The 2023 NFL season came to a heartbreaking close for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that began the year with high hopes but ultimately faltered when it mattered most. After a promising 8-3 start, the Jaguars slipped into a crippling 1-5 slump, missing out on both the AFC South division title and a playoff berth. The decline was not just a matter of poor luck but a confluence of injuries, defensive struggles, and offensive inefficiencies.
Injuries were a significant factor in the Jaguars' downturn. Key offensive players, including wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, and star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, found themselves sidelined. In total, ten starters or crucial players missed a combined 48 games, severely hampering the team's ability to maintain its early-season momentum. This rash of absences exposed vulnerabilities, particularly on the offensive line, contributing to the team's second-highest league total of runs for no gain or a loss (120 runs). The Jaguars' rushing attack faltered, with 26.5% of their rushes either gaining zero yards or resulting in negative yardage.
Defensively, the Jaguars also faced significant issues, highlighted by a league fourth-most 126 missed tackles. Over the final six weeks, their defense conceded an additional 44.4 yards per game on the ground compared to the first 12 weeks. This defensive lapse was punctuated in their final game of the season, a 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans, solidifying their 9-8 record and cementing their exit from the playoff race.
Despite the midseason and late-season woes, the team did manage a bright spot: a 26-0 shutout win against the Carolina Panthers. However, even this victory came with a caveat, as Trevor Lawrence missed the game due to a shoulder injury. The Jaguars’ inconsistency and inability to capitalize on early successes left many in the organization and fanbase with a feeling of what could have been.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan did not mince words when reflecting on the season. "You fail as an organization. I look at it as an organizational failure," Khan said, expressing the collective disappointment. He continued, "Not to be able to win two out of the last six games, it still stings. Even though the season's over, it's like I still can't believe we couldn't do it."
In Khan's tenure, the Jaguars have seen numerous ups and downs, but the recent seasons provided a glimmer of hope. Remarkably, the 2023 season marked the team's second consecutive winning season, a feat the franchise hadn't achieved since 2004-05. Despite the disappointments, there is an air of resilience and optimism as the squad looks to build on these consecutive winning records.
The future appears brighter with developments off the field as well. The Jacksonville city council greenlit a monumental $1.4 billion renovation plan for EverBank Stadium through a 14-1 vote. The initiative is set to significantly upgrade the team's home grounds, with the costs being shared between the Jaguars and the city. The city committed an additional $150 million over the next two years for stadium maintenance and repairs, resulting in the city taking on 55% of the total renovation costs. This vote of confidence from the local government illustrates the community's support and investment in the team's future.
In discussing the broader picture of his ownership and the team’s journey, Khan reminisced, "A lot has changed from the inaugural season for the Weavers in 1995, to my first year in 2012, right through to today as we prepare to celebrate the Jaguars' 30th anniversary in the NFL. But there's been one constant throughout: Everyone wants to doubt Jacksonville. As of last night, that should no longer be the case. Not a good day for the Doubting Thomases."
Jacksonville’s Mayor Donna Deegan echoed this sentiment, signaling hope and belief in the city's and team's future. "I hope you all believe now," said Deegan, encapsulating the renewed optimism.
As the Jaguars look ahead to the next season and the impending stadium renovations, the organization will aim to erase the bitter taste left by the 2023 campaign. The alignment of city and team, combined with lessons learned from this year’s hardships, could very well set the stage for a comeback stronger than ever.