SI predicts the Jaguars to have a winning record in 2019

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr breaks down all 32 NFL teams and predicts the Jaguars to have a 9-7 record in 2019, but miss the postseason.

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars return to glory once again in the NFL? It’s a burning question on the First Coast.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr believes the 5-11 season the Jacksonville Jaguars posted in 2018 is a thing of the past. The writer also believes this is a team that will finish 9-7 in 2019, which should make many fans here in Jacksonville happy. Whether that is enough to secure a playoff berth is still to be determined.

Orr gave also gave his predictions for all 32 teams this upcoming season. He believes the Jaguars will post the same record as the Houston Texans, but because of a loss in a “Home” game in London, Jacksonville will miss out on the postseason.

"“How much time is too much time for a human to debate picking an early November London game between the Texans and Jaguars?,” he writes “As it turns out, this was the fulcrum on which my entire schedule pivoted. I viewed the Texans and Jaguars like two children, both of which I could not ethically love more than the other. Sure, I liked things about one and not about the other. But in my mind, they are equally great.”"

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Did he write the Jaguars are “great”? Yes, that’s right. A return to better days and the erasure of a nightmare season that saw one of the best stories at the beginning of the 2018 season – with a win over the New England Patriots in dominant fashion – sink into the deep waters of the St. Johns River. Now, with parts in place for a better offense and a defense to continue doing what it does best, the Jaguars are now poised to make another statement about their rise in the AFC South.

Adding Nick Foles to assume the role Blake Bortles could not elevate last season helps. Adding another pass rusher in Josh Allen also makes things a bit better. A healthy Leonard Fournette would do wonders for a suspect rushing attack.

Oh, and if you were wondering, the Indianapolis Colts were picked to win the division. No surprise there. He has the Tennessee Titans as the bottom feeder of the division this season – something all fans in DUUUVAL will get excited about. But the London game seems to be the one Orr has spent considerable time volleying with.

"“Assuming this team pacifies two of its more mercurial-leaning superstars, I think the Jaguars are going to return to form as one of the toughest week-in, week-out opponents in the NFL,” Orr points out. “Oddly, I have them beating the Texans on the road and losing in London, despite their increased comfort with the logistical turnaround. This division is going to be NFC East-level brutal, but after a few spins through the schedule I can certainly see them within striking distance of a wildcard spot.”"

The question for the Jaguars, who one a single game in the division last season, is can they beat their rivals consistently like in 2017. The Titans owned them once again last season and had a hand in their playoff seeding two years ago. If Jacksonville can have the same success with a better division in 2019, moving past a 9-7 record might be a real possibility.