The Jacksonville Jaguars stunned the league by upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football this week, and yet still, there seems to be a lack of respect for the Jags. Fans are all-too-aware that Jacksonville is an oft-disrespected underdog, but there are simply not enough props being given to them for pulling off such an incredible win.
Power rankings are definitely not showing just how good the Jaguars are, and while the performance was certainly not perfect, there was still a lot to get excited about. Travis Hunter and Devin Lloyd both were on fire, and Trevor Lawrence is continuing to steadily improve a little bit more each week. All in all, it was a prime example of what Lawrence himself said about this team earlier in the season: they're a gritty group that will not give up, no matter what.
Plenty of analysts have been refusing to admit that, plain and simple, the Jaguars outplayed the Chiefs, and made it happen when it mattered the most. And one analyst is willing to give Jacksonville the credit it deserves... even though his brother plays for the Chiefs.
Jason Kelce says the truth about just how good the Jaguars are
Jason Kelce is a former NFL player who retired after spending his career playing center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is considered to be one of the best centers of all time, and that talent must run in the family, because his brother, Travis Kelce, is a similarly elite player.
Travis Kelce is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and is credited with not only being one of the best to ever play the position, but with redefining the tight end position, too. But aside from their football prowess, the Kelce brothers host a podcast together, "New Heights," and - to no one's surprise - they discussed the Chiefs-Jaguars game. And Jason Kelce had a lot of good things to say.
"I was impressed by the way the Jaguars played. I know they're a good team. I thought that they weathered a lot of stuff early," Jason began. "You got to give them credit, gotta give Trevor Lawrence credit... from fumbling that first quarterback sneak to give you guys the opportunity to go up 14 points, and then bouncing right back and putting together a drive where he scrambled and fought every step of the way. I think the Jaguars are a really good team this year."
Travis noted that while on paper, the Chiefs played better, they weren't able to make it count at the end, which led to Jason continuing to praise the Jaguars some more.
"I really do think Trevor fought, and there was a couple things that bounced away - like the fact that he fell over on his knees, and gets up to get the go-ahead touchdown - was f***ing wild," Jason continued. "But I really, you know, listen, I think Trevor, that whole team, was fighting every step of the way. They're rolling right now under Liam Coen. This is a different Jaguars roster and feel than they've had, the way those guys have played before. Etienne has really been a hell of a player for them this year."
Travis interjected, "He's [Etienne] a piece, man, and the more they get that dude Travis Hunter involved man, they just, I mean, f***, just send him deep and throw it up."
It seems Jason Kelce has changed his tune, based on his previous comments about Jacksonville, and he and Travis both deserve kudos for admitting what so many analysts are too cowardly to admit: this Jaguars team is the real thing, and other teams should underestimate them at their own risk.