2023 NFL Power Rankings: Jacksonville Jaguars

Best debut performance: WR Calvin Ridley
Week 1 stats: 8 receptions for 101 yards, TD

This was Ridley's first regular-season NFL game since Oct. 24, 2021, and his first as a member of the Jaguars. He did most of his work in the first half (seven receptions, 92 yards, one TD) and seamlessly fit into an offense already filled with playmakers. The Jaguars didn't take any deep shots against the Colts' Cover 3 defense, so that's something to watch going forward, but Ridley showed that he may be able to have the same kind of impact on Trevor Lawrence that Stefon Diggs has on Josh Allen in Buffalo. -- Michael DiRocco

Early mistakes put the Jaguars in a hole against the Colts, but it says something that the team could coolly move ahead late with some offensive flourishes and win comfortably enough on the road. Calvin Ridley is the real deal, as he and Trevor Lawrence looked like a perfect match in their first regular-season outing together. The early returns for Tank Bigsby were less encouraging. His go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter put the Jags ahead for good, but the rookie dropped a pass that became a pick in the second quarter and he lacked awareness on a bizarre play that led to a Colts defensive TD. Doug Pederson has trusted the third-round pick to this point, but Bigsby needs to tighten things up.

Even on a day when they didn't look great on offense, they scored 31 points. That's the sign of a special unit. They have to be better this week against the Chiefs.

Trevor Lawrence's four-game winning streak against AFC South foes is a team record for a quarterback. Certainly helps to have WR Calvin Ridley, fresh off his first 100-yard receiving day in nearly three years.

Everyone who has money on the Jaguars winning the AFC South can go ahead and budget those winnings now. New Jacksonville wide receiver Calvin Ridley had seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Old(-ish) Jacksonville edge rusher Josh Allen had three sacks and 10 tackles.

Credit the Jags for not panicking when they found themselves trailing late to the lowly Colts. It would have been a Very Jags Thing to do had they melted down, but they instead outscored Indy, 14-0, in the fourth quarter to put things on ice. Trevor Lawrence to Calvin Ridley looks like it's going to be one of the most fun connections in the NFL.

Calvin Ridley looked great. The Jaguars didn't have their best game, and they'll need to clean some things up, but seeing Trevor Lawrence and Ridley already looking unstoppable was a great start to the season.

It was closer than it should have been against an overmatched Colts team.

Tweets by @EDSFootball