The Jacksonville Jaguars are in great shape going into the 2026 season. They won 13 games last year and are expected to be even better. Shockingly, though, analysts aren't talking enough about the Jags, but some of that stems from the fact that they failed to qualify for the postseason each of the last two times they got in (2017 and 2022). Head coach Liam Coen's squad is looking to not just buck the trend but reach new heights.
And if a recent NFL post is any indication, Jacksonville will make it all the way to the top next season.
The Jaguars and Cowboys are featured on the NFL's "road to the Super Bowl post"
The NFL just posted an image of prominent players for each team looking at the Lombardi Trophy. Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott are all the way at the front, suggesting the Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys could face each other in Super Bowl 61.
The journey to the Lombardi starts today 👀 pic.twitter.com/AAUDQFDi3l
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2026
This conversation arose because the league had a similar post last year in which Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks) and Drake Maye (New England Patriots) were featured, and both the Pats and the Hawks ended up playing in Super Bowl 60.
Of course, it could be just a mere coincidence, but Jacksonville and the Boys have enough talent to potentially make it to the Championship Game. Heck, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports believes the Jaguars will play Dallas in the SB and ultimately come out on top. Similarly, Pete Schrager of ESPN picked Jacksonville to represent the AFC.
Jaguars Super Bowl Champs?! 👀@PriscoCBS predicts that Jacksonville will defeat Dallas in Super Bowl LXI
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 2, 2026
Do you agree? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ehm4qv8MI8
Granted, making it all the way to the Super Bowl is no walk in the park, but the hype is warranted.
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Why the Jaguars could reach the Super Bowl in 2026
The Jaguars' biggest roadblock to making the Super Bowl is probably the rival Houston Texans. They'll also try to make a run, and they're their biggest threat to repeat as AFC South champions. Similarly, Jacksonville will have playoff teams on their schedule, such as the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots, and the Cowboys themselves.
Then again, the Jags also have enough firepower on both sides of the ball to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league. Liam Coen oversaw a cultural shift last year and turned Jacksonville into a gritty team. Trevor Lawrence showed substantial improvement in Coen's scheme and is ready to take the next step. Couple that with the fact that he'll have what's arguably the best supporting cast of his whole NFL career, and the Jags will have no trouble lighting up the scoreboard next season.
On the other hand, the defense lost linebacker Devin Lloyd but has more than enough talent at all three levels, including two-way star Travis Hunter, to overcome his departure. When you factor in that defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile still runs the show, it's easy to picture Jacksonville having a top-10, even top-5 defense next year.
Simply put, the Jaguars should feel good about their chances to make a deep playoff run. And if everything goes according to plan, reaching the Super Bowl will be a realistic scenario.
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