1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Year Record: 5-11
Key Additions: RB Chris Ivory, DE Malik Jackson, CB Prince Amukamara
Key Losses: DE Chris Clemons, G Zane Beadles, S Sergio Brown
Big Games: Sep. 11 vs. Green Bay, Nov. 6 @ Kansas City, Nov. 27 @ Buffalo Dec. 4 Denver, Dec. 11 Minnesota
I am jumping on the bandwagon, with a lot of other people, who are picking the Jaguars to win the division. The Jaguars have not had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2007. They haven’t won the division since 1999. I believe all that is about to change because they should have a great defense this season.
This team will only win the division if the defense is great. The Jags could have a great defensive line that includes Malik Jackson, Sen’Derrick Marks and Jared Odrick. They also will get, 2015 first round pick, Dante Fowler Jr. back from injury. At linebacker that have Telvin Smith, who tied for sixth in the NFL in tackles, and Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny. In the secondary the Jags have play makers. They drafted Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. They also signed Prince Amukamara and Tashaun Gipson to go along with a good secondary that already included Aaron Colvin, Johnathan Cyprien and Davon House. On paper the Jags look loaded. I believe that will translate onto the field in 2016.
Offensively this team has quietly put together a good offense. Adding running back Chris Ivory should take some of the pressure off Blake Bortles. The Jaguars front office has done a phenomenal job in giving Bortles weapons to succeed. His options in the passing game include Allen Robinson (80 rec. 1,400 yards 14 TD’s), Allen Hurns (64 rec. 1,031 yards 10 TD’s) and tight ends Mercedes Lewis and Julius Thomas. There is no excuse for Bortles to not have a big year and lead this team to an AFC South division title and the playoffs.