Jaguars on pace to break single-season sack record after shutout of Colts
The post-Gus Bradley Jacksonville Jaguars defense has a lot to be excited about.
After recording 10 sacks in a 27-0 rout of the Jacoby Brissett-led Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Jaguars have 33 sacks this season, giving them a good chance to topple an NFL record set by the '84 Chicago Bears. A unit largely built via shrewd free-agent acquisitions and a few top draft picks over the past two offseasons is on pace to finish this year's campaign with a whopping 75 sacks - surpassing the Bears' 72.
Safeties Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church, along with ex-Texan AJ Bouye, have proven key cogs in a stingy Jacksonville secondary that also includes homegrown corners Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Colvin. However, a third-ranked pass defense is not built on solid coverage specialists alone. The unit's front seven has looked just as fearsome - if not more so - through seven weeks, with last year's Denver import Malik Jackson, ageless wonder Calais Campbell, and sophomores Dante Fowler, Yannick Ngakoue, and Myles Jack all getting to the quarterback at least once Sunday.
The blossoming defense will look to build on its run when the Jaguars host the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks.