Jacksonville Jaguars prove they belong in loss to Packers

The Jacksonville Jaguars lost a close game to the Green Bay Packers to open the season, proving that they can compete with some of the league’s best.

After a disastrous first-team outing against the Cincinnati Bengals in Preseason Week 3, there was legitimate concern whether the Jacksonville Jaguars could compete against the better teams in the NFL. That concern carried over to the first game of the 2016 season.

Fortunately, the Jags made sure those concerns weren’t legitimized, playing the Green Bay Packers close throughout the game en route to a last-second 23-27 loss. That failed fourth down pass to Allen Hurns ended the game and the Jags’ chance of a surprise upset, but it can’t end the optimism this game provides.

Against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers – a team that is a contender each and every year – the Jaguars played like they belonged. Unlike recent seasons when a top QB like Rodgers would have picked apart the defense (he finished 20 of 34, 199 yards, two touchdowns), Rodgers didn’t look completely dominant.

While it is still painful to start the season off with an “L” it was clear to everyone that the Jags have a team that can come out and play and compete. When general manager Dave Caldwell said this team can compete against anyone, he meant it. In fact, it looked like they could win against just about anyone on Sunday.

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This wasn’t a perfect game for the Jags. There were bad penalties, there were missed opportunities, there were a couple of mistakes, but it was easily one of the best games the team has played in recent years. There was a sense that the team was competent in each phase of the game and it looked like they could win the game in the end.

That’s new-look Jacksonville Jaguars football. That’s a football team that can actually put together more than five wins in a season.

While it would have been nice to get the win in the end, the Jags’ performance on this opening Sunday certainly wasn’t something to get upset about. If anything, it helps feed the hype and optimism surrounding the team.