Why Dan Orvlosky Thinks the Jaguars Can Compete for the AFC Title in 2023

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot on their shoulders in 2023. For the first time since 2018, there is legitimate pressure for the Jaguars to win and win big.

After going 9-8 and winning the AFC South title in 2022, the Jaguars are primed to take another step in 2023. A step that ESPN's Dan Orvlosky thinks could take them all the way to the AFC Championship Game in 2023, the former quarterback said this week on SportsCenter.

"Division favorite and absolute AFC title contenders. Absolutely," Orvlosky said.

"This is as young and talented a roster as there might be in the NFL. The Jets are probably in that conversation as well. But there is so much youth and talent on this football team from the defensive side of the football."

That youth is headlined by 2022 first-round picks Travon Walker (No. 1 overall) and Devin Lloyd (No. 27 overall), as well as third-year cornerback Tyson Campbell, third-year safety Andre Cisco, fifth-year pass-rusher Josh Allen, and several other returning defenders.

But it is more than just the young faces on defense that has Orvlosky as a believer in the Jaguars. It is Trevor Lawrence's maturation into a cerebral winner in 2022 that ultimately has sold the team on the former NFL quarterback.

"You have a quarterback that is certainly ascending. And I think the big difference, Jay, is he believes now," Orvlosky said.

"Like he who's had these expectations levied on him because of his talent, No. 1 high school recruit and then the No. 1 pick in the draft, you don't really know it, or truly believe it until you do it at the highest level. And Trevor did it last year."

In 17 starts in 2022, Lawrence completed 387 of 584 passes for 4,113 yards and 25 TDs. His 387 completions were the most in a single season in franchise history and his five rushing TDs were tied with Garrard for the most in single-season franchise history.

Lawrence joined Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Bills QB Josh Allen as the only players in the NFL with 25-plus passing TDs and at least five rushing TDs. Against the Titans in Week 14, Lawrence set a career-high with 368 yards passing and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

"And so now you've got a young man that's crazy talented with a lot of talent around him. I'm truly buying into who he actually is as a player," Orvlosky said.

"That's why I sit there and say division favorites. No question. We'll see what happens with Indy, in the draft. And then also, they can win the AFC if they stay healthy and that talent takes a step."

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