2018 NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Los Angeles Rams crush Oakland Raiders 33-13

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Do the Jacksonville Jaguars have what it takes to be one of the top contenders in the AFC for a second year in a row as a result of a strong defense? After years of struggling to live up to the hype, the Jaguars finally came through last season by winning the AFC South, and were even on the verge of reaching the Super Bowl before blowing a 10-point lead in the AFC Championship.

Once again, Jacksonville’s defense is going to be key in the success surrounding the team for 2018, and seeing them hold the New York Giants to just 15 points when seeing how effective Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. were for the most part was a positive sign. However, if the Jaguars truly want to continue being a top contender in the AFC, Blake Bortles could be the true difference maker.

The Jaguars quarterback deserves credit for not losing his cool when Leonard Fournette was forced to leave Sunday’s game, and it will be interesting to see if Bortles can continue developing the necessary chemistry with his younger receivers moving forward. If that does end up happening, Jacksonville will be in solid shape as an overall team.