What happened to the Jaguars? Lions' upcoming opponent has gone from team on the rise back to NFL's cellar

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Allen Park — The last time the Detroit Lions played the Jacksonville Jaguars, the game was a bloodbath. While the leadup to the Dec. 2022 matchup focused on similarities between two franchises working toward transitioning from upstart to contender, the Lions scored at least seven points each quarter of the 40-14 blowout victory.

Unlike the present day, where opponents struggle with a hangover the week after playing the Lions, the 2022 humbling sparked a five-game winning streak for the Jaguars. The fifth and final victory, to end the regular season, earned them a division title. From there, they went on to pull off a remarkable 27-point, come-from-behind victory in the opening round of the playoffs before being dispatched by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Jaguars repeated the 9-8 record the following season but stumbled in the season finale against the Tennessee Titans with a second consecutive AFC South crown on the line, costing them a postseason berth altogether.

After offseason adjustments that included a defensive coordinator change, Jacksonville likely expected to be back in the playoff hunt this season. Instead, they’ve been one of the league’s worst teams, currently on track to select No. 1 overall in next April's draft with a 2-8 record.

How’d the Jaguars reach this point ahead of Sunday’s game with the Lions? Let’s explore.