With the season quickly approaching the halfway mark, it’s safe to say that the Jaguars haven’t had the kind of season any of its fans expected.
After an offseason of pinning their hopes to the arrival of Super Bowl champion quarterback Nick Foles, it took just one drive for the team to lose Foles to injury. To everyone’s surprise, flashy backup Gardner Minshew has performed exceedingly well – aside from a rough outing last week against the New Orleans Saints.
And now, after a drawn-out ordeal, the team has parted ways with its star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
But even without Foles and Ramsey, and with a record of 2-4 through six games, the Jags still have plenty of time to salvage their season and even make it to the playoffs.
The team plays its next two games against the Bengals (0-6) and the Jets (1-4) – two very winnable games, the latter of which will be played here in Jacksonville. After that, the team takes on the division-rival Texans, who currently sit at the top of the AFC South.
Winning those three games would give the team some great momentum heading into a bye week. And evening out the season series with the Texans could help increase the odds of a division title.
Beyond that, the team will play just two teams that are currently over .500 – the Colts (twice) and the Raiders.
While most national sports outlets have already counted the Jags out for 2019, it’s important to remember that the team was a failed two-point conversion away from beating the Texans the first time around, and that it stuck around through three quarters against the highly-talented Saints and Panthers.
With a favorable schedule ahead and adversity in the rear-view mirror, it’s now or never for the Jags to make their run.