By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

When you look back over the NFL season, it shouldn’t really be all that surprising that the Jacksonville Jaguars were at least able to make the playoffs.

For one, it’s become a yearly ritual for the playoffs to consist of around a half dozen teams that didn’t make it to the postseason the year before. Jacksonville was a hot pick to be one of those teams last year, until Blake Bortles did his best Akili Smith impersonation and the Jaguars season prominently went the way of Kevin Spacey’s career.

Coming into this season, Jacksonville had a favorable schedule, a defense that people thought would be very good (not sure anyone thought they would be this good) and a possible running attack led by Leonard Fournette. As long as Bortles could semi keep it together they would have a legit shot of returning to the playoffs.

However, all that being said, you’re straight up lying if you predicted Jacksonville to be playing in the AFC Championship game.

Yes, I know they had Buffalo at home, another “surprise” team that was more or less a mirror image of how Jacksonville plays.

And sure, they did best Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, back in Week Five. But c’mon, if I told you Roethlisberger was going to throw for over 400 yards and the Steelers would put up 42 points, how much a chance would you give Jacksonville to win?

Probably about as much a chance as most will give them in Foxboro Stadium. Well, as a former president once said “Fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.” Obviously, that isn’t quite how the saying goes, but you get the gist.

I don’t expect the Jaguars defense to be able to stop Brady completely, but they are stingy enough to slow down the Patriots offense and should be able to keep Jacksonville in the game; barring their offense decides to help them out.

This of course, is the big question. You have to imagine Belichick will load the box in order to stop one of the league’s best rushing attacks, but that’s easier said than done.

The Patriots defense is much improved from where they were at the beginning of the season, but Jacksonville should be able to have success on the ground.

However, like every other conversation concerning the Jaguars over the past two years, it will come down to Blake Bortles and whether or not he can- 1. Make the important throw when needed, or 2. Not turn into Ryan Leaf. At this point, I’d feel more comfortable trying to predict which athlete/music mogul Khloe Kardashian is going to date next. (Officially, my vote is for Kyrie Irving. It just feels right, you know?)

One thing that New England has been able to use as an advantage in home playoff games of years past, but that may not be much of a factor against Jacksonville, is the weather.

As of right now, the skies will be clear and the temperature will be in the 50’s. Granted it’s not Jacksonville, FL weather, but it’s hardly the type of weather that should hinder their play.

I know New England is a heavy favorite, as they should be, but I just can’t shake this feeling Jacksonville will put up more of a fight than most expect.

Regardless, making it to the AFC Championship is farther than just about anyone would’ve imagined before the season started….no matter what they tell you.