Jaguars final game-by-game prediction for the 2022 NFL season
The 2022 NFL season is less than a week away and the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to show how much better they are after making several important additions in the offseason. While they’re coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, head coach Doug Pederson has the Jags trending in the right direction.
Moreover, Jacksonville has a promising young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who is expected to make a big improvement in Year 2. So how will the Jags fare this upcoming season? Opinions vary; some analysts project them to win five games while others think they could go from last to first in the AFC South. With that in mind, here’s B&T’s game-by-game prediction for the Jaguars in 2022.
The Jaguars will start the 2022 season strong: Predictions for Weeks 1-2
Week 1: @ Washington Commanders, Win
Head coach Doug Pederson will face off against a former pupil of his, Carson Wentz and the Jaguars know him well, having knocked him and the Indianapolis Colts out of the playoffs in the 2021 season finale. The fact that defensive end Chase Young won’t suit up after tearing his ACL in the offseason should give the Jags a slight edge.
On the other hand, Jacksonville’s offensive line will still have to deal with Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, and Jonathan Allen. Similarly, the Jaguars’ cornerback group will be tasked with containing Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Nevertheless, the Jags should come out of the season opener with their first win of the year.
Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Win
The Jags should enter their Week 2 matchup as the favorites. For starters, it will be at home. But also, the Indianapolis Colts haven’t won a game at TIAA Bank Field since 2014. Sure, Matt Ryan is an upgrade at quarterback, and running back Jonathan Taylor will still be his dominant self. Moreover, the Colts have a stout defense, led by defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Having said that, Shaquille, formerly known as Darius, Leonard may not be available for the game and could miss a good chunk of the offseason after undergoing back injury in July. Not having to game plan for him is one of the reasons the Jags should make it two “Ws” in a row.