98 Days Until Jaguars Kickoff: Has the Defense Improved Enough Since Chad Henne’s Drive?

In 98 days, the Jacksonville Jaguars will kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts as they take their first step toward contending for a Super Bowl title.

But until the Jaguars' Week 1 tilt vs. the Colts on Sept. 10, we will be taking a look at 100 storylines in 100 days.

Next up in the series: the No. 98.

98 isn't exactly a point of positive reflection for the Jaguars. With the Jaguars having the good fortune of seeing All-World quarterback Patrick Mahomes leave the field during last year's divisional round tilt, the Jaguars had the perfect chance to capitalize against Chiefs journeyman backup quarterback Chad Henne.

Instead, Henne led the Chiefs on a 98-yard touchdown drive, culminating with a one-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce to put the Chiefs up 17-7 -- critical points in what ended up a 27-20 Jaguars loss.

For the Chiefs, it was their longest scoring drive of the season and the longest in postseason team history. For the Jaguars, it was a reminder of where they have to improve if they hope to compete for an AFC title in 2023.

“That was a momentum switch in the game. We had them at the two yard line and let them off the hook a little bit," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the loss.

"Those are opportunities there where we need to be better. We need to play better and coach better in those situations to try to get off the field at some point. I credit them. They executed well and ended up with a touchdown.”

The looming question facing the Jaguars now is just how much the defense will improve in 2023. The Jaguars only have one major contributor from the defense's performance vs. the Chiefs who is no longer on the roster in pass-rusher Arden Key. Otherwise, the Jaguars return all 11 starters and most of their primary backups.

After a quiet free agency period and an NFL Draft weekend that saw the Jaguars use each of their first three picks on offense, the Jaguars are banking on natural improvement from their defense. For veterans in the second year of their system to take a leap. For second-year players like Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma to improve.

"They gave us some opportunities. There were some unwarranted penalties in there too that kept them on the field that we have to eliminate. You know there was a roughing the passer. We jumped offsides one time and there are just things that showed up that we have to try to eliminate," Pederson said about the defense after the Chiefs game.

"Overall, I thought the defense did a nice job of really kind of keeping things down. Second half especially forcing them to punt the football and get the offense off the field. Football games are all about playing complementary football, and we can learn from it and do a little bit better.”

Has the defense improved since that fateful drive? Only time will tell.