JACKSONVILLE – The preseason opener will be against the defending champs.
That's one thing we now know about the Jaguars' 2017 preseason schedule, and we also know EverBank Field will play host to a nationally-televised preseason game for a third consecutive season.
The Jaguars will visit defending Super Bowl champion New England in their first 2017 preseason game, the NFL announced late Monday afternoon. The league also announced the Jaguars will play host Tampa Bay in a Preseason Week 2 game on national television.
The Buccaneers game will be played on Thursday, August 17, at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Dates and kickoff times of preseason games not nationally televised are not yet determined.
The Jaguars will play host to the Carolina Panthers in Preseason Week 3 and will visit the Atlanta Falcons in the August 31 preseason finale.
A look at the Jaguars' 2017 preseason schedule:
*Preseason Game 1: at New England Patriots, August 10-13.
*Preseason Game 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Field, August 17 at 8 p.m. (ESPN).
*Preseason Game 3: Carolina Panthers at EverBank Field, August 24-27.
*Preseason Game 4: at Atlanta Falcons, August 31.
The Jaguars played host to the Cincinnati Bengals in a nationally-televised Preseason Week 3 game in 2016 and played host to the Detroit Lions in a nationally-televised Preseason Week 3 game in 2015.
This will be the second time in as many seasons the Jaguars have finished the preseason at Atlanta and the sixth time since 2010 the Jaguars have finished the preseason against the Falcons. They played host to the Falcons in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 preseason finales and visited Atlanta in the final preseason game in 2013 and last season.
