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5 NFL teams under .500 that are better than their record

By John Buhler

December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrate after the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrate after the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates with wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates with wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are close and anybody that has either wide receiver Allen Robinson or quarterback Blake Bortles knows that. This passing game under offensive coordinator Greg Olson is on its way to becoming a top five aerial attack in the NFL. With a little better protection up front, Jacksonville could have one of the best offenses in the NFL as soon as 2016.

Owner Shahid Khan has put his trust in third-year head coach Gus Bradley for at least one more season. Though Bradley had not had a winning season in Jacksonville in his first three seasons in North Florida, his team is coming along nicely, despite having only a 5-10 record.

Jacksonville won’t pick in the top three in the 2016 NFL Draft, as their high-octane offense and cohesive defensive unit has gotten the Jaguars to a win total reminiscent of the final years of the Jack Del Rio era.

Expect Jacksonville to make one more big splash in free agency next spring. The Julius Thomas signing has been a key cog in the team’s overall improvement on offense. General manager David Caldwell should look in the defensive backfield, as Bradley’s front seven is further ahead of the secondary.

With a weak division in the AFC and a strong passing game, the Jaguars contended in the AFC South for the first time in years. Though they will finish probably 5-11, this is the best 5-11 team in the NFL. The Jaguars have direction and had this been year three or year four for Bortles instead of his second season as a starter, this team could have been 7-9, maybe even .500 in 2015.

Next: 2. Oakland Raiders

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