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Save your jokes - the Jaguars are a legit threat to Patriots' throne

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

First impressions are often toxic. They can puncture friendships, relationships, and job opportunities if acted upon, underscoring a series of unpleasant interactions in the future.

This axiom is perfectly applied to the public perception of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars were one of the NFL's punchlines before rational observers adjusted their expectations to reflect the terrifying force their defense evolved into. Now, even after beating the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers in consecutive weeks, the Jaguars are still relegated to a legion of tweets denouncing their legitimacy.

But the Jaguars are no longer pathetic and have earned more than your condescension, even with the juggernaut New England Patriots standing in the way of their first Super Bowl appearance.

Let's start with Blake Bortles. Bortles finished 14 of 26 for 214 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions during Sunday's 45-42 victory. Armed with an excellent running game, spearheaded by Leonard Fournette (109 yards, three touchdowns), and a defense that ranks either first or second in almost every major statistical category (with the exception of rushing yards per game), Bortles doesn't need to be Tom Brady. He doesn't need to be Drew Brees. Bortles has been significantly better than his reputation suggests, which is all the Jaguars need.

Framing the AFC Championship Game as a matchup between Bortles and Brady is erroneous logic, to begin with, and discounts the rest of the Jaguars' strengths. It may create a series of reductionist graphics outlining Brady's greatest-of-all-time career juxtaposed against Bortles' first playoff campaign, but it undersells the complexity of the matchup entirely.

Let's be clear: the Patriots should and will be heavy favorites to advance to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years and will be a near-unanimous pick to defend their title. But presenting the Jaguars as an overmatched, wounded duck entering Foxboro Stadium would be doing a disservice to this year's upstart.

Bortles and the Jaguars will be challenged offensively against a Patriots squad that finished fifth in scoring defense (18.5 points allowed per game) despite being roasted early in the season. The Patriots employ three savvy defensive backs in Stephon Gilmore, Malcolm Butler, and Devin McCourty, while Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom have shored up their dormant pass rush.

But the Jaguars have an ace up their sleeve in their star running back. Fournette has been destined for greatness since his ballyhooed high school career in New Orleans and the No. 4 overall pick could cap off an outstanding rookie year by leading the Jaguars past the Patriots. Jacksonville led the NFL with 2,262 rushing yards and it matches up well against a New England club that surrendered 4.7 yards per carry, which was the second-worst total in the league. If the Jaguars get an early lead, look for them to exploit one of their lone advantages by drilling the Patriots on the ground.

On the other side of the ball, tackle Malik Jackson was named to the Pro Bowl, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue recorded 12 sacks, and Calais Campbell may win Defensive Player of the Year. Jacksonville can send numerous bodies after Brady and wear him down throughout the game. This strategy famously worked for the 2007 and 2011 New York Giants during their Super Bowl triumphs and the Jaguars employ the personnel to repeat that.

Telvin Smith and Myles Jack have been outstanding during the Jaguars' two playoff wins and both will be integral against the Patriots. Smith has the coverage ability to matchup against Rob Gronkowski while safety Tashaun Gipson's elite recovery speed will be an asset in the event the linebacker gets overwhelmed. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are the league's best cornerback tandem, both earning Pro Bowl honors while the latter surrendered his first touchdown of the year on Sunday - to Antonio Brown, no less. Ramsey and Bouye are perhaps the only pairing in the league capable of truly neutralizing Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, and Co., a notion that ought to trouble the meticulous Patriots staff.

If you haven't watched the Jaguars this year, Sunday's game should give you ample reason to tune in, especially with a young defense teeming with athleticism, speed, and open-field hitting ability. If you have, you ought to know the "LOL, Bortles" era is dead.

The Jaguars knew how good they were from the outset. They've known all along that first impressions are for suckers.

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