The Jacksonville Jaguars have almost always been a team of up-and-down hits instead of long-term success.
After winning 11-plus games in three straight seasons from 1997-99, the Jaguars had just three double-digit wins from 2000-24. Jacksonville has only had two consecutive winning seasons this century, in 2004-25 and 2022-23, and no consecutive playoff appearances.
All that seems to be changing under Liam Cohen, who has quickly turned the Jaguars into a wizard.
In his first season as head coach last fall, Cohen led Jacksonville to a 13-4 record, the second best in franchise history and just one shy of the 14-win record set in 1999.
In No. 2, the Jaguars already have a three-game lead in the AFC South and are poised to run away with the division for the second straight season — another first for the franchise this century — and are positioned as a major threat during the AFC playoffs.
Because the Jaguars don’t just beat teams. They tear them down.
There were 10 games decided by 24 points or more through eight weeks of the 2026 season. The Jaguars are the only team with more than one.
After last week’s 42-7 demolition of the visiting Colts, Jacksonville (5-2) has won by more than 24 points (two) this season (three).
That’s unusual in the NFL, a league that’s supposed to be built on parity and the idea that any team can be any other team on any given week.
It’s a testament to how well the Jaguars are hitting on all cylinders. They lead the league in rushing defense (77.4 yards per game), are tied for the lead in turnover margin (plus-seven), second in scoring defense (15.9 ppg) and fifth in scoring defense (28.0 ppg).
They’re backed by scrappy quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who reinvented himself under Cohen and now has the fifth-best MVP ratio this season with 1,690 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against four interceptions.
Jacksonville is the total package, a dark horse in the AFC behind brand names like the Bills, Broncos and Chiefs.
It’s worth noting that while the Jaguars are 2-2 at home this season, each of their three big wins have come at home, losing at Denver in Week 2, winning at Cincinnati in Week 4 and splitting a pair of games in London.
This could be the final hurdle to prove the legitimacy of these Jaguars. They have gone 10-2 at home and 8-5 on the road since Cohen took over.
The Ravens’ roster is in complete flux right now, with rookie Joe Fagnano starting at quarterback — surely Jacoby Brissett won’t be suiting up for any official workouts with the team, right? – No one should be surprised when Jacksonville secures its fourth runaway win of the season on Thursday night when Baltimore hosts Jacksonville.