Jaguars vs. Washington 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online

The post-RGIII era begins.

Sep 3, 2015, 2:11 PM UTC

If you buy something from a link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington were two franchises headed in opposite directions. Though that technically remains true, the fortunes for each team have reversed.

The Jaguars don't expect to contend for at least another few years, but there might finally be reason for optimism in Jacksonville. After a middling rookie campaign, second-year quarterback Blake Bortles has played well this preseason. Certainly, a player's performance in exhibition games doesn't necessarily translate to the regular season, but Bortles looks comfortable and confident on the field, a far cry from the poise he displayed in 2014. Given that the team invested the No. 3 overall pick in the quarterback, his Year 2 strides represent a welcome development.

But while Bortles is trending in a positive direction, Washington's Robert Griffin III has plummeted over the past two seasons. Griffin made believers out of the Washington faithful following an Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning campaign in 2012, one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history. However, a torn ACL (his second since high school) and the breakdown of his relationship with then-head coach Mike Shanahan sent the organization in a tailspin. When it emerged, Jay Gruden had replaced Shanahan, a move that irreparably harmed Griffin's career.

Unlike Shanahan, Gruden refused to cater his offensive scheme towards Griffin's strengths. Rather than freeing the former Heisman winner to work outside the pocket, the new Washington coach attempted to remake his quarterback as a traditional drop-back passer. When that inevitably didn't work, Gruden spent the latter part of the 2014 season admonishing his pupil through the media. Though the team retained Griffin for the 2015 season (picking up his fifth-year option in the process), the coaching staff never seemed committed to giving him another run. Instead, Gruden named Kirk Cousins the starter for the entire season in advance of the team's preseason finale.

So while Griffin’s exit is a matter of when, not if, Cousins gets a chance to show Washington and the rest of the league whether he can handle the rigors associated with the No. 1 quarterback job. Cousins arrived in D.C. with Griffin as part of the same draft class, but the former was initially considered an investment that might turn into a trade chip. When Griffin regressed after 2012, Cousins’ stature began to rise. Both his current and former head coaches have expressed confidence in his abilities. Cousins must prove a lot of doubters wrong, but he finally gets his chance now that Griffin is effectively removed from the situation.

The Jaguars and Washington are trending in opposite directions at other positions as well. In D.C., the offensive line has struggled mightily, contributing to the concussion Griffin suffered in his last preseason appearance. While the Jaguars' line still must improve as well, offseason additions like Jermey Parnell and Stefen Wisniewski provide the unit a needed influx of talent and depth. Jacksonville also made meaningful additions to the defense with defensive lineman Jared Odrick and cornerback Davon House while Washington lost one of its top pass rushers in Brian Orakpo.