Jacksonville Jaguars game by game predictions for the 2020 season
By David Levin
What will the 2020 season look like for the Jacksonville Jaguars? Here’s a look at each week.
As soon as the NFL released the league schedules for all 32 teams, you did exactly what I did. You looked at the games the Jacksonville Jaguars play and tried to determine which games were winnable and which games they did have a chance.
It’s ok, to admit to it. Analysts do the same thing, writers like myself do it. With this year being so important to the future of this franchise, looking ahead is all Jacksonville Jaguars fans can do.
In addition to the six games played with the AFC South, the Jaguars face all four teams from the AFC and NFC North. It’s a tough task, any way you look at it.
Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago could all be fighting for a playoff berth this year. Pittsburgh and Baltimore figure to be the class of their division with an improved Cleveland roster and Cincinnati learning to win again with Joe Burrow.
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The saving grace for the Jaguars is the first six games are ones the team can win with a few lucky breaks. The back end of the schedule, following the bye week, is brutal. How the team works through these games, overcoming roadblocks, is how head coach Doug Marrone and general manager David Caldwell are auditioning to keep their jobs in 2021.
Here is a breakdown of all 16 games this season.
Week 1: vs. Indianapolis
Philip Rivers joins the Colts this season. He has proven to be a Jaguars-killer over the years. Last season was no different. It’s the season opener. Jacksonville wants to start strong. Playing at home may do that with Gardner Minshew under center.
Winner: Jacksonville (1-0)
Week 2: at Tennessee
Coming off the big win at home, the team travels to Tennessee for a matchup with Derrick Henry and the Titans. Henry had a fairly easy time running through the Jaguars’ defense last season. We get to see if the run defense for Jacksonville is improved. It is better but not great.
Winner: Tennessee (1-1)
Week 3: vs. Miami
Tua, Tua, Tua. Could the Jacksonville Jaguars defense see Tua Tagovailoa under center for the Miami Dolphins? If so, that helps the Jaguars chances. It’s a Thursday night game in Jacksonville. The home team gets this one.
Winner: Jacksonville (2-1)
Week 4: at Cincinnati
The Jaguars get Tua one week and then follow it up with facing Joe Burrow. Once again, it helps the Jaguars’ cause, but playing on the road is not the best situation. This is a game the visitor should win. On paper, Jacksonville should be the better team.
Winner: Jacksonville (3-1)
$7M for Larry Warford? CALL HIS AGENT, @DaveCaldwell! https://t.co/calHF9o9AO
— Jordan de Lugo (@jordandelugo) May 12, 2020
Week 5: at Houston
The Texans figure to be a team that takes a step back this season, playing without DeAndre Hopkins. Deshaun Watson is still the quarterback of this team. This is one of those games, like last season in Houston, that could go down to the closing seconds. The Jaguars fall again in Texas.
Winner: Houston (3-2)
Week 6: vs. Detroit
Could the Jacksonville Jaguars do the unthinkable and start the season 4-2? The Detroit Lions are in a similar situation as the home team. Matt Patricia needs to win this season or could face being fired like Marrone. This is a tough back-and-forth game. Matthew Stafford is the difference.
Winner: Detroit (3-3)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers
No Philip Rivers. But the Jaguars could see rookie Justin Herbert, which would mean the team has seen the first three rookies drafted in the NFL Draft. Jacksonville will also face Gus Bradley’s defense. The west coast is never nice to this team
Winner: Chargers (3-4)
Week 9: vs. Houston
Will this be revenge within the division? Ironically, the two teams played last year in Week 9, but in London. Watson and his teammates had a field day. The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t be pushovers this time. A more mature Minshew and Leonard Fournette get the win.
Winner: Jaguars (4-4)
Week 10: at Green Bay
If someone told me the Jacksonville Jaguars would have four wins heading into Green Bay, I might have laughed. But here they are. And they come to Lambeau Field with Aaron Rodgers in full form. It was fun while it lasted as the second half of the schedule rears its ugly head.
Winner: Green Bay (4-5)
Week 11: vs. Pittsburgh
The Jaguars usually play Pittsburgh well both at home and on the road. But this time, the Steelers jump out early and step on the throttle. In what could be Ben Roethlisberger’s final season, the visitor gets the big win.
Winner: Pittsburgh (4-6)
Marrone says #Jaguars will conduct joint practices at Tampa Bay, the second preseason opponent. Says team asked to open preseason against a certain team (Denver I think) to do joint practices and league didn't grant it. Doesn't seem like Carolina will work with new staff.
— Hays Carlyon (@HaysCarlyon) May 8, 2020
Week 12: vs. Cleveland
Is this the year Cleveland surprises everyone? It has been asked too often. The offense led by Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Odell Beckham, Jr proves to be too much for the young Jacksonville Jaguars defense and Joe Schobert to handle.
Winner: Cleveland (4-7)
Week 13: at Minnesota
The Vikings are at home. The Jaguars are reeling with three straight losses. It does not take a scientist to figure out the formula for this game. Jacksonville must stop the bleeding or the second half of the season will be a wash.
Winner: Minnesota (4-8)
Week 14: vs. Tennessee
Say hello to Mr. Henry once again. The Jaguars’ defense may be better this season, but it once again has issues stopping the Titans running game. These are two teams moving in the opposite direction.
Winner: Tennessee (4-9)
Week 15: at Baltimore
The Jaguars travel to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and Calais Campbell as the season winds down. For the Ravens, this is a game about playoff seeding. For the Jaguars, it’s about not losing the game by 20 points.
Winner: Baltimore (4-10)
Week 16: vs. Chicago
Six straight losses and this team is hemorrhaging. Marrone’s seat is on fire. Fans wanted him out weeks ago. There is a mutiny going on. The Jaguars face Nick Foles, muster up some courage and win their last home game of the season.
Winner: Jaguars (5-10)
Week 17: at Indianapolis
Oh look, it’s Philip Rivers once again to close out the season on the road. This has been as bad a season as expected for the Jaguars. Indianapolis is contending for a playoff spot. Jacksonville just wants this season to end.
Winner: Indianapolis (5-11)