I think you're right that winning the division is going to be needed to make the postseason, I also get the sneaky suspicion that the other divisions are equalizing themselves and may end up so competitive that 9-8 or 10-7 takes a division and leaves the rest on the outside looking in. Buffalo might be able to run away from at least the fish and the Jest, but NE should remain competitive; the entire AFCn and AFCw are stacked (okay, barring Pittsburgh but I still can't count them out until they actually start losing), and then there's the AFCs.

hopefully the tacks and tinhorns get the rug pulled out from under them, we seem to have more luck against the horseshoes.

I'm not expecting playoffs this year. But boy howdy would it be a welcomed surprise!

We are in complete agreement. I could see the Bills reaping the benefits from the state of their division and the smart way they have built their team (as much as it nauseates me to type that).

That said, their road isn't too much easier than the Jaguars, since they have to play the AFC North. The QBs in that division aren't quite as good from top to bottom as they are in the AFC West, I will say the defenses in the AFC North are/should be better than the defenses in the AFC West, Chargers excluded.

---