Jaguars will take on Falcons in expanded 17-game season, 3 reactions

It was just a matter of time before the NFL expanded its regular season from 16 games to 17. It happened this year when league owners approved the 17-game schedule in a recent meeting. Every team will have an extra game in their schedule and the Jacksonville Jaguars will take on the Atlanta Falcons.

The 17th game will pair teams from opposing conferences that finished in the same position in the division during the previous season and the home conference will change from year to year. It will be the AFC’s turn to host this year’s games.

The Falcons finished 4-12 last year while the Jaguars managed to win just one game and lose 15, which led to the firing of head coach Doug Marrone and the hiring of Urban Meyer. At this point, the matchup looks like a coinflip as both squads will have a rookie NFL head coach and will look very different than they did in 2020.

Here are three immediate reactions if you’re a Jacksonville Jaguars fan.

1. The Jaguars will hold another home game.

The AFC will be the home division this year, which means the Jags will have an extra home game. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently said that he expects full stadiums this season after allowing a limited number of fans in 2020. Even if TIAA Bank Field isn’t able to open at full capacity, they should be able to welcome a bigger number of fans in 2021. Also, tailgating will probably make a furious comeback this season, so it may be a good idea to dust off your grill.

2. Jacksonville will take on a familiar face in Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.

The Jags interviewed Arthur Smith for their head coaching job this offseason before they zeroed in on Meyer, but they know Smith from his time with the Tennesse Titans. Smith joined the Titans in 2011 as a defensive quality control coach but worked his way up to offensive coordinator, the position he held in 2019 until he left to become Atlanta’s head coach.

3. The Jaguars could tie the all-time series.

The Falcons and the Jaguars have played against each other seven times, per the Football Database, and Atlanta has won four of those matchups. In fact, Jacksonville has lost three consecutive games and the last time they beat the Falcons was in 2007. The Jags will have the chance to end their losing streak and tie the series in 2021.