The Jacksonville Jaguars will likely miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season this year, with odds expected to be against the team in NFL betting markets for most games. However, they already have the building blocks for more significant victories in the next few years, thanks to their early picks in the recent drafts. While they have a young and emerging roster, they will have to endure growing pains before becoming legitimate contenders.
The Jaguars went on a signing spree during the 2022 offseason to upgrade the talent around Lawrence. They signed wide receivers Zay Jones and Christian Kirk to line up with Marvin Jones Jr. The Jaguars also acquired tight end Evan Engram and Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff. Jacksonville finally had Travis Etienne Jr. after missing his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury. He and James Robinson form a solid backfield tandem.
On defense, they have playmakers like Lloyd, Folorunso Fatukasi, Josh Allen, Foyesade Oluokun, and Shaquill Griffin. The Jaguars also selected linebacker Travon Walker with the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars started the 2022 season by winning two of their first three games. Throughout that stretch, quarterback Trevor Lawrence won AFC Offensive Player of the Week after a 38-10 rout of the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Devin Lloyd was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for September 2022 after registering 24 tackles, two interceptions, and six passes deflected.
Their achievements are the biggest victories for Jacksonville because they hadn’t won anything significant since 2017, when they reached the AFC Championship Game. Since then, the Jaguars have won just 15 games, including a season with just one victory. Jacksonville earned another top overall selection after a 3-14 record last year.
The Jaguars are the second-youngest team currently competing in the NFL. They were established in 1993 and played their first season two years later. The team had modest success by entering the playoffs in four of their first five years. The Jaguars were also the youngest expansion team to reach a conference championship when they did so in 1996.
They clinched the AFC’s top seed in 1999, but since then they’ve only won one division title and thrice made the playoffs. Jacksonville is one of four NFL teams that have never made it to the Super Bowl.
The Jaguars play their home games at TIAA Bank Field. It was also known as Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Alltel Stadium, and EverBank Field in years past. The stadium has a capacity of 67,814 but is expandable to 82,000. It is home to some of the biggest scoreboards in the world.
The atmosphere at TIAA Bank Field is loud and celebratory, especially when the Jaguars are doing well. However, games here have remained peaceful, and the home crowd is welcoming to guests.
The Jaguars have developed rivalries with the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans, and the Indianapolis Colts as they chase the AFC South title every season. The Titans lead in their all-time series record, 34-21. Meanwhile, the Jaguars denied the Colts a playoff appearance at the last regular season game of 2021. Likewise, in their earlier years, the Jaguars had some rivalries with the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. The Patriots have defeated them in two AFC Championship Games.
