3 things the Jacksonville Jaguars must do to play in Super Bowl 59
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a dark horse pick to appear in Super Bowl 58. For a brief moment early in the season, it looked like they were going to live up to the hype. After an 8-3 start and key wins over contenders like the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jags were on a roll.
Unfortunately, Jacksonville fell victim to the weight of expectations and collapsed at the end of the season. Injuries, lack of depth at key positions, and the coaching staff's inability to get their player ready all played a role in the team's eventual downfall.
While failing to qualify for the playoffs wasn't a pleasant feeling, it at least served as a wake-up call for the team's brass to make changes in the offseason. For starters, they dismissed Mike Caldwell as the defensive coordinator and hired Ryan Nielsen to replace him. Moreover, the front office made several upgrades across the roster in free agency and the draft.
With the changes the Jaguars made, they should have a favorable chance to reclaim the AFC South. It won't be a walk in the park, but they should have a shot nonetheless. That said, what will it take for them to make it all the way to the Super Bowl? These three things must happen.
Build momentum and finish the regular season strong
The Jaguars were 3-7 to start 2022 but qualified for the playoffs after winning six of their last seven games. During their late-season push, they beat teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens.
They got off to an even better start in 2023 but they came crashing down to end the year. Injuries played a role but that's no excuse when you consider that the Cleveland Browns also suffered crucial injuries but still made it. Simply put, Jacksonville didn't come through when it mattered the most.
If the Jaguars want to avoid a repeat of last season, they'll need to make a run after their BYE in Week 12 regardless of their record. As the saying goes, it's not how you start but how you finish, and if the Jags ride a hot streak into the playoffs, they could do some serious damage.