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After a surprising 2022 season where the Jaguars made it to the AFC divisional round, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, they will be looking to build upon last year’s success. This will be Doug Pederson’s second year as head coach and Trevor Lawrence will be going into his third season, where he had a breakout season last year in Pederson’s offense. Another year of stability and development of young talent with the addition of Calvin Ridley, who was suspended for all of 2022, the expectations are high for this year’s team. Can they live up to the hype? Let’s take a look at their schedule.
9/10 @ Indianapolis Colts (1:00 EST on FOX):
The Jaguars will be opening up the season on the road against a division rival. Usually, this would be a tough game to open up with, but the Colts have made major changes this offseason bringing in new head coach Shane Steichen and drafting rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. It’s not guaranteed for Richardson to start right away, but no matter who starts the first game, the Jaguars should open the season with a win on the road. 1-0
Win: 24-13
9/17 vs Kansas City Chiefs (1:00 EST on CBS):
After a big division win to start the season, the Jaguars go on the road to play the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The last time these two teams met was in the playoffs last season, and the Jaguars gave the Chiefs all they could handle. The Chiefs have a few positions they have replaced guys at, mainly the offensive line, so it could take some time for that unit to gel. This game being at Jacksonville, will be a tough road test for the Chiefs and I expect a close game but give the edge to the Chiefs in this one. 1-1
Loss: 28-23
9/24 vs Houston Texans (1:00 EST on FOX):
The Jaguars will face for the second time in the first three weeks another division opponent. This game will be at home and the Texans are in a rebuilding year with first time head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. Over the year the Texans could get better, but this early in the year I expect the Jaguars to win this game at home. 2-1
Win: 24-16
10/1 vs Atlanta Falcons (9:30 AM EST on ESPN+):
The first international game of the NFL season is game number four for the Jaguars, as they travel to London to “host” the Atlanta Falcons. The Jaguars are coming off a playoff year and are looking to improve on what they achieved last season. The Jaguars added Calvin Ridley to an offense that ranked ninth in points scored last season. The Jaguar offense will just be too much for a new-look defense who are still trying to gel, and the Jaguars win this one. 3-1
Win: 27-20
10/8 vs Buffalo Bills (9:30 AM EST on NFL Network):
For the second week in a row, the Jaguars play in London. This could be an advantage for the Jaguars staying there for a couple of weeks while the Bills will be flying in and having to get adjusted quickly to the time zone. The Bills made a few changes to their staff following last season, as head coach Sean McDermott will be taking over the defensive play calling duties for Leslie Fraizer. They have also added running back depth with the addition of Damien Harris and new starting offensive guard Connor McGovern. This should be a great game between two teams with high expectations this season, the Bills win this one, though. 3-2
Loss: 31-27
10/15 vs Indianapolis Colts (1:00 EST on CBS):
For the second time this season, the Jaguars will play the Colts, this time in Jacksonville. By this time of the season I expect Anthony Richardson to be the quarterback of the Colts, and he will have his struggles. Coming off the loss to the Bills, the Jaguars will be motivated to win and move to 3-0 in their division, which I think they do by winning this game pretty easily. 4-2
Win: 28-13
10/19 @ New Orleans Saints (8:15 PM EST on Prime Video):
The Jaguars have a short turnaround this week, playing on a Thursday night in New Orleans, which will be a struggle for the Jaguars having to travel on a short week. The Saints will have a new-look offense led by Derek Carr, with this being a short week and at New Orleans, this will be a tough game for the Jaguars to win. 4-3
Loss: 24-17
10/29 @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1:00 EST on CBS):
After the tough loss to New Orleans with the short week, they now get a few extra days rest for this game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game is also on the road, but the few days rest should make up for them having to travel. The Jaguars will want to stay above .500 and if the offensive line can protect Lawrence in this game they can win it, and they do get the win this week against Pittsburgh. 5-3
Win: 23-20
11/12 vs San Francisco 49ers (1:00 EST on FOX):
Coming off their bye week, the Jaguars will face one of their toughest opponents on their schedule in the 49ers. The 49ers have a question mark at quarterback to start the season, but they are a very tough, physical, and talented team and even though they are coming off a bye and playing at home, I think the 49ers physicality matches up well against the Jaguars and the 49ers win this game. 5-4
Loss: 23-16
11/19 vs Tennessee Titans (1:00 EST on CBS):
The Jaguars are at home again for a second week in a row and welcome in another division foe in the Titans. The Jaguars have had a lot of recent success against the Titans, and it will continue in this game, they are in need of a win, and they could take a comfortable lead in the division if they win this game. 6-4
Win: 21-16
11/26 @ Houston Texans (1:00 EST on CBS):
This could be a trap game for the Jaguars after beating a division opponent and the Bengals coming up the following week for Monday Night Football. If they don’t take the Texans seriously on the road, they could end up losing this game. They will probably look bad in this game, but they win in a very close game that should not be that close. 7-4
Win: 17-14
12/4 vs Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 EST on ESPN):
This will be one of the biggest games of the year for the Jaguars and their fans, playing against the Bengals at home for a Monday Night Football game. These two teams met two seasons ago in Lawrence’s rookie year in Cincinnati and the Bengals won pretty easily, I don’t think this game will be as easy as the last matchup, but I think the Bengals pull out a close win, spoiling the Jaguars Monday Night game. 7-5
Loss: 28-23
12/10 @ Cleveland Browns (1:00 EST on CBS)
After a tough Monday Night Football loss, the Jaguars hit the road to Cleveland to play the Browns. The big question with this game will be the play of quarterback Deshaun Watson, as it seems the Browns are going to try to be more of a pass happy team than have been the last couple of years. They have some weapons around Watson. It’s just a matter of if Watson will play like he did last season or with more time and reps, he will become the Watson of old. With that being said, I think the Jaguars will be the better team this year and in need of a win to stay in playoff contention, and they get the win this week. 8-5
Win: 24-20
12/17 vs Baltimore Ravens (8:20 EST on NBC):
Another AFC North team this week for the Jaguars, but this will be a tougher matchup for the Jaguars due to the physicality of the Ravens. The Ravens will have a new offensive coordinator, but by this team in the season they should have all of the kinks worked out and as long as Jackson stays healthy and plays this game, the Ravens will win it. 8-6
Loss: 24-19
12/24 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:05 EST on CBS):
Coming up on the final stretch of the regular season, the Jaguars travel to Tampa. Quarterback is the biggest question mark for the Buccaneers this year after the retirement of Tom Brady, there will be a quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. With a playoff spot looming, the Jaguars will be up for this game and are just the better team this year and win this game. 9-6
Win: 24-13
12/31 vs Carolina Panthers (1:00 EST on CBS)
The Jaguars final home game of the season is against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers will be starting rookie quarterback Bryce Young and even though they are playing them later in the year, I don’t expect much from this Panthers team this season. This also could be a week where a win will lock them into a playoff spot, the Jaguars win this game. 10-6
Win: 27-17
1/7 @ Tennessee Titans (TBD)
This will be interesting because the Jaguars will probably have the division and playoff spot locked up by this point. Unless seeding is a factor for the Jaguars, I can see the Jaguars resting some starters or at the very least resting Trevor Lawrence. For that reason, the Titans win this game. 10-7
Final Prediction: 10-7 (Make the Playoffs)
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