JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday's win against the Seattle Seahawks was significant and put a stamp on this season.
For one, it secured the first winning season for the Jacksonville Jaguars in a decade. And two, it puts the Jags back on top of the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Everything is coming together for the Jags as they near the finish of the regular season. It's hard to believe we’re only three weeks away from this team preparing for their first playoff game in quite some time. You could feel the electricity in the Bank Sunday. Something special is coming together in Jacksonville.
Here are four reasons the Jaguars were able to pull off their big-time win against a tough Seattle team:
The quarterback
Blake Bortles is playing very good football. It’s one thing to beat the Indianapolis Colts like he did a week ago – the Colts are bad. It's another thing to beat the Seahawks.
The Seahawks are a top-notch football team. Bortles made good decisions and was accurate with the ball. The two touchdown passes in the third quarter were big. The 75-yarder to Cole was one of his best plays ever as a Jaguar: and, most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.
I've been critical of Bortles through much of the season but I've been very impressed with how well he’s been playing. The key is to finish strong and continue to play at this level as the regular season comes to end.
The offensive Line
I thought the offensive line did a great job establishing the line of scrimmage Sunday. When you can rush for 156 yards against the Seattle front seven, you've done something.
It's the first time the original offensive line has been in the starting lineup in weeks. Obviously, that made a big difference. Robinson, Omameh, Linder, Cann and Parnell have got to stay healthy as the Jags make their playoff push.
The defense
Yes, they gave up 24 points, but they gave up 24 points to one of the better offensive football teams in the league. Russell Wilson is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and is certainly an MVP candidate this season.
Wilson made some big-time plays Sunday, much like he has all season. But he also threw three interceptions to our very opportunistic defense.
The running back
Leonard Fournette was incredible in the first half of the season. Recently, though, not so much.
It was good to see him back to form and once again see that downhill, physical style of running. His 101 yards rushing is nothing to balk at against a quality Seahawks defense – even without the presence of Cam Chancellor and Richard Sherman on the field.
The Jaguars have a huge opportunity in front of them. To be 9-4 and leading the division is incredible. They've earned something that this franchise hasn't had in a long time: respect.
I’m excited to see how this all plays out. This team really can do something no other Jaguar team has been able to do – Win it all! LET’S GO JAGS!