JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars Media members Kainani Stevens, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and John Oehser share thoughts on the Jaguars' 2026 schedule, which was released by the NFL Thursday night

Oehser: The NFL released its 2026 schedule Thursday night – and before we share "thoughts" on the Jaguars' schedule, here it is: Cleveland Browns (Week 1), at Denver Broncos (Week 2), New England Patriots (Week 3), 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 Baltimore Ravens (Week 9), at Tennessee Titans (Week 10), at New York Giants (Week 11), Titans (Week 12), at Chicago Bears (Week 13), Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 14), at Texans (Week 15), at Dallas Cowboys (Week 16), Washington Commanders (Week 17), at Colts (Week 18). Perhaps most notable is that the Ravens, Steelers, Eagles and Texans in London and Cowboys are all nationally-televised – a clear indication that the league and networks now see the Jaguars as contenders and ready for Primetime. That's cool stuff. This schedule is tricky in spots, with the first such spot coming in the first six weeks – with back-to-back games against AFC powers Denver and New England in Weeks 2 and 3 and two more back-to-back games against contenders Philadelphia and AFC South rival Houston – both in London – in Weeks 5 and 6. Getting to the Week 7 bye above .500 might be an accomplishment, with a second "on-paper" difficult stretch in December with three consecutive games against projected contenders: At Chicago, home against Pittsburgh and at Houston. Another challenge in '26: Multiple long stretches away from Jacksonville. The Jaguars play four of the first six games away from Jacksonville, then finish with seven of their final 10 regular-season games on the road. The Jaguars were a very good road team in 2025. They will have to be that sort of team again in 2026 to have a second consecutive strong finish to the regular season.

Sexton: I look at the Jaguars' '26 schedule and see the NFL testing a promising team to see if it's for real. The Jaguars left a memorable imprint in Head Coach Liam Coen's first season, winning their final eight games and flipping a four-victory team into a 13-victory team in a matter of months. But the Jaguars following 2017 and 2022 AFC South titles couldn't sustain success. Can this Jaguars team be different? That's probably why they see the Broncos and Patriots in back-to-back weeks in September followed directly by a visit to Cincinnati to see quarterback Joe Burrow – and then the always formidable Eagles and the Texans in London. Talk about a fast start. The second half of the season features primetime games in Baltimore and Dallas and against the Steelers, with seven of their last ten games away from Jacksonville. It's clear that the NFL sees a team with the potential to build upon last season and wants to put it on a bigger stage.

Shadrick: The Jaguars are playing a first-place schedule, so this will be a weekly challenge. The Jaguars have five home games, including two in London, in the first eight weeks of the season. They then finish with seven of 10 games on the road. Good football travels, and this team wants to play teams anytime anywhere, but this will not be an easy stretch run. The two London games will have a worldwide audience, and the Jaguars have primetime games against the Ravens, Steelers and Cowboys. This team was ready for primetime a year ago and now the networks agree. Weeks 2-6 are all against playoff or playoff-caliber teams, so we will have an idea early how this Jaguars team hangs with some of the best teams in football from a year ago. The Week 15 game against the Texans could be massive coming down the stretch for the AFC South.

Stevens: The NFL schedule-makers have shined the light on Jacksonville and clearly are bought in to the new direction of the team. There are three primetime games this season for the Jags, all in the second half of the schedule. The league is betting on the Jags playing meaningful games in December. That stretch will test this team as seven of the final ten games will be on the road. However, good teams find a way to win wherever they play. It will also be a small preview of what the team will deal with in 2027 when no games will be held in Jacksonville as the stadium undergoes construction. As far as opponents, the first six weeks includes four playoff teams from last season – a gauntlet out of the gate that could dictate the rest of the season.