JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser takes a week-by-week look at the Jaguars' 2024 schedule, which was announced Wednesday night by the NFL

Week 1 | September 8

Miami Dolphins (11-6, 2023 second in AFC East) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: What's a safe prediction these days? That the Jaguars will open the season outside Jacksonville. This marks the fourth consecutive season the Jaguars have opened on the road. They opened at the Houston Texans in 2021, at the Washington Commanders in 2022 and at the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 with their victory over the Colts snapping a two-game season-opening losing streak. The '24 opener marks the beginning of a difficult early-season schedule for the Jaguars, with their first four games against 2023 postseason teams and their first five games against teams with winning records last season. Three of the first four games are on the road. The Dolphins likely will enter 2024 as a postseason and AFC East favorite – and will be a test for the Jaguars' defense under first-year coordinator Ryan Nielsen. The Dolphins led the NFL in total yards and were second in points in 2023. The Jaguars lead the series 6-5 and are 2-1 on the road against the Dolphins.

Week 2 | September 15

Cleveland Browns (11-6, 2023 second in AFC North) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is the second game in what appears to be a difficult stretch to start the season, and it's the Jaguars' only 2024 regular-season game against the AFC North. The Browns were one of the AFC's best teams in the second half of 2023, qualifying for the postseason as a wild-card entrant with a four-game late-season winning streak that began with a Week 14 31-27 victory over the Jaguars in Cleveland. That was part of a late-season slide for the Jaguars in which they lost five of six games. This is one of just two games for the Jaguars in Jacksonville in the first seven weeks of the season. The Jaguars lead the all-time series 12-7 and are 5-4 against the Browns in Jacksonville.

Week 3 | September 23

Buffalo Bills (11-6, 2023 first in AFC East) at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., 7:30 p.m., ESPN

• Breakdown: This is the second road game in three weeks for the Jaguars to start the season, their first game of the season against a 2023 division champion, and the third consecutive game to start the season against a team with a winning record in '23. The Bills have been the AFC's most consistent team in the last half decade other than two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City; they have won the past four AFC East titles, have made five consecutive postseason appearances and have been in the playoffs six of the last seven seasons. They are a strong team with quarterback Josh Allen, but one in transition with multiple key skill players leaving this offseason. The Jaguars lead the series 10-9 and have won the last two meetings, including a 25-20 victory over the Bills in 2023 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. This is the first of two scheduled prime-time games for the Jaguars in 2024, with the next being a November 3 Sunday Night Football game at Philadelphia.

Week 4 | September 29

Houston Texans (10-7, 2023 first in AFC South) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is an early-season matchup to watch. It's not only the first matchup of the season against the first- and second-place teams in the AFC South last season, it's the Jaguars' first AFC South game of the season – and their fourth consecutive game to start the season against a team with a winning record last season. The teams split the season series in 2023, with the Texans winning 37-17 in Jacksonville in Week 3 and the Jaguars winning 24-21 in Houston in Week 12. The Texans are an early favorite of many observers to contend for a second consecutive AFC South title, with second-year veteran C.J. Stroud widely considered one of the NFL's top young quarterbacks. The Texans lead the all-time series 29-15 and lead the series in Houston, 15-7.

Week 5 | October 6

Indianapolis Colts (9-8, 2023 third in AFC South) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: The difficult early-season stretch continues. This is the Jaguars' fifth consecutive game to start the 2024 against a team with a winning record in 2023. It's also the second AFC South game in as many weeks. The Colts, like Houston, are widely considered a rising team in the division after finishing tied with the Jaguars one game behind Houston in the AFC South in 2023. A major storyline to watch for the Colts entering 2024: The return of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft who missed the last 12 games of the season because of a shoulder injury. The Colts lead the all-time series 27-19, with the Jaguars 13-10 at home in the series. The Colts last won in Jacksonville in 2014 and the Jaguars have won nine consecutive home games in the series.

Week 6 | October 13

Chicago Bears (7-10, 2023 fourth in NFC North) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network

• Breakdown: This is the Jaguars' first game of the season against a team with a losing record in 2023, but that doesn't make it easy. The Bears selected Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with a selection acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. The Bears also finished last season strong, winning five of the last eight games with their only losses in that span to three playoff teams (Detroit, Cleveland and Green Bay). This road game is the first of back-to-back games for the Jaguars in London in 2024, with the Jaguars playing a home game at Wembley Stadium against New England the following week. The Bears lead the all-time series, 5-3.

Week 7 | October 20

New England Patriots (4-13, 2023 fourth in AFC East) at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network

• Breakdown: This is the second of the Jaguars' back-to-back games in London, marking the second consecutive year the Jaguars have played two games – one away and one home – there. The Jaguars went 2-0 in London last season, beating the Atlanta Falcons 23-7 at Wembley and the Bills 25-20 at Hotspur. The game at Wembley against the Patriots marks the second game in as many weeks against a team with a losing record last season after five consecutive games to start the season against teams with winning records in '23. The Patriots enter the season considered in rebuilding mode. Their 4-13 record was their worst since 1992, and the franchise parted ways with longtime and future Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Belichick after last season. This marks the first season with Jerod Mayo as head coach, with the Patriots selecting North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots lead the all-time series, 12-2, with the Jaguars' only regular-season victory in the series coming in Jacksonville, 31-20, in September 2018.

Week 8 | October 27

Green Bay Packers (9-8, 2023 second in NFC North) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., FOX

• Breakdown: This is the Jaguars' second game in a month around back-to-back games in London – and it figures to be an important game. After two games against teams with losing records in '23, this marks the sixth game of the '24 against a team that finished above .500 last season – and the Packers very much appear on the rise entering 2024. Quarterback Jordan Love, the No. 26 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, emerged as one of the NFC's best young quarterbacks in 2024 and led the Packers to the postseason with six victories in their last eight regular season games. The Packers lead the all-time series 5-2 and 3-1 in Jacksonville. The Jaguars' lone victory in Jacksonville in the series came in December 2008, 20-16.

Week 9 | November 3

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, 2023 second in NFC East) at Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pa., 8:20 p.m., NBC

• Breakdown: This is a second consecutive tough matchup following the Jaguars' two weeks in London, with the Eagles playing in the Super Bowl following the 2022 season and qualifying for the postseason as a wild-card team last season. This game also marks the second regular-season matchup for Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson against the team he coached to a Super Bowl victory following the 2017 season. The Eagles beat the Jaguars, 29-21, in Philadelphia in 2022 in Pederson's fourth game as the Jaguars' head coach. The Eagles lead the all-time series 4-3 and lead the series 2-1 in Philadelphia. This is the Jaguars' lone game against the NFC North in 2024, with the game being played because both teams finished second in their respective divisions last season.

Week 10 | November 10

Minnesota Vikings (7-10, 2023 third in NFC North) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., FOX

• Breakdown: The Jaguars' long midseason stretch outside the AFC and AFC South continues with the third game of a four-week stretch against a team from the NFC. The Vikings enter 2024 in something of a transition, with long-time quarterback Kirk Cousins having signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an unrestricted free agent. The Vikings, a consistent franchise whose 7-10 record in 2023 was its worst since 2013, selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings lead the series 6-1, 2-0 in Jacksonville. The Jaguars' lone victory in the series came 33-3 in Minneapolis in 2001.

Week 11 | November 17

Detroit Lions (12-5, 2023 first in NFC North) at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is yet another difficult matchup for the Jaguars in 2024 – and it's a fourth consecutive game against an NFC team. The Lions are one of three Jaguars opponents in 2024 who won their division in 2023, with the Lions an emerging NFC power and a favorite to repeat as NFC North champions after last season winning their first division title since 1993. This is a resurgent franchise that tied the franchise record for victories in a single season in 2024. The Lions lead the all-time series 5-3 and lead the series in Detroit 3-1.

Week 12 | November 24

Bye

Week 13 | December 1

Houston Texans (10-7, 2023 first in AFC South) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., FOX

• Breakdown: The Jaguars' late-season, post-bye stretch opens with what figures to be key matchup in the AFC South. With the teams splitting the season series, and with each team winning on the road, 2023 perhaps set the stage for Jaguars-Texans to be a division-defining rivalry. This also marks the beginning of a late-season stretch in which the Jaguars play four AFC South games in six weeks. The Texans have won the last six matchups in Jacksonville, with the Jaguars' last home victory in the series coming in their 2017 AFC South championship season, 45-7.

Week 14 | December 8

Tennessee Titans (6-11, 2023 fourth in AFC South) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is the Jaguars' second division game in as many weeks, but it's their first matchup of the season against the Titans. The longtime rivalry has added history in recent seasons, with the Jaguars eliminating the Titans from the postseason in the 2022 regular-season finale and the Titans eliminating the Jaguars from the postseason in the 2023 regular-season finale. The Jaguars had had the recent edge in the series before a 28-20 Week 18 loss in Nashville, winning three consecutive games in the series for the first time since 2005-2006. The Titans enter the season in transition, with Head Coach Brian Callahan entering his first season after the franchise parted ways in January with Head Coach Mike Vrabel. Running back Derrick Henry long the core of the franchise's identity, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in March. The Titans lead the series 35-24 and lead the series 19-10 in Nashville.

Week 15 | December 15

New York Jets (7-10, 2023 third in AFC East) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., FOX

• Breakdown: This is the second game in a four-game late-season stretch for the Jaguars against teams with losing records in 2024, with the Jets turning in a solid 7-10 record in 2023 despite losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the season in the regular-season opener. With Rodgers returning, and with the Jets featuring one of the NFL's top defenses, many consider the Jets a possibility to push for the postseason and perhaps the AFC East title. The Jaguars lead the all-time series 9-8 and lead the series in Jacksonville 5-1.

Week 16 | December 22

Las Vegas Raiders (8-9, 2023 second in AFC West) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., 4:25 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is the third of a fourth-game stretch for the Jaguars against a team with a losing record in 2023 – and it will mark the first game for the Jaguars against the Raiders since the latter franchise moved to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. The Raiders, who have missed the postseason the last two seasons, enter the season with Antonio Pierce taking over as permanent head coach. He took over as interim head coach last season from Josh McDaniels, with the Raiders finishing 5-4 under Pierce. The Raiders this offseason signed former Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who is expected to be the franchise's starting quarterback after leading the Colts to a 7-6 record last season starting 13 games in place of Richardson. The Jaguars lead the all-time series 6-4, with the series tied 3-3 away from Jacksonville.

Week 17 | December 29

Tennessee Titans (6-11, 2023 fourth in AFC South) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, 1 p.m., CBS

• Breakdown: This is the first of two back-to-back season-ending games for the Jaguars against division opponents. These teams will play twice in four weeks, with the Titans playing host to the Jaguars in Week 14. The Jaguars have won the last two meetings between the teams in Jacksonville.

Week 18 | TBD

Indianapolis Colts (9-8, 2023 third in AFC South) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., TBD, TBD

• Breakdown: This is the regular-season finale and will mark the second time in four seasons the teams have played in Week 18. The Jaguars beat the Colts, 26-11, in the 2021 regular-season finale -- the teams' last meeting in a regular-season finale. That game was played in Jacksonville, with the Jaguars' victory eliminating Indianapolis from the postseason. The Colts lead the all-time series in Indianapolis, 17-6.