The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the surprise teams this season, sitting in the playoff mix in a tie atop the AFC South heading into Week 14. Their success hasn't slowed down the drive for defensive tackle Malik Jackson.

What lies ahead is a crucial matchup against the Seattle Seahawks that could be a huge determining factor for their fate in the playoff picture. During a recent interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Jackson spoke about the gravity of the contest for the culture and outlook of the team moving forward,

From to Alex Marvez of Sporting News:

“We’re trying to transcend into that next stage of having people actually worry about us and say, ‘That’s a good team,'” Jackson told Bill Polian and Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Who better to come in here than a two-time Super Bowl team that’s at a high level in their confidence, that just beat the No. 1 team in the NFC [the Eagles]? I’m excited.”

The Jaguars' success this season can mostly be credited to their stellar defense that has become the top unit in the league, ranking first both overall and against the pass through 12 games. They possess plenty of talent on that side of the ball with the likes of defensive ends Calais Campbell and Dante Fowler Jr., as well as their shutdown cornerback duo of Jaelen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye.

Jacksonville needs their defense to step to the challenge against quarterback Russell Wilson, who is putting together an MVP-caliber campaign. Wilson currently ranks second in the league with 26 touchdown passes and sixth with 3,256 passing yards. It's hard to imagine where Seattle would be without Wilson.

The pressure is on Jacksonville's defense to lead the way to a potentially season-defining win over one of the top teams in the NFL, giving them legitimacy as more than just a playoff contender.