Jaguars move up a few spots in power rankings following win vs. Raiders

You need to learn to walk before you can run and the Jacksonville Jaguars are learning to win in 2022 after so many years of losing. Beating a faltering Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9 helped the Jags end a five-game losing streak and tie their win totals from last year. Moreover, it helped them move up a few spots in most power rankings.

After their Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville popped up at No. 28 in Bleacher Report’s power ranking but after beating the Raiders, they got the 26th spot. The B/R staff argues that one victory “won’t save the Jags’ season but “any step in the right direction is a cause for at least some optimism“. Similarly, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports also placed the Jags at No. 26 in his ranking but warns that they might go back to the loss column in Week 10.

Dan Hanzus of NFL Media thinks the Jags played well enough against the Raiders to move up three spots and finish 27th this week. Hanzus points out that Jacksonville has made strides in head coach Doug Pederson’s first year at the helm and also praises Trevor Lawrence for having “one of his best efforts” of the season.

"Trevor Lawrence delivered one of his best efforts of the season, displaying plus accuracy and decision-making. The defense was even better after the slow start, shutting down Josh Jacobs and holding Davante Adams without a yard in the second half after a dominant first two quarters by the All-Pro wide receiver. Big tests lie ahead with the Cheifs and Ravens next on the schedule."

Trailing 17-0 at one point, it looked like the Jaguars were going to drop their seventh game of the year but then, running back Travis Etienne scored a touchdown near the end of the first half and they never looked back. The defense only allowed three points the remainder of the game and Trevor Lawrence went on to complete over 80 percent of his passes for the third time this season.

The Jaguars are showing progress but they have their work cut out for them

The B/R staff is right when they say one win won’t move the needle either way but Doug Pederson agrees that beating the Raiders is a step in the right direction. Prisco brought up an important point though. How will the Jaguars fare against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10? Will they keep things close? Do they have a legitimate chance to pull off the upset?

The talent is certainly there and Jacksonville has shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league this season. Had Trevor Lawrence not turned the ball so much in Week 4, Jacksonville would’ve handed the currently undefeated Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the year.

Conversely, the Jags have also lost games they could’ve won, so which Jaguars team will show up against the Chiefs in Week 10? Back in Week 5, they managed to score a measly six points against the 1-6-1 Houston Texans, and guess who the Texans’ sole win of the year came against?

The truth is that it’s hard to see the Jaguars coming out of Arrowhead Stadium with a win but it’s also reasonable to think they will probably keep things close.