The Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 of the season. On Friday, head coach Doug Pederson met with the local media and said he feels good heading into the game.
"We still got another today, tomorrow, review", Pederson said. But I feel like the guys have had a good week of preparation. It's the first time that the starters have gotten the bulk of the work this week and you practice the guys that you think are going to be the ones in the game, and I got a good week."
Later, Pederson said he felt like players were calm ahead of the opener. This is not surprising when you take into account that the Jags built on last year's success throughout the offseason. Now, they'll have the chance to see their work pay off. With this in mind, here are five subplots to watch when the Jags take the field Sunday.
5. Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley's return to the field after a 1+ year absence
Calvin Ridley became one of the top receivers in the NFL early in his career, catching 217 passes for 3,061 yards with 26 touchdowns from 2018-2020. However, he hung up the cleats five games into the 2021 season because he wasn't in good mental and physical shape.
While Ridley was retired, he bet on football games and received an indefinite suspension that forced him to miss the 2022 season. He was traded to the Jags last November and was reinstated this past March. Since then, Ridley has been doing nothing but working on reclaiming his spot as one of the top wideouts in the league.
All signs point toward him being the same player he was with the Atlanta Falcons. Against Indy, he'll have a chance to prove he's not rusty.
4. How much will the Jaguars use Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby vs. the Colts?
The Jaguars were a pass-heavy team in 2022 but they made an effort to run the ball in the preseason. This doesn't come as a surprise when you consider that they have a dynamic one-two punch in Travis Etienne and rookie Tank Bigsby. Add D'Ernest Johnson, who signed a one-year deal in free agency, and Jacksonville has a well-rounded backfield.
That said, it will be interesting if the Jaguars stick to running the ball against the Colts. While there are many factors that go into calling plays, Doug Pederson has shown an affinity for dialing up passes even when running seems like the better option.
It's true that the Jaguars have a top-10 quarterback in Trevor Lawrence but the last thing the Jags want to do is to put too much on his plate, even if he's capable of handling it.
3. How will the Jaguars offensive line fare against the Colts' defensive front?
The Jaguars are thrusting rookie Anton Harrison into the starting lineup. Having played mostly left tackle at Oklahoma, he'll be playing on the right side for Jacksonville, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the transition. Similarly, Walker Little will be filling in for Cam Robinson while he serves a four-game suspension to start the 2023 season.
This will be a fluid situation that could be affected by performance or injuries, but Little will have a chance to prove he's the long-term answer at left tackle after starting eight games at the position the last two years. It's also worth noting that Ben Bartch is back after spending the offseason recovering from a knee injury he suffered last year.
Early reviews have been positive, and if Bartch picks up where he left off before the injury, he'll bring stability to the interior offensive line.
2. Travon Walker and Josh Allen must shine for the Jaguars vs. the Colts
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Jags since the end of the 2022 season is their pass rush rotation. While they have a pair of fine players in Josh Allen and Travon Walker, Jacksonville needs more from both. But even if Allen and Walker make a leap, the Jaguars will need another edge defender to step up in 2023, whether it's K'Lavon Chaisson or Yassir Abdullah.
Chaisson, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, has been underwhelming in his first three NFL seasons and it's hard to believe he'll do a 180-degree turn in 2023. Having said that, the Jaguars don't have many other alternatives behind Walker and Allen, unless Abdullah progresses quickly and makes an impact in his rookie season.
Against the Colts, the Jaguars' pass rush will show whether there's no reason for concern heading into 2024.
No. 1 Can the Jaguars end their losing streak at Indianapolis in 2023?
The Jaguars haven't lost to the Colts at The Bank in more than eight years but their track record at Lucas Oil Stadium hasn't been nearly as good in the same span. The last time they beat their division foe as a visitor was back in 2017. Maybe, just maybe this is the year they end the streak.
Right now, Jacksonville is a five-point favorite and they have a legitimate chance to beat the Colts in Week 1, with Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson leading the way. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and his ability to improvise on the go could give the Jaguars' defense a fit but if they contain them, they could come out of Indianapolis with a win.
It's now up to the Jaguars to seize the opportunity.