Jacksonville Jaguars could be as good as their 2017 counterpart

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (16) and OLB Von Miller (58) (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (16) and OLB Von Miller (58) (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2022 Jaguars stack up well against their 2017 counterpart.

There were so many talking points in the offseason leading up to the 2017 season that mirror the talking points this offseason, it’s a little weird:

New Head Coach – You got it. Beefed up defense via free agency and the draft – check. Second-year as full-time starter at quarterback – check. Questionable improvements on the offensive line – check. Win total expectations between six and seven – check. And, while those expectations were reasonable in the moment, the 2017 Jaguars would roar through a 10-6 record and may it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they were one bad call away from facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 52.

Naysayers will say nay. “That season was lightning in a bottle,” or “you can’t expect to hit on every free agent like they did that year,” or “that team stayed exceptionally healthy,” will be the sort of responses you might hear from some upon hearing the comparison laid out above.

But, if you go through the similarities line by line, even the coldest heart may find an ember of hope, and that’s precisely what the Jags need after years of losing.