Are the Jacksonville Jaguars playoff bound?

The Jacksonville Jaguars gained a lot of positive attention in 2015, but it may be too early to start predicting AFC South championships and appearances in the playoffs.

The 2015 season did not go particularly well.

Yes, head coach Gus Bradley did post the most wins the Jacksonville Jaguars have had since 2011, but that mark was just five(!) wins.

Yes, Blake Bortles set numerous franchise records as a passer, but he still has a lot of development to undergo, especially if the Jaguars want to get above .500 for next season.

Yes, the defense has been overhauled, but they still need to put it all together on the field and show they’re able to move forward from 2015’s dismal year.

There’s a lot to like about the Jacksonville Jaguars, but almost anything that can be pointed to as progress has a big “but” right after it. Last season saw calls for Bradley’s head (well, his job at least), a demand to bring in better talent (which general manager Dave Caldwell has meant by outspending pretty much everyone else), and the similar downtrodden experience of seeing an unbalanced product on the field.

So, when I read things like The Inquisitr’s recent post by Anthony Sciarratta, about the Jags possibly going to the playoffs, I have to read the piece with a healthy dose of salt. I want to see the Jaguars in the playoffs, I really do, but predicting it this early and this far out from 2016 when there are so many “buts” still lingering just doesn’t fly. Saying the Jags can “easily be a wildcard team” just doesn’t gel with the recent history displayed by the team on the field.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the optimism. I love seeing another perspective from a non-Jaguars site (thank you Mr. Sciarratta!) that promotes the Jags as a franchise about to turn the corner, but right now there are too many uncertainties and too many unknowns (not to mention other actual known things, like the Houston Texans defense or Andrew Luck and his golden arm in Indy) to declare the Jags a playoff team moving forward.

More from Black and Teal

The Jags still have to prove they can hang with the big boys. The Jags still have to prove that the hype is for real. I’m excited to see them do it! There’s a possibility, but they need to prove they can actually do it.

But until they do, I’m not anointing the Jacksonville Jaguars as a playoff team next year.

They have to earn that honor.

Home/Jacksonville Jaguars News