5 Jaguars games that should be in primetime in 2022 (but probably won’t)

1. The Jacksonville Jaguars vs. The Washington Commanders at FedEx Field.

The Jaguars and the Commanders have something in common: Neither club has been good in a while and both of them have had to deal with a certain level of dysfunction and controversy at the top. While the gap between the two teams isn’t that wide, Washington has been the most successful of the two, at least on the football field.

The Commanders are far from a powerhouse but they qualified for the postseason in 2020 and made the playoffs in 2012 and 2015. Meanwhile, the Jags have been to the playoffs just once since 2007. That’s not the kind of track record that inspires confidence. On the bright side, they could leave the cellar of the NFL soon. After several failed attempts to address the quarterback position, the Jaguars finally got it right with Trevor Lawrence in 2021.

Jacksonville recognizes that they have a potential franchise quarterback and have spent the offseason getting him a better supporting cast. They also hired Doug Pederson as their head coach to oversee Lawrence’s development and untap his potential.

Washington also desperately tried to upgrade their quarterback room and ended up settling on Carson Wentz, who arrive via trade from the Indianapolis Colts. That’s right, coach Pederson will have a chance to face off against his former pupil this upcoming season.

As the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Pederson helped Wentz play at an MVP-like level in 2017. However, Pederson was fired after the 2020 season and Wentz’s performance has declined considerably. When the Jags take on the Commanders in 2022, they will get to see each other.