If not for the their 31st-ranked defense, we would be hearing a lot more about the Jaguars as an up-and-coming playoff hopeful in a wide open AFC South.
Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson led a breakout offense that scored 376 points, the second-most by any Jacksonville squad this century.
Among the Jaguars' 11 losses were games in which they scored 25, 27, 31 and 39 points.
While the defense desperately needs impact players up front and in the secondary, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes the talented young offense is already set up for long-term success.
"I think this offense is poised to be one of the best offenses in the National Football League," Jeremiah said on Wednesday's edition of the Move The Sticks Podcast.
Bortles set single-season franchise records for passing yards (4,428) and passing touchdowns (35), leading all NFL quarterbacks with 72 completions of 20 or more yards.
Allen Robinson emerged as a dangerous downfield playmaker, setting a new franchise mark with 14 receiving touchdowns while pacing the NFL with 31 receptions of 20 or more yards. A true alpha dog, Robinson wins at the catch point with size, length and superior leaping ability.
Robinson wasn't alone. Complementary receiver Allen Hurns had the league's longest touchdown streak, scoring in seven consecutive games.
Wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan told NFL Media's Jeff Darlington last November that Hurns' work ethic and toughness compare to Anquan Boldin's. That is lofty praise considering Larry Fitzgerald has cited Boldin as "the toughest dude I've ever met in my life."
While Marqise Lee and Rashad Greene remain questions marks as the third and fourth receivers, versatile tailback T.J. Yeldon showed enough promise as a rookie to draw Le'Veon Bell comparisons.
It's a credit to general manager David Caldwell and offensive coordinator Greg Olson that the Jaguars have assembled such a promising young nucleus in the past two years.
If this offense is going to join the ranks of the league's elite, they need more consistency at offensive tackle, a breakout season from Lee and a bigger role for tight end Julius Thomas.
Perhaps most importantly, they need another year of development from Bortles. Already one of the most fun quarterbacks to watch, Bortles must continue to improve his decision making, avoid backbreaking turnovers and gain more accuracy on shorter throws.
If all that comes to fruition in 2016, we could end up witnessing the highest-scoring offense in franchise history.
