The Jacksonville Jaguars have started 2026 off with a bang, sitting atop the AFC South at 4-1 and seemingly primed to be division champions for the second year in a row. And while it was assumed from the beginning that the Jaguars were playoff contenders, that buzz is now growing.
ESPN's Dan Graziano took that hype another step further Monday. In his weekly NFL overreactions column, Graziano considered the statement, "The Jaguars are going to the Super Bowl."
His verdict? "NOT AN OVERREACTION."
Sunday's dramatic 19-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in London was an example of one of Jacksonville's strengths. While the Jaguars needed a 53-yard Ameer Abdullah kickoff return and Cam Little's 57-yard field goal with one second remaining, Graziano
argued that Jacksonville's case as a legitimate contender extends well beyond its record through five games.
"Dating to the middle of last season, Jacksonville has won 13 of 16," Graziano wrote. "The Jaguars been good and consistent on both sides of the ball this season, and the success quarterback Trevor Lawrence has had under coach Liam Coen appears sustainable. Jacksonville has given Lawrence a wide receiver corps that fits his strengths. The Jags are still working on the run game, but it shows promise."
Furthermore, Graziano noted there isn't much in the way of competition within not only the division, but the entire conference.
"The Chiefs could still have something to say about this. The Bills have looked good. The Patriots are rounding into form in a big way. The AFC North is going to produce at least one tough playoff team. I guess the Broncos could still make some noise. So, there are potential contenders in the AFC, for sure," he said. "But honestly, none of them has played better than Jacksonville since Week 9 last season."
And as Graziano noted, Sunday's nail-biting win over the Eagles showcased the Jaguars' ability to find a way to win games that they probably should have lost.
"The teams that go all the way are the ones that figure out how to win games they should lose during the season," he concluded. "So, don't ignore what the Jaguars are doing; they're sticking around."
There is obviously a long way to go from Week 5 to the Super Bowl, but for now, the road ahead looks promising for Jacksonville to see its first trip to the big game in franchise history.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: ESPN: Jaguars going to Super Bowl is ‘not an overreaction’
