JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Regarding the schedule for 2026, the Jags enter the season as reigning AFC South champions. Is the question not so much who we play and where, but rather if they can repeat the success that they had last year? Aside from "Any Team on Sunday," seems like the Jags can beat any of these teams based on last year's performance?
We are now two days removed from the NFL releasing its 2026 schedule, so we will post the Jaguars' full schedule one more time for reference's sake before assuming all O-Zone readers have it – and all accompanying complaints – committed to memory. Here's the Jaguars' 2026 schedule: Cleveland Browns (Week 1) at home, at Denver Broncos (Week 2), New England Patriots (Week 3) at home, at Cincinnati Bengals (Week 4), Philadelphia Eagles (Week 5) in London, Houston Texans (Week 6) in London, Bye (Week 7), Indianapolis Colts (Week 8) at home, at Baltimore Ravens (Week 9), at Tennessee Titans (Week 10), at New York Giants (Week 11), Titans (Week 12) at home, at Chicago Bears (Week 13), Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 14) at home, at Texans (Week 15), at Dallas Cowboys (Week 16), Washington Commanders (Week 17) at home, at Colts (Week 18). As for your email … the question when the schedule is released absolutely is "who we play and where" – because we don't know those things until the schedule is released. The big-picture question indeed is whether the Jaguars can be a playoff team and push deep into the postseason after winning the AFC South in 2025. They haven't had back-to-back playoff appearances since 1998-1999. They absolutely can contend again in 2026 – and yes, based on last season's performance they can beat anyone on the schedule. But last season is not this season. And 2026 is not 2025. It's about doing it. No matter what you did before, you still must do it.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
O, isn't trying to predict how the Jags will do with this schedule similar to evaluating the draft? We will not know for a while.
The reality is you have no idea how good or bad teams will be in the NFL until the season begins – and then you don't really know until about Week 5 or 6. We are reminded of this as an NFL-viewing public every September and October – and we forget this reminder as an NFL-viewing public every May. Remember: Teams such as the New England Patriots and Jaguars were considered "easy" opponents this time last offseason. They were anything but "easy" opponents" when the regular season began. Some team – or teams – will be similar stories in 2026. We do not know the identity of those teams because we are mortal and cannot see the future. There are people who think they know. These are called "fans" and "media." Bless their hearts.
Tim from Neptune Beach, FL
Yo, Zone. Regarding the uselessness of strength of schedule (SOS), during last year's preseason the Jags' SOS was the eighth toughest but ended the 23rd toughest. Top 5 differentials: Bears began 29th toughest and ended second toughest, Buffalo Bills (sixth versus 27th), Atlanta Falcons (31st versus 11th), Arizona Cardinals (24th versus fifth) and New Orleans Saints (31st versus 13th). Like you said, SOS is meaningless.
Yep.
Fred from Naples, FL
Trevor did not cut his hair. I googled this.
A video depicting Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence getting a haircut while showing the Jaguars' schedule created quite a stir.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
I literally didn't look into the notion that Trevor cutting his hair was AI, or however they manufactured it, until I read your response to me writing in about it. I feel betrayed.
It's fair to wonder if anything is AI these days.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
In between Weeks 3 and 12 (about two months), there is only one home game in Jacksonville?
That is correct. When you play two home games away from "home," and when you only have eight home games, you are going to have some long stretches over an 18-week span when you are not at "home." Or something like that.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
Respect typically is built over years and despite going to the playoffs three of the last three years, the Jags still have one of the worst five winning percentages over the last 20 years. The NFL is the ultimate meritocracy, you go deep in the playoffs consistently and grab a ring or two and you will get respect – small market or not. Until that happens, Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen and staff seem pretty skilled at using the lack of respect (perceived or real) as a motivational tool.
The Jaguars have been to the postseason two of the past five seasons.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: Enough 1 p.m. games for you? Please remind me of when games can be flexed out of primetime? Six weeks away from the Bank is rough.
The O-Zone ideal is 17 1 p.m. home games. The Jaguars currently have eight 1 p.m. games in 2026, with three at home. So … no, three is not enough. There are many details to the NFL's flexing policy that can be found here. Yes, six weeks without a home game in Jacksonville is a long time.
Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, FL
You do realize if Trevor comes to training camp with that new haircut accompanied by a handlebar moustache that it is game over for the rest of the league, right? My Mom told me so.
OK.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
We didn't end up with that Thanksgiving game. In case you didn't know.
I did know this. I learned this the same way everyone did – when I saw the Jaguars' 2026 schedule. Had I not known then, I would know now. But I did know.
Michael from Fruit Cove, FL
You don't have a consensus on what teams fans would prefer to play in London? I am pretty sure I do. None. Play the games in Jacksonville.
OK.
Joyce from Jacksonville
I agree it is nasty that the NFL took the Houston game for London. I am not shocked because the NFL does not care about fans. The NFL cares about money. That's it. Money. Money. Money. No doubt Jaguars Owner Shad Khan and the Jaguars' staff do care about the fans but it's not their decision. Just wanky after all their blah blah blah about having conference games early and late in the season. Is the Almighty Commish elected for life or what. How does that work?
The NFL always has cared about money. It's professional football. When you have to play two of eight home games in London, two of those games can't be in Jacksonville. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not elected for life, but I expect he will be commissioner until he chooses not to be commissioner. The NFL released its schedule Thursday. That was perhaps the biggest sports news of the day. Maybe of the week. Maybe of the month. This is while Major League Baseball is playing its regular season – and while the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League are in their postseason with a major golf tournament also ongoing. The sport is king and getting king-ier all the time. It appears it can do no wrong. Why would owners want a different commissioner?
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even when the Jaguars play three games in primetime, you still suck.
Especially then, probably.
Frankie from Jacksonville
If the reason for playing home games in London is financial viability, then why not play both home games in the bigger stadium Wembley Stadium considering the reduced capacity here in Jax?
Because the NFL has a deal with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play a game there and the Jaguars were chosen to be the home team in that game for the 2026 season.
Chris from Fleming Island, FL
OZONE. So the Jags are playing a first-place schedule against five division winners and seven games against playoff teams from last year, but have the 11th easiest schedule. So there's that.
Sure they do.
Rob from St Augustine, FL
I don't get the hate. I love when division games are overseas. As a season-ticket holder, we see those same teams all the time. Tired of seeing Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee when I go to game. Also, I believe Troy Edwards wore No. 16.
Fans fan. It's what they do. Something else they do is find unique ways to hate even when it might seem there is nothing to hate. They are strikingly good at this. It's a "superpower." I know of no exceptions to this.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Hi, John. I love the schedule! We play the best teams in front of tons of exposure. If you wanna be the best you gotta beat the best. DUUUUVVVAL.
We have found an exception.
