Defying low power rankings and widespread skepticism, a top analyst picks the Jaguars to win Super Bowl LXI.
The Jacksonville Jaguars head into the season with plenty of doubters and a few believers among the national media.
Despite last year's 13-4 season, which included winning the AFC South division title, there remains much skepticism that the Jaguars will be able to repeat that success in 2026.
ESPN recently placed Jacksonville 17th in its latest set of NFL power rankings. With 32 teams, that makes the Jaguars the top team in the bottom half of the league.
I can't remember a team being so overlooked after winning 13 games the year before.
Can you?
While Jacksonville may be getting dismissed as true contenders by most, there are some prominent analysts who have publicly expressed their confidence in the Jaguars.
Chris Simms of NBC Sports declared the Jaguars "a Super Bowl football team."
Peter Schrager named Jacksonville his early pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Now, another well-regarded member of the national sports media has taken it a step further, picking the Jaguars to not only make the Super Bowl, but to win it.
On Wednesday, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports made the Jaguars his pick to win LXI, defeating the Dallas Cowboys.
Prisco Has Been High On Jaguars For Months
This isn't the first time Prisco has publicly expressed his confidence in Jacksonville. He has been high on the Jaguars for months.
Earlier this offseason, Prisco said he believes Trevor Lawrence will be an MVP candidate again this season and believed the quarterback should have finished third in the voting last year, not fifth.
Prisco also shrugged off the doubts and concerns about the Jaguars' running back Bhayshul Tuten. While most analysts have questioned Tuten's ability to replace Travis Etienne, Prisco believes he has the potential to become a star.
Now, Prisco is predicting the Jaguars will not only reach their first-ever Super Bowl, but win it.
"In the end, I think Trevor Lawrence will make the play late to win it. Jacksonville wins their first-ever Super Bowl, in fact, the first one they ever get to...You can call me a homer all you want...but I'd rather be right."
The Jaguars are a talented enough team that someone picking them to win the Super Bowl shouldn't be so shocking. However, Prisco's prediction is surprising, if only because we have become used to Jacksonville being overlooked and not receiving the national attention of the usual teams.
Final Thoughts
The Jaguars are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They have the players and the coaching staff to go on a long playoff run this season.
Winning the whole thing wouldn't be as shocking as some are making it out to be.
The Jaguars need to prove that last year wasn't a fluke. No better way to do so than by winning the Super Bowl this season.
