Doug Pederson deserves a ton of credit for Jacksonville’s turnaround. He’s installed an imaginative yet simple offense that has helped unlock the potential of Trevor Lawrence.
But while Pederson and Lawrence have drawn the early-season acclaim, it’s Jacksonville’s defense that stands out. Through three weeks, the Jags’ defense is second in the league in success rate and third in EPA per play, the top two measures of a unit’s down-to-down quality.
Sure, the defense has feasted on rough quarterback play and banged-up offenses: Carson Wentz doing Carson Wentz things, a creaking Matt Ryan and an injury-riddled Chargers offense have not formed the most intimidating schedule.
But this is no mirage. Jacksonville have all the component parts for a top-10 unit. Up front, the Jags cycle through a rotation of A-plus athletes.