Florida’s three NFL teams head into the 2026 season with three different blueprints, and that’s what makes the state such a fascinating watch. The Dolphins are leaning into speed.
The Buccaneers are banking on execution and pressure. The Jaguars are trying to keep their AFC South momentum rolling after last season’s division title.
For Miami, the identity starts with how fast the offense can go and how many ways it can stress a defense. The Dolphins want explosive plays from all over the formation, and that means the margins matter: staying on schedule, keeping possession, and avoiding the kind of stalled drives that can bog down a game against strong divisional fronts.
De’Von Achane is a key piece in that plan. His burst makes him dangerous on the edge, and his work as a receiver gives Miami another way to create problems for linebackers and defensive backs.
Jaylen Wright adds depth in the backfield and gives the Dolphins a different running style to mix in.
The passing game gives Miami more layers to work with. Malik Washington can help in the intermediate areas and underneath, while Jalen Tolbert offers another option who can stretch coverage. The Dolphins’ offense is going to be judged on how well those pieces connect - protecting the ball, sustaining drives, and turning third downs into first downs.
Tampa Bay’s attack is built a little differently. The Buccaneers come into the year with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and a skill group that blends experience with youth.
That combination gives Tampa Bay a chance to attack defenses in multiple ways, but it still starts up front. Strong offensive line play will be a major factor as Mayfield works through NFC South opponents.
Chris Godwin Jr. brings a steady veteran presence to the receiving corps, and Emeka Egbuka adds another wrinkle to the passing game. Godwin’s route-running fits naturally on shorter and intermediate throws, while Egbuka gives the Buccaneers a player who can challenge defenses deeper downfield. That mix gives Mayfield different answers depending on what the coverage looks like.
The other side of the ball matters just as much in Tampa Bay’s case. The Buccaneers are built to create pressure, with Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby among the players who can get after the quarterback.
If that pressure shows up consistently, it can shorten the clock for opposing passers and help the secondary. Tampa Bay also has to hold up against the run.
Forcing longer third downs would put the pass rush in position to do more damage, and that’s a key area to watch through the division schedule.
Jacksonville enters the season with a different kind of confidence after winning the AFC South last year, and Liam Coen now leads the team into 2026. Trevor Lawrence remains the centerpiece of the offense, and the Jaguars are aiming for consistency through the passing game while keeping turnovers down. Red-zone efficiency could matter a lot in the tight games that tend to shape a division race.
Brian Thomas Jr. gives Lawrence a downfield threat who can create plays beyond the short game, while Jakobi Meyers offers a reliable target when Jacksonville needs to keep the chains moving. The two receivers bring different strengths, and that gives Lawrence options when defenses start changing looks.
On defense, Jacksonville is counting on its edge rush to set the tone. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker headline that group, and both can pressure quarterbacks from the outside. That kind of pressure affects how offenses build protection and how they try to develop passing plays.
The challenge for the Jaguars is getting that rush without leaving the back end exposed. If Jacksonville can generate pressure with the front four, it can let the secondary stay focused on receivers and tight ends. That balance will be a major part of how the Jaguars navigate another tough AFC South slate.
Three teams, three directions. Miami is chasing offensive speed and versatility.
Tampa Bay is built around veteran quarterback play, young playmakers, and a defense that wants to bring heat. Jacksonville is trying to carry last season’s division success into another year with Lawrence and a group that can impact games on both sides of the ball.
In Other News...
Jaguars Rookies Already Face A Week 3 Reality Check
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos was a sharp reminder that early-season momentum can disappear fast, especially for a young roster trying to settle in. Jacksonville had led 13-3 before things slipped away, and head coach Liam Coen spent the week stressing the same point to the rookies: keep the focus on the next game, not on the disappointment behind them. For a group still trying to earn trust and find a foothold, every snap and every inactive list decision carries extra weight.
Several newcomers felt that reality in Denver, where Wesley Williams, Tanner Koziol, Jalen Huskey and CJ Williams were healthy scratches, while undrafted rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. got his NFL debut. Others, including Albert Regis, Josh Cameron and Nate Boerkircher, had different levels of involvement as the staff mixed and matched roles on the fly. It is the kind of early-season sorting process that can change quickly, but for these rookies, Week 3 already looks like another test of how much they can handle and how soon they can help. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got A Reality Check Fans Can't Ignore
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos was more than a bad finish, it was the kind of setback that forces a quick reality check. Jacksonville had a 10-point second-half lead and still walked away empty-handed, a result that stings even more in September when early momentum can shape the rest of the season.
Liam Coen has already stressed accountability and a strong response moving forward, and now the question is how this team handles the fallout. National power rankings have taken notice, too, nudging Jacksonville just outside the top 10 and reflecting how fragile the margin can be when a promising start slips away. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Already Look Like Contenders But One Doubt Still Lingers
The Jaguars still have the look of a team built to stay in the AFC race, even after a Week 2 loss did little to shake their place in the broader contender conversation. They remain ranked No. 10 in a Super Bowl contender power ranking, with the praise centered on strong coaching and steady quarterback play, two pillars that usually keep a team relevant deep into the season.
Still, the placement also serves as a reminder that Jacksonville has not fully erased every question around its ceiling. A loss this early does not change the bigger picture, but it does keep the pressure on a roster that has to prove it can stack wins the way the leagues more established contenders do. [Read more 🡒]