Entering the 2017 campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the league's perennial punchline, carrying a miserable 3–13 record from the previous year and a decade-long playoff drought. But after promoting Doug Marrone to permanent head coach and bringing in Tom Coughlin as executive vice president, the franchise underwent a total identity shift. Defying all expectations, Jacksonville rode a wave of defensive dominance to finish 10–6, claiming their first-ever AFC South division crown. The ultimate outcome was an exhilarating, out-of-nowhere deep postseason run that ended just one victory short of the grandest stage in American sports.

To compensate for Blake Bortles limitations under center, the offense committed entirely to a punishing, run-heavy formula. The blueprint succeeded, as the Jaguars led the entire NFL in rushing attempts and rushing yards. Top rookie draft pick Leonard Fournette was the engine, hammering his way to 1,040 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. When Bortles dropped back, he operated with decent efficiency, throwing for 3,687 yards and 21 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. Complementary skill players like Keelan Cole and Marqise Lee made timely plays downfield, lifting the unit to fifth in the league with 417 total points (26.1 ppg).

The real story of the season was the terrifying defensive unit known as ‘Sacksonville’. Coordinated by Todd Wash, this group ended the year ranked second in points allowed (16.8 ppg) and total yards allowed. The relentless pass rush was sparked by massive free-agent signing Calais Campbell, who amassed a staggering 14.5 sacks, alongside Yannick Ngakoue's 12.0 sacks. Opposing quarterbacks were forced into a premier secondary anchored by first-team All-Pro Jalen Ramsey and fellow free-agent prize A.J. Bouye, who snatched a team-high six interceptions. The defense fundamentally changed games, leading the league in passing yards allowed and registering a remarkable 33 total takeaways.

The team set the tone in Week 1 by terrorizing the Houston Texans with a franchise-record ten sacks in a 29–7 statement victory. A midseason four-game winning streak cemented their status as true contenders, highlighted by a dominant performance against the Indianapolis Colts where they forced a shut-out. Ben Roethlisberger was forced into five interceptions in a week 5 matchup which the team won 30-9. While late-season road stumbles against the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans raised concerns about their consistency, the Jaguars proved their regular-season resilience by consistently bouncing back after tough losses.

In the postseason, the Jaguars squeezed past the Buffalo Bills 10–3 before winning a legendary 45–42 shootout against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Their magical run finally collapsed in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, where a fourth-quarter lead vanished in a heartbreaking 24–20 defeat. Though it was a brief window of excellence, the historical legacy of this 2017 squad remains intact. They earned massive recognition, with Campbell finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, ensuring ‘Sacksonville’ a permanent place in Jacksonville lore.