The Jaguars’ Super Bowl chances aren’t unlikely, just ask the Buccaneers
Following an inspiring come-from-behind playoff victory at the end of the 2022 season, the 2023 Jacksonville Jaguars had high expectations. For all but the final six weeks, the Jaguars lived up to the hype, leading the AFC South for the majority of the season.
It wasn’t until Week 18 that Jacksonville slipped out of the playoffs, losing to the Tennessee Titans in a shocking upset. It was a disappointing turn of events, and changes during the offseason are inevitable, but it’s not time to panic about the future.
Why? The Jaguars’ Florida neighbors can answer that question.
In 2019, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watched from home as the Kansas City Chiefs hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. A 7-9 record wasn’t enough for a playoff berth, as the team finished third in the division, only ahead of the Carolina Panthers. It wasn’t anything the Buccaneers weren’t used to. In seven of the eight previous seasons, Tampa Bay finished fourth in the division and far from the playoffs.
A lot can change in a year, especially in the NFL. One year later, the roles were reversed, and the Buccaneers were the ones being crowned Super Bowl champions in the comfort of their own stadium after beating the reigning champion Chiefs, 31-9.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Five of the past eight Super Bowls featured a team that missed playoffs the previous year. Of those five teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and Buccaneers went on to win the Super Bowl.
It doesn’t just end there. The Jaguars happen to share a major thing in common with one of those winners: head coach Doug Pederson. When the Eagles won the big dance after the 2017 season, Pederson spearheaded the way, embracing Philadelphia’s underdog mentality.
