The Jacksonville Jaguars are ranked No. 17 in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. Here's everything you need to know about the Jaguars heading into the 2019 NFL season:
The big question: Has the offense improved enough?
That mainly depends on what the Jaguars get out of QB Nick Foles and RB Leonard Fournette. Foles led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory, but ranks 23rd in Total QBR among all QBs who have thrown at least 1,500 passes since 2012 (Foles' rookie year), which means he's pretty much been an average QB. That's still an upgrade over Blake Bortles. There are questions about Fournette's work ethic, maturity and ability to stay healthy, but he ha had a great training camp and those inside the franchise are optimistic this could be a bounce-back season. If Foles and Fournette come through with good seasons, the Jaguars will contend for the AFC South title. -- Michael DiRocco
Offseason in a nutshell
Adding Foles was the Jaguars' No. 1 priority and they gave him the richest guarantee in franchise history ($50.125 million) to work the same kind of magic he did in Philadelphia. Coach Doug Marrone also hired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was Foles' QB coach when he won the Super Bowl. The belief is those two will make the offense productive and not the liability it was last season (two offensive TDs in the last five games). -- DiRocco
Inside the Jaguars schedule
Most important game: The Jaguars open the season against back-to-back playoff teams (Kansas City and Houston) and Week 3 game is at home on a Thursday night against Tennessee. The Titans embarrassed the Jaguars on national TV last year (Derrick Henry's 99-yard TD run) and have won four in a row and six of the last seven in the series. Avoiding an 0-3 start, as well as purging some bad recent history against their biggest rival, could be on the line.
Toughest stretch: The beginning of the season is pretty tough, with three of the first five games on the road, including games against the Chiefs and Texans and back-to-back road trips to Denver and Carolina. Navigating that stretch with a winning record would provide a huge bump to Jacksonville's chances of competing in the AFC South. The Jaguars have lost seven of their last nine on the road.
Over or under 7.9 wins? Over. Even with questions at linebacker and safety, the defense could be every bit as good as it was in 2017, especially at rushing the passer. What would help is playing with a lead so the defense doesn't have to carry the team every week. That's where the addition of Foles really helps. Another receiver or two has to emerge to complement Dede Westbrook, but the offense should no longer be a liability. -- DiRocco
Schedule ranking: No. 15
The Jaguars are close to the platonic ideal of an average-strength schedule. The opponents we project to be best are primarily home games, including the Chiefs, Chargers and Saints. The opponents we project to be weakest are primarily road games, such as the Raiders, Bengals and Broncos. If ever a game was set up for someone to break the all-time NFL field goal distance record, it's Week 4 with Jacksonville and Denver defenses likely both dominating while kickers get to enjoy the thin air of Mile High. -- Football Outsiders | See the full 1-32 ranking
Breakout fantasy star: WR D.J. Chark
Chark was selected by Jacksonville in the second round of last year's draft. He played sparingly as a rookie and was limited to 14 receptions in Jacksonville's ineffective offense. Despite the slow start, there's plenty of reason for optimism, as Chark has a path to an every-down role in an improved offense led by Foles. The 22-year-old speedster is a deep sleeper you can get at a nice discount. -- Mike Clay | More fantasy coverage
The view from Vegas
Super Bowl odds: 30-1 (opened 50-1)
Over/under: 8 (O -120/U +100)
Playoff odds: Yes +200, No -240
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Sept. 2.
Most interesting player prop
Over/under 989.5 rushing yards for Leonard Fournette:
Michael DiRocco: Under. Fournette has had a good camp and was productive in his only preseason action, but there are still major questions about his maturity, commitment and ability to stay healthy.
Bold prediction: Josh Allen will be Defensive Rookie of the Year
The 2018 SEC Defensive Player of the Year already has shown his ability to play the run as well as drop in coverage during the preseason (he was everywhere against Miami in Week 3), and he will have the added benefit of being on the field at the same time as Pro Bowl pass rushers Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. He should get a lot of one-on-one matchups and while he won't seriously challenge Jevon Kearse's rookie sack record (14.5 in 1999), he will notch double-digit sacks. -- DiRocco
Where the Jaguars landed in NFLRank
No. 24: CB Jalen Ramsey
No. 68: DE Yannick Ngakoue
No. 69 DE Calais Campbell