Highlighting the toughest games on the 2024 NFL schedule for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars have the 14th easiest schedule for the 2024 season, but the NFL did little favors for Jacksonville to start the year. The Jaguars start the season with four teams that made the playoffs last year, with four of the first six games on the road. It will be imperative for the Jaguars to start strong or the wheels may come off very early in the season.
The Jaguars have re-signed Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen this offseason, so the cornerstones on each side should be happy in 2024. The wide receiver room is remade with Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis. The team will look to push the ball down the field more and hope that Trevor can stay healthy. The defense is changing the scheme and brought in some new blood in the secondary to help out a back end that was getting torched the second half of the season.
The Jaguars were the favorite in the AFC South before the 2023 season but the division has a different outlook just a year later. The Houston Texans are the favorite and many have big expectations of the Indianapolis Colts with a healthy Anthony Richardson. The Jaguars are going to have to be the underdog and prove people wrong after their collapse in 2023. It is a huge year for Doug Pederson and Lawrence to show the team is ready to take the next step and compete amongst the best in the AFC. Let’s take a look at the toughest games for the Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 schedule.
Three Toughest Games on the Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 Schedule
Week 4 – Houston Texans
The Jaguars will have back-to-back road games against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night and then the following Sunday against the rival Texans. As mentioned previously, this will be the fourth straight game to start the season against playoff teams. The Jaguars have to somehow come out of that stretch with at least two wins. A short week against the team they are looking to beat out for the division title will be a tall task.
Last year, C.J. Stroud destroyed the Jaguars with 584 passing yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. They split the series, but the Jaguars’ defense struggled to contain the passing attack. The Texans’ offense is better on paper with the acquisitions of Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. A week after dealing with Josh Allen they will have another tough test, but with a different type of quarterback. The remade secondary will have an early test against the talented trio of receivers from the Texans.
The two matchups in 2023 combined for 99 points, so another shootout seems likely. The key will be who can run the ball most effectively and avoid costly turnovers. This matchup could be who has the ball last at the end of the game. I hate to say it is a must win so early but for confidence, it may be for the Jaguars.
Week 9 – Philadelphia Eagles
This is another matchup where it is two tough games in a row. The Jaguars get the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 8, and then have to travel to Philadelphia the next week. The defense does not get a break in those games, as both teams have dual threat quarterbacks and very good rushing attacks. This will be the fifth road game for the Jaguars by the midway point in the season.
The Eagles upgraded at running back by bringing in Saquon Barkley. His addition will make a very tough for opposing defenses when it comes to defending RPOs. The Jaguars defense will have to be disciplined; and this is a game that Travon Walker has to have a big effect on. He is the better run defender on the edge and will have to make the correct decisions to funnel Jalen Hurts or Barkley to the rest of the pursuing defenders.
The Philadelphia defense was subpar last year, but under new coaching should be improved. They arguably drafted two of the top four cornerbacks in this year’s draft. Because of that, it will be important for Lawrence to be careful with the ball and not give away possessions.
I am not sure the Jaguars’ defense can sustain defending short fields against this explosive Eagles’ offense. This is not a must-win game like the Texans matchup, but the Jaguars cannot get blown out. They need to show they can be competitive on the road against one of the better teams in the NFC.
Week 17 – Tennessee Titans
There were other games that I contemplated here, especially the Detroit Lions before the bye week. However, this game seems too important; and there is the history of the Jaguars struggling against the Titans.
The Jaguars fell flat on their face in Week 18 last season against a Titans team that only had pride to play for. They play each other in Tennessee in Week 14, a game that could prove tougher than expected. The Jaguars cannot afford to be swept by the Titans in their last home game of the regular season.
The Titans are undergoing quite a few changes this upcoming year but are looking to still remain competitive. Derrick Henry is gone and the offense will have a new focal point. The running game has more slashing types with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. While Will Levis still has a lot to prove, Tennessee gave him the weapons to succeed by adding Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
The Titans defense should be much improved as well, bringing in Kenneth Murray, L’Jarius Sneed, and Chidobe Awuzie. I am not sure the Jaguars will be able to score enough to win a shootout against the Titans. Because of that, the defense will have to keep this game low scoring. They cannot afford to let a middle of the road quarterback like Levis, pick them apart.
Brandon Haye
Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.