Jacksonville Jaguars: If the regular season ended today…
By Larry Brake
If the NFL Playoffs started on Sunday in Week 12, the Jacksonville Jaguars would host a playoff game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are having a great season. In fact, Jacksonville is currently atop the AFC South division with a record of 7-3. They are having their best season since finishing 8-8 in 2010. In 2010, Jack Del Rio was the head coach. David Garrard was the starting quarterback. Maurice Jones-Drew was Jacksonville’s leading rusher. After the 2010 season, the bottom fell out of the franchise.
The Jaguars changed owners as Shad Khan purchased the team. Since 2010, Jacksonville has had five men to be designated as the head coach or interim head coach. Yet, the Jaguars have had only three starting quarterbacks in that time period.
Jacksonville’s first head coach, Tom Coughlin, was hired as vice president of football operations. Doug Marrone was named the new head coach. Jacksonville signed three top free agents and had a great draft due to Dave Caldwell’s ability to recognize talent.
Since the first game of this season, Jacksonville has looked like a much improved team. The team has had injuries but has battled through without a major drop off. Most of all, if the regular season ended today, then the Jaguars would host a playoff game.
Jacksonville would be the AFC South division champions. They would be the third seed and host the Baltimore Ravens in Jacksonville. Although they crushed Baltimore in London, the Ravens are playing much better.
After defeating Baltimore, Jacksonville would travel to play the two-seed which would be the New England Patriots. The weather would definitely be a factor there. The Jaguars would really have to play error free to win.
Then, the AFC Championship Game would be played in Pittsburgh. Jacksonville has already thrashed them there as well, right? This would be the second consecutive outdoor, cold weather game for Jacksonville.
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Finally, the Super Bowl is going to be played in Minnesota inside a dome. There is guaranteed good weather inside a domed stadium. There is a way to prevent playing in cold weather throughout the playoffs. Jacksonville must win out and grab the No. 1 seed. All six remaining games are very winnable. The Jaguars must not lose focus but, take it one game at a time.