No one expected the Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs last year, having won only two games during the 2021 season. Of course, who could forget that disastrous season under then-head coach Urban Meyer, who didn't even finish out the season before being fired? The Jaguars swiftly moved on to a more proven NFL head coach, Doug Pederson, a former Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles just a few years earlier. With talent, experience, and superior coaching in place, can this year's Jaguars team be even better in 2023? Let's make some bold predictions.

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4. The Jaguars will sweep the AFC South

One of the main reasons the Jaguars managed to make the playoffs last year was that they were far and away the best team in a very weak AFC South division. Jacksonville was two games ahead of the second-place seven-win Tennessee Titans, while the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans lost 12 and 13 games respectively. But the Jaguars held one clear advantage over all the other teams: quarterback play.

An aging Matt Ryan didn't aid the Colts like they'd hope, where they were expected to dominate the division last season. Ryan Tannehill struggled staying healthy—and he's still Ryan Tannehill. As for the Houston Texans, they were simply abysmal on all fronts. Trevor Lawrence, on the other hand, had a standout year last season, with Doug Pederson undoubtedly contributing significantly to his progress. Lawrence's performance last year led the Jaguars to a 4-2 record against their AFC South rivals. This year, they'll outperform that and sweep the entire division, helping them achieve even greater heights.

3. The Jaguars will finish 13-4 and reach the AFC Championship

The Jaguars have the potential to be this years Philadelphia Eagles, securing one of the best records in the league. They possess the necessary talent, thanks to their high draft picks over the past couple of seasons and their moves in free agency. The Jaguars have also demonstrated an ability to close crucial games, as evidenced by their playoff performance last year. They upset the Los Angeles Chargers by a single point and held their own against the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, losing by just seven.

The Jaguars will finish the season 13-4, surpassing their projected win total of 9.5 (according to FanDuel), and secure at least a second seed in the AFC playoffs, ultimately reaching the AFC Championship game.

2. Trevor Lawrence will be an MVP candidate

As if the AFC didn't already boast enough quarterback talent across its divisions, here comes Lawrence, living up to his No. 1 overall draft pick potential. Lawrence threw for nearly 500 more yards last year than in the previous season, surpassing 4,000 yards in total. He also doubled his touchdown total while halving his interceptions, securing him a seventh-place finish in MVP voting. With additions like Calvin Ridley at wide receiver, who's to say he won't be in MVP discussions if he continues to build on his last season's performance? Look for another standout season for Lawrence in 2023.

1. Calvin Ridley will have a comeback year

Calvin Ridley has not seen action in an NFL game since October 24, 2021. Ridley initially took time off from the game to address mental health concerns during the 2021 season. However, he was later suspended for a full year after being found to have gambled on NFL games. The Atlanta Falcons subsequently traded him to the Jaguars during the offseason, where he will likely become one of Lawrence's preferred targets if he returns to his pre-absence form.

While a bit of rust might be expected after such a lengthy absence, it may not last for long. With the structure of this offense, Ridley could stage a significant comeback year, potentially even reclaiming his status as a 1,000-yard receiver, as he was in 2020.