After a disastrous first-team outing against the Cincinnati Bengals in Preseason Week 3, there was legitimate concern whether the Jacksonville Jaguars could compete against the better teams in the NFL. That concern carried over to the first game of the 2016 season.
Fortunately, the Jags made sure those concerns weren’t legitimized, playing the Green Bay Packers close throughout the game en route to a last-second 23-27 loss. That failed fourth down pass to Allen Hurns ended the game and the Jags’ chance of a surprise upset, but it can’t end the optimism this game provides.
Against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers – a team that is a contender each and every year – the Jaguars played like they belonged.