2023 NFL Power Rankings: Jacksonville Jaguars

Young riser: S Andre Cisco

The 23-year-old player looks like he's becoming the playmaker he was at Syracuse, where he intercepted 13 passes in 24 games. Cisco has three interceptions (tying his 2022 season total) and a forced fumble to go along with four pass breakups and 34 tackles. He played mainly special teams as a rookie, then took over as a starter last season. He's more comfortable now and is definitely a part of the Jaguars' long-term plans. -- Michael DiRocco

Sunday's upcoming game in Pittsburgh is shaping up as a huge measuring-stick contest for both teams. The Jaguars' win on Thursday -- their fourth straight -- gave them a pleasurable mini-bye, as a banged-up Trevor Lawrence got the job done, even if there are still some kinks to work out. The offense has shown a pattern of bogging down in the second half. Travis Etienne is on pace for a whopping 367 touches. Calvin Ridley has more games with three or fewer catches than with four or more. The defense has been too reliant on takeaways. But all that said, the Jaguars have righted the ship and are in pole position in the AFC South. If they weather this next stretch of games before and after the Week 9 bye, the division can be theirs again.

They've won four straight and still haven't looked great in doing so. The offense still isn't clicking all the way, but the signs are there that it's coming.

They won four games over a 19-day period. If they can notch their fourth win away from Jacksonville in the past five weeks, the Jags will be 6-2 for just the second time in their 29-season history.

One question: Is Trevor Lawrence elite?

The Jaguars' third-year quarterback has been good. He's 11th in the league in passer rating (92.8), and he was a just-fine 20-for-29 for 204 yards and one touchdown (and led Jacksonville in rushing with 59 yards) in beating the Saints this week, but Lawrence was drafted No. 1 in 2021 because he was supposed to be great. Granted, he's the only thing saving a 2021 quarterback class that also included Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones in the first 15 picks, but he still misses throws and makes reckless decisions. If Lawrence can be one of the true dudes in the league, it changes Jacksonville's outlook this year and into the future.

I feel like I might've been too harsh on the Jags in the wake of the win against the Saints. It was definitely ugly, don't get me wrong. But Trevor Lawrence fought through a knee sprain and went on the road in a short week to get a Thursday night win. The offense needs to be better, but maybe they will be once Lawrence has a chance to rest that knee. In the meantime, they're one of just two teams in the NFL riding a win streak longer than two games.

The only good thing from the Urban Meyer era might be that the Jaguars drafted Travis Etienne. Meyer wanted Kadarius Toney, of course, but Jacksonville got Etienne and he's having a monster season. He has 700 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in seven games, and is the most consistent performer in that Jaguars' offense.

Right now, the best team in Florida plays in Duval County. (Except when they play in London.)

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