There is lots of symmetry between the Jaguars and Lions

The Jaguars visit the Lions on Sunday. And there is a lot to be said for the jobs that both Doug Pederson and Dan Campbell are doing this season.

In 2017, the Detroit Lions finished 9-7 for the second consecutive year. But the club missed out on a second straight playoff appearance. That same season, the Jacksonville Jaguars won the AFC South with a 10-6 record. There were postseason victories over the Bills and Steelers before succumbing to a Patriots’ comeback in the AFC Championship Game.

Unfortunately for both franchises, neither the Lions nor the Jaguars have been the same since. Jacksonville has finished dead last in the AFC South each of the past four seasons and over that span managed a dismal 15-50 record. Meanwhile, Detroit wound up in the basement of the NFC North the past four seasons and compiled a miserable 17-46-2 win-loss mark during that stretch.

A year ago, each of these franchises won three games. The Jaguars earned the number-one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and selected University of Georgia defender Travon Walker. The Lions picked number two overall and opted for University of Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. On a side note, the latter thought he was going to be the first overall selection for a few months but it obviously never happened (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

Now the clubs meet on Sunday at Ford Field. Both own 4-7 records, meaning each has won one more game than a year ago. And it’s obvious that head coaches Doug Pederson and Dan Campbell have done great jobs to date.

With six weeks to go, neither the Jacksonville Jaguars nor Detroit Lions are in last place in their respective divisions. That is certainly progress made by both clubs. And it could be a very interesting afternoon for two clubs looking to end their streaks of futility.