JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville
I do not understand all the angst over the 2025 schedule. When you were a 4-13 team in 2024, most of the teams are better than you until you prove otherwise. The Jags need to go out each week this season and prove they are a better team. Eight or nine wins will be a big improvement and a step in the right direction. Go Jags!
Fans fan. It's what they do. Which means angst sort of comes with the territory. And I agree: The Jaguars from this view may have a difficult schedule in 2025 – IF they haven't improved from 2024 and IF all their opponents are as good or better than they were in 2024. But remember: Teams don't stay the same from season to season in the NFL just as people don't stay the same from year to year. The Jaguars expect to be improved in 2025 and they expect to be a tough team that wins close games – and a team that can play good teams tough. If they indeed are that sort of team, they can be competitive against their 2025 schedule. That could mean eight or nine victories. It could mean more. Stay tuned.
Jason from North Pole, AK
I was surprised last year when the NFL didn't put Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud vs. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a primetime slot. I figured it would make for a good Thursday Night Football game. I understand the Jags need to be better for this to become a rivalry, but I got the sense after Stroud's rookie season that this was going to be a thing. The NFL really hasn't tried to market it like I thought they would. What gives?
The NFL usually waits until something develops a little before marketing it intensely. That's particularly true when dealing with lower-profile teams. The Jaguars and Texans entering 2024 were still lower-profile teams – and they still are lower-profile teams entering 2025. If the Jaguars and Texans are both good in 2025, and if Stroud and Lawrence are both ascending, I expect the NFL will market the rivalry more heavily. If not …
Colin from Sanford
John, I know it's an uphill battle for a punter from Jacksonville, but what are the odds Logan Cooke finds his way to Canton one day. If you look at metrics he deserves it.
I would love to see Jaguars punter Logan Cooke in the Hall of Fame someday. It's so exceedingly rare for a punter to be selected that I have given this next-to zero thought. I would have to say he must play many, many more seasons with many, many more Pro Bowls to even have a chance to be in the discussion to make it. But here's hoping.
Willis from Jax
Put me down for an O-Zone mug and a pair of John Oehser signature running shorts.
K.
Jason from North Pole, AK
I am shocked that readers find this Jaguars schedule to be difficult. It is ranked 27th in difficulty based on 2025 opponent win projections. They never play more than two road games in a row. No short weeks of rest against tough opponents on Thursday night. They have a bye week right after the London game. And it is backloaded with games against the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans so we can get hot at the right time. What more could fans want?
The Jaguars' 2025 schedule from this view has some tricky elements – particularly opening the regular season with five of seven games against teams with winning records. It's also tricky coming out of a Week 8 bye with two more teams with winning records in the first three games. But overall, from a 30,000-feet view … yeah, if the Jaguars are good it's manageable. Any schedule is manageable if you're good.
Howard from Homestead
Is the point of the schedule release video that the schedule doesn't matter?
Probably not.
Donut from Saint Johns
Hi John, I am optimistically assuming that Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter will make it to his first contract extension and be playing at a high level at both wide receiver and cornerback. If this is the case and he gets a contract close to qquarterback-level money, how would this affect franchise tags for the other WR and CB in the league? That contract would inflate the Top 5 salaries, right?
Hunter in your scenario will be designated either a cornerback or a wide receiver by the NFL depending on where he plays the most snaps. If his contract is very high that would indeed inflate the Top 5 salaries at that position.
Marcus from Jax
I heard someone talking about the Jags' perceived advantage over the Los Angeles Rams in London, because the Jags have been there every year and the Rams haven't been in several years. I do realize that's a real thing, because as an organization they have figured out a pretty good routine for that trip, but my question is, does any or all of that go out the window with the level of turnover they've had this offseason? New coaching staff, new front office, a bunch of new players…who's to say that their London trip will look anything like the last few years? What do you think?
The London trip in 2025 likely will look and feel very familiar – and very efficient – compared to past Jaguars London trips because most of the "logistics and support" people from the past remain with the team. That group is very, very good and makes the London trip as painless as possible. Is it an advantage for the Jaguars? Perhaps. My experience is the Jaguars play pretty well in London when they're good and not so well when they're bad – sort of the way they play everywhere. But if the players and coaches believe it's an advantage, then it is.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: Am REALLY hoping that Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead is 100 percent recovered from his knee injury sustained before he joined the Jaguars. Last season he just did not look to be fully healthy. Have you or your journalist/broadcaster teammates had a look at how Arik is moving around in 2025? Or will we need to wait until July ?
He seems to be moving fine. He's also moving without pads in May in non-contact work – and most players, even 11-year veterans, move fine at this time. We indeed will find out a lot more about Armstead and most Jaguars players in 2025 Training Camp in late July. That's when how they're moving matters.
Jordan from AB
Someone questioning why the Cleveland Browns passed on Hunter made me chuckle: the Browns are good at getting draft picks, they are not great at making draft picks.
This perhaps has been true of the Browns in years past. It kinda, sorta has been true of the Jaguars in recent years at times, too, so maybe we leave this topic behind us.
Doug from Jax Beach
I loved what the Jag Brass did moving up to take Hunter. Besides getting an exciting (hopefully great) player, it got the media actually talking about Jacksonville. However, if I were the Browns, I would have made that trade. Unless the Browns draft (ed) poorly, they should have gotten three starters. That's really hard to pass up--no matter how good that 1 player (when healthy) may be.
So, one fer the Browns – and one fer the Jaguars, I suppose.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
Just got to thinking about last season, after seeing a social media post on the topic. I know win/loss, record wise, that we by those statistics have had worse seasons than the 2024 one ... but, I can't ever remember any previous season being a bigger kick to the mouth. Since covering the team, has any other season smacked as brutal to you as last season's did?
The Jaguars after making the 2017 AFC Championship Game started the following regular season 3-1 – with an emotional victory over the New England Patriots. That was cool. That season after that kicked pretty hard. And it smacked pretty brutally, too.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
I for one was happy to see that our week one game was not only out of the division but also out of conference. Week 1 is always a little weird. Nice opportunity to set the tone. Hoping it's a good tone and one that leads to a playoff crescendo. Go Jags!!
Week 1 is always the weirdest week of the NFL regular season. Teams haven't yet established tendencies and there's little pertinent video from which to gameplan. This doesn't particularly help either team, but it makes the season opener a bit odd.
Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC
Recent mug-able quote: "'Regard for others' is not 'my thing.'" I'd pay "good" money for one of those.
Heard.
