The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Miami Dolphins tonight to kickoff Week Three National Football League action. The Jaguars, who opened the season with an upset win at home against the Indianapolis Colts before losing a close one last Sunday in Tennessee to the highly regarded Titans, are looking to become the surprise team of 2020.
Last week, at our Saturday afternoon handicapping session, a couple of people I work with had vastly different opinions about the Jaguars prospects. Kevin thought the Jaguars caught Indianapolis in a vulnerable favorite role to get their first week road upset, and Paul introduced the idea of considering the Jaguars might be good this year.
While Kevin pitched taking the Titans at home and laying the points, Paul thought the better side of last week’s game in Tennessee was taking the points with the Jaguars.
I have respect for both these men, and chose to not take a side in the Jaguars/Titans contest while we further evaluated their actual strengths. In truth, the Titans are a “go against” team for me this year based on their strong finish in 2019 in a pattern that more often than not leads to a losing point spread record the following season.
As the game played out, they were both right. The Titans did win the game, but the Jaguars appeared much improved and did take the point spread decision in Nashville while getting a touchdown on the line and losing by a field goal, 33-30.
So, are the Jaguars much improved this year?