SO SAD TO LEAVE: Doug Pederson has terminate a five-year $12 million contract extension offered by the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars broke their four-year playoff drought in 2022, and it was widely expected they would continue to make postseason appearances. In 2023, they appeared to be on track to meet these expectations until a late-season collapse began a new streak of non-playoff years.
Reflecting on the season, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson commented the day after their Week 18 loss in Nashville: “I feel optimistic about the future, but the way we finished the last six games is disappointing. We had chances to win, but it felt like we lost the games ourselves rather than being outplayed. This theme persisted throughout our season.”
Pederson emphasized to his team the importance of every game, noting how even early-season matchups like Week 2 against the Chiefs and Week 3 against the Texans could have playoff implications. “Everything is connected. The urgency we need to bring to each game is crucial for our success. We can’t afford to let things slide or become complacent, thinking there’s plenty of time to recover. Every detail and every game matters, especially as we get closer to the end of the season.”
Learning from their 2023 experience, the Jaguars are now focused on winning the AFC South and securing a playoff spot. CBS Sports has recognized them as one of seven teams with the potential to make the playoffs after missing out last year.
