The full schedule for the 2022 NFL season is out and the Jacksonville Jaguars got a mixed slate. Some of their games fall under the winnable category while others seem like a nearly impossible task.
On the bright side, the Jags spent the offseason making upgrades to most positional groups, so they should be well equipped to face the challenges that await them this upcoming season. So how many wins will they rack up in 2022? Glad you ask, here’s an impulsive game-by-game prediction of the Jaguars’ 2022 schedule.
Predicting every game on the Jaguars schedule in 2022.
Week 1 @ Washington Commanders: 27-17 Win
Back in 2020, the Jaguars won the season opener but went on to lose 15th straight games. Last year, they managed to get their first victory until Week 6. This year though, they will beat the Commanders in the season opener. A couple of months ago, this looked like an inconsequential game, or at least, one without a juice headline. However, things quickly change in the NFL, and the Jags and head coach Doug Pederson will be thrilled to come out of FedEx Field with their first “W” of the year.
Earlier this year, Washington called every club in the league to see if they could trade for a quarterback. In the end, they managed to acquire Carson Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars already expressed their eagerness to play against Wentz, who was the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles when Pederson was the head coach.
Jacksonville beat the Wentz-led Colts in last season’s finale and knocked them out of playoff contention. They surely can’t wait to hand him another loss. Similarly, Pederson will have a chance to show that he’s better off without his former pupil.
Week 2 vs. Colts: 24-21 Win
The Jaguars haven’t won back-to-back games since 2019, and that’s not a streak any team should be proud of. However, they will buck the trend in 2022 by beating the Colts in their first home game of the 2022 season. Indy will be better now that Matt Ryan is playing quarterback but that won’t be enough to win at TIAA Bank Field for the first time since 2014.
This will be a close game but the Jaguars’ revamped defense wil make enough plays to stop running back Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ passing game.
Jaguars schedule prediction, Weeks 3 to 5:
Week 3 @ LA Chargers: 17-27 Loss
All good things must come to an end and after winning two games in a row, the Jaguars will lose their first game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bolts were one drive away from making the playoff in 2021 but were ultimately denied entry. They added cornerback J.C. Jackson, edge Khalil Mack and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day to ensure they qualify this year.
With a stout defense and Justin Herbert throwing passes to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the Jags won’t be able to keep up with the Chargers.
Week 4 @ Philadephia Eagles: 30-21 Win
The Jaguars have had a hard time winning away games. Heck, they’ve struggled to win games at all but that will slowly change under Doug Pederson, who will have the chance to take on his former team in Week 4. Lincoln Financial Field isn’t an easy venue to win at, but Jaguars players will win this one for their head coach.
Despite the fact that Pederson helped Philly earn their first Super Bowl in franchise history in 2017, they moved on from Pederson three seasons later. He will have the opportunity to show they made the wrong decision.
Week 5 vs. Houston Texans: 20-17 Loss
The Jaguars and the Texans were two of the worst teams in the NFL last year but both of them took significant steps to improve this offseason. While Houston wasn’t nearly as active in free agency as their AFC South archrival, they arguably had a better draft haul this year.
Last season, the Texans swept the Jaguars and they will beat at TIAA Bank Field. Sure, this is one of those “winnable games” but Jacksonville will lose a few of them before they come out of the cellar.
Jaguars schedule prediction, Weeks 6 to 8:
Week 6 @ Indianapolis Colts: 33-20 Win
Here comes what could be considered the first surprise and upset of the Jaguars’ season. Jacksonville has had no trouble taking care of Indy at home but it’s been a whole different deal at Lucas Oil Stadium.
This will be the first time the Jags sweep a division rival since 2017, which coincidentally was the Colts. Indy will finish the 2022 season with a better overall record and will most likely qualify for the playoffs due to the presence of Matt Ryan and Jonathan Taylor but they’ll have to carry the stigma of having lost to Jacksonville twice.
Week 7 vs. New York Giants: 24-23 Win
Just when you thought you had seen enough, the Jaguars once again win two straight games. This time though, it will be against the Giants. After years of minimal results and leaving the roster in pretty bad shape (sound familiar?), the G-Men pulled the plug on general manager Dave Gettleman and hired Joe Schoen to take his place.
Schoen quickly got to action and poached Brian Daboll from the Buffalo Bills to be the Giants’ coach. Big Blue had one of the best hauls in this year’s draft, selecting offensive tackle Evan Neal and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Jaguars could have taken either player at No. 1 but chose Travon Walker instead. Watch Walker make a couple of big plays and help Jacksonville earn their fifth win of the year.
Week 8 vs. Denver Broncos: 17-30 Loss
This is technically a home game but it isn’t when you realize that Wembley Stadium is nowhere near Jacksonville or the United States. Last year, a key stop by Chapelle Russell and Josh Allen and a last-minute field goal by Matthew Wright at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium helped the Jaguars earn their much-needed first victory.
This year, the Jags won’t be so lucky and they will fall to the Broncos. Led by Russell Wilson, Denver’s offense will prove to be too much for Jacksonville’s revamped cornerback room.
Jaguars schedule prediction, Weeks 9 to 12:
Week 9 @ Las Vegas Raiders: 30-17 Loss
If you thought this was going to be an optimistic projection, you’ll be disappointed. After a relatively easy start, the Jags’ schedule will get considerably harder by the midpoint of the season. The AFC West is arguably the best divison in the league and all their teams are entangled in an arms race.
The Las Vegas Raiders now have one of the best receivers in the league in Davante Adams and Derek Carr has more than enough weapons to put up plenty of points on the scoreboard. The Silver and Black couldn’t beat the Jags in the last game ever at the Oakland Coliseum. They will be looking for payback in 2022 and they will get it.
Week 10 @ Kansas City Chiefs: 36-20 Loss
Things will get only tougher for the Jaguars after Week 9. The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the top teams in the league for the last few seasons and made the Super Bowl in two of the last three years. Even without Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs will have a high-gear offense, in fact, they could be even better after the additions of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and rookie Skyy Moore.
This will be one of the few games the Jaguars will allow 30 points or more. Last season, they were routinely blown out and while they will improve in 2022, they’ve still got a long way to go before they can keep up with powerhouses such as Kansas City.
Week 11 – BYE: The BYE will will stop the bleeding for a bit and will give Jacksonville a chance to rest.
Week 12 @ Baltimore Ravens: 20-16 Loss
The Jaguars aren’t the only team that got better in the offseason, and they will unfortunately find out when they take on the Ravens at TIAA Bank Field. While Baltimore traded a solid wide receiver in Hollywood Brown, they stacked their defense with top-notch talent. They traded up to draft safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 and landed mammoth defensive tackle Travis Jones in the third round.
Moreover, the Ravens signed safety Marcus Williams in free agency, which will make it tough for the Jaguars to move the ball in Week 12. Their defense will do fine early on but it ultimately won’t be able to keep Baltimore’s offense from scoring enough points to win the game.
Jaguars schedule prediction, Weeks 13 to 15:
Week 13 @ Detroit Lions: 20-27 L
After four straight losses, the Jaguars get close in Week 13 but end up falling to the Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell has done a heck of a job motivating his players and Detroit is a sleeper team to make the playoffs in 2022. Last season, they played hard even though their roster was devoid of talent but they spent the offseason acquiring difference-makers.
The Lions gladly took Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson at No. 2 when Jacksonville passed up on him. Similarly, they poached wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. in free agency. Last year, the Lions had grit. They still have it but they also got talent.
Week 14 @ Tennesee Titans: 24-17 L
By now, nobody would blame Jaguars fans if they’re fidgety and waiting for that elusive sixth win. However, they will have to keep waiting because the Titans won’t hand it to them in Week 14. Running back Derrick Henry should be fully healthy after missing a good chunk of the 2021 and while Tennesee traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles, they drafted Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Jacksonville can’t take Burks lightly even though he will be a rookie. In fact, the former Razorback will become Ryan Tannehill’s go-to receiver.
Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys: 30-20 L
The Jaguars have a good cornerback trio in Darious Williams, Tyson Campbell, and Shaquill Griffin. The group will do a good job of slowing down opposing offenses for most of the season but will struggle against Dallas’ high-powered offense.
Even though the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Browns, they still have Michael Gallup CeeDee Lamb, and tight end Dalton Schultz. Dak Prescott will spread the ball against Jacksonville and will hand them yet another loss.
Jaguars schedule prediction, Weeks 16 to 18:
Week 16 @ NY Jets: 24-17 Win
The Jags put an end to a seven-game losing skid and beat the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, their only primetime matchup of the season. The Gang Green also had a pretty good draft and has spent the offseason building around Zach Wilson, the second overall pick of last year’s selection meeting.
Wilson will face fellow quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a game that will be probably dubbed “Lawrence vs. Wilson II”. Lawrence lost the first one but will win the second one and wil do it in the hostile environment of MetLife Stadium. Plus, the former Clemson Tiger will keep selling more jerseys for the second straight year.
Week 17 @ Houston Texans: 30-14 Win
The Jaguars lose to the Texans in Week 5 but avoid getting swept in Week 17. Moreover, they have their third winning streak of the season. It’s been a while since the Jags beat Houston but they finally achieve the feat in 2022 and also do it in a dominant fashion.
Keep in mind that the Texans have improved but just like the Jags, they weren’t very good in 2021 and they will experience growing pains this upcoming season.
Week 18 vs. Tennessee Titans: 26- 17 Loss
The Jaguars manage to beat the Texans at last but they will have to wait until 2023 to defeat the Titans. Sure, Jacksonville finished last season on a high note but they won’t be able to pull off the same feat in 2022.
On the bright side, the loss will push the Jags to keep working hard to get out of the hole they’ve been in for the last ten years. As the old adage says sometimes you win, sometimes you lose the season finale and that’s alright as long as they can learn from it and get better because of it.