The Jacksonville Jaguars enter their bye week 6-2 after five straight wins propelled them to a tie for the best record in the AFC.
Needless to say, it has earned them attention. Yet in spite of the NFL’s longest win streak, there are still some detractors who don’t believe the Jaguars are as legit as their record suggests.
In the latest round of power rankings, there are some who think the Jaguars are among the elite teams in the league and the favorite to win the AFC. Then there are some who think the Jaguars are just barely a top 10 group.
Following a 20-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, here’s where experts think the Jaguars stack up against the other contenders:
USA Today: 4th
Last week: 5th
At 6-2 and leading their division, are they the AFC’s best team? They certainly seem like its most adaptable, Jacksonville’s five-game winning streak spanning the length of October in five different stadiums, two in London, with another victory occurring on a Thursday night in New Orleans. Their Week 9 bye is well deserved.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
ESPN: 6th
Last week: 6th
Trevor Lawrence’s stats might not be leading-the-league impressive — 1,935 yards, 9 TDs, 4 INTs — but he’s playing consistently good football. He has had a passer rating of at least 90 or better in his past five games (a career-high streak) and has posted a passer rating of 90 or above in six of the team’s eight games. He’s still making some of those young quarterback mistakes, like his end zone interception on a ball he should have thrown away, and he tries to keep plays alive too long (a major reason for his six fumbles), but Doug Pederson has praised Lawrence’s leadership, his toughness (he’s playing on a sprained left knee) and the clutch throws and plays he has made during the Jaguars’ 5-0 stretch in October.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
The Athletic: 10th
Last week: 8th
Something scary (for others): Trevor Lawrence getting hot
We could have just added “in the playoffs” to this one because Jacksonville feels as good a bet for the postseason as any team right now. After Sunday, they have three more wins than the other three teams in the AFC South. The Jaguars have won five in a row, and Lawrence, who was 24-for-32 for 292 yards against the Steelers, looks like he’s starting to find his groove.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Pro Football Talk: 2nd
Last week: 3rd
A San Francisco showdown — and potential Super Bowl preview — is coming after their bye.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
CBS Sports: 3rd
Last week: 4th
They’ve won five straight to right things as they head to the bye. They are definitely in the conversation for best team in the AFC.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Yahoo Sports: 8th
Last week: 8th
Among all the top teams in the AFC playoff picture (unless you count Cleveland), the Jaguars have the easiest remaining schedule according to Tankathon. The Jaguars aren’t the best team in the AFC, but they are tied for the best record with the easiest remaining schedule of anyone who has a realistic shot at the No. 1 seed. Keep that in mind.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Touchdown Wire: 3rd
Last week: 3rd
The Jaguars have the longest win streak in the NFL, and that defense is quietly one of the best units in the league (and may also be adding a piece before the trade deadline). Trevor Lawrence is also playing great- the Jags are dangerous.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Jaguars Wire: 4th
Last week: 5th
The Jaguars are struggling to put the pedal to the metal and put teams away handily. Yet, they keep winning because they’re just plain better on both sides of the ball than most of their opponents. Until they’ve shown they can get out of their own way, it’s hard to call the Jaguars the best team in the NFL. But it sure feels like they could stake their claim soon.
No. 1 team: Philadelphia Eagles
