While few saw the Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell predicted the winning score last week.
It’s been a really good year for Calais Campbell and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Godfather of Sacksonville just might be NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Then again, it could very well go to one of this teammates in the dynamic cornerback duo that is Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye.
In its first year back in the AFC playoffs since 2007, Jacksonville has rattled off a pair of wins at home over the Buffalo Bills and on the road against the favored Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s been such a good year for Campbell and the Jaguars, he just seriously predicted the winning score over Pittsburgh.
He said 45-42 to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero last week in the EverBank Field locker room after Jacksonville’s 10-3 over the No. 6 Bills. Yes, he also said 2-0 was a possibility, but Campbell seriously said 45-42! No way!
Nobody saw a 45-42 #Jaguars win over the #Steelers. Nobody ... except Calais Campbell, who reminded me what he told me after last week’s game. This is so weird @Campbell93 pic.twitter.com/QifCN5AuSc
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2018
Campbell had a career high 14.5 sacks. He earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl and made his first All-Pro team with the 2017 Jaguars. Campbell had three tackles and three assists against the Bills last Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. On Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, Campbell had two tackles, both solo.
While his teammates on both sides of the ball have played well in the AFC playoffs, Campbell is the leader of this potentially great all-time defense. The Godfather of Sacksonville and his on-the-rise AFC South defensive juggernaut will have to play the Evil Empire that is the No. 1 New England Patriots in Foxborough in the 2017 AFC Championship next Sunday afternoon.
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This will be the third AFC Championship in Jaguars history. The previous two AFC title bouts happened in the late 1990s when Tom Coughlin was their head coach. Jacksonville has lost one title bout to the Patriots back in 1996. The other came to the division rival Tennessee Titans in 1999. However, there is something different about this group. Could they knock of New England? Well, they just beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, so you never know.