Jacksonville Jaguars division foe gets blasted for dreadful uniform leak

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball to
Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball to / Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Texans displaced the Jacksonville Jaguars as the AFC South champion last season. They're doing their best to seize the division once again in 2023 but they just took a massive L when their new uniform design was leaked.

The Texans' new uniforms were leaked on social media. At first, it was uncertain if it was real but owner Cal McNair later posted the picture on online forums.

This is the first time the Texans have made significant changes to their uniforms since the inception of the franchise in 2002. You would think that they would opt for a meaningful makeover, something that stood out. Instead, they only altered the stripes on the sides. If it didn't say Houston above the number, you wouldn't know this is the jersey of an NFL team.

You could make the case that when put together with the helmet, the jerseys don't look that bad but the truth is that they should be able to stand out on their own. Maybe the original idea looked good on paper, but the delivery was dull and unimaginative.

In the Texans' defense, this appears to be a widespread problem across the league, as teams have stayed away from uniforms with a unique identity and have opted for a more homogenous design. Sure, some fans do like the new jerseys, and there's merit in simplicity but that doesn't make them any less boring.

Heck, the Jaguars' jerseys aren't particularly creative. Fans would like to see their classic jersey make a comeback. And that's the thing, not everything that is old is automatically a classic but the old design stood out because it gave Jacksonville an identity.

The Jaguars have a better uniform. They must now beat the Texans on the field

For the time being, the Jaguars have the same uniforms, but they have their work cut out if they want to catch up with the Texans. Jacksonville brought in veteran Mitch Morse to give the center spot a boost. Also, signing defensive tackle Arik Armstead will give their front 7 a massive boost. On the other hand, Houston also made a handful of moves that should give them a favorable chance to compete in the division.

It's true that the Texans lost Jonathan Greenard to the Minnesota Vikings but they landed defensive end Danielle Hunter, arguably the best pass rusher available in free agency. On top of that, they added Denico Autry and a familiar face in Folorunso Fatukasi to their defensive front. That doesn't bode well for Trevor Lawrence or any other quarterbacks who will face Houston in 2023.

Having said that, the Jags should feel good about their chances of reclaiming the division next season. They collapsed last year because Lawrence was hampered by injuries. He should be at full strength in 2024 and the front office has done their best to ensure he gets better protection. Add the upgrades they made to the defense, and they can go toe-to-toe with the Texans.

The bottom line is that the Houston Texans are the team to beat in the AFC South but the Jacksonville Jaguars have enough talent in place to dethrone them. On top of that, their uniforms aren't bland, and that must account for something, right?

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