Important lessons learned from KC Chiefs victory over Jaguars
By Matt Conner
It’s always been about the top trio
Not to slight the Jacksonville Jaguars because they deserve plenty of credit for making it this far. In fact, Doug Pederson’s first season as head coach should be considered a great success. That said, there was a reason why no one was talking about them before or during the season as one of the AFC’s top teams. They’re just not ready.
Instead, the conversation before and during the regular season has been all about the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Cincinnati Bengals as the power trio atop the AFC.
Coming into the season, the Chiefs were the most successful team of the last five years with the league’s best player coming into his prime. The Bengals were the defending champs and deserved the respect that came with it. Beyond those two, the Bills had the most talent, on paper, front to back of any roster in the league.
Fast forward to the postseason and we’re seeing those predictions come true for good reason. The quarterbacks are elite. The teams are well-coached. The rosters are built to withstand the rigors of the regular season. The front offices can draft well and minimize financial mistakes.
In time, the Jaguars might be able to stay in step with these AFC powers, but it takes time to build that kind of depth on both sides of the ball and for an organization to develop that culture and communication. For now, however, this year was all about three teams in the AFC and the Divisional Round wasn’t going to change that.