Joe Buck is a big fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars going into the 2023 season. In fact, the Monday Night Football play-by-play man thinks the team is dangerous.
Not exactly Baker Mayfield feeling dangerous, but Buck said the Jaguars could make serious waves in the fall. Led by Trevor Lawrence fresh off a division title and a 1-1 stint in the playoffs, something could be building in Duval County.
Buck commended the job done by head coach Doug Pederson in his first year at the helm.
“I think the Jaguars,” Buck said on NFL Live regarding his dangerous team in the AFC this season. “We had them at the end of the year last year when they were playing for the division. We’ve got them late in the season, what is that, Week 13 down in Jacksonville. I think Doug Pederson has done phenomenal.
“He won the Super Bowl with the Eagles and then shortly thereafter, he’s gone. Now, he resurfaces in Jacksonville, he resurrects the quarterback after that horrendous first year with the coaching situation with Urban Meyer. He fixes that, they end the year hot, they win that crazy playoff game against the Chargers.”
The 2022 season was no fluke, according to Buck. This could be the start of something long-lasting with the right coach and quarterback at the helm.
“Think about how they ended their year; they go to Kansas City and give them a game in the divisional round,” Buck said. “I think that’s a team in that division that, yeah, they won the division but nobody’s talking about them. But I think they’re a dangerous team in the AFC, more than just, ‘Hey, isn’t it cute the Jaguars are good again?'”
Lawrence vastly improved from his rookie year and the 2021 No. 1 overall pick could take another leap forward this season. Last year, he finished with 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 66.3% completion percentage.
With Travis Etienne back behind him and wide receivers like Zay Jones and Christian Kirk catching the ball, it’s a solid offense. That’s not to mention tight end Evan Engram and the return of wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who was suspended last season amid a betting scandal.
A young and up and coming defense led by Josh Allen, Devin Lloyd and Travon Walker is nothing to scoff at either.
The Jaguars could be legit contenders this year. At least a team not named the Kansas City Chiefs, so they could be the next contenders on the list.
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