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.
Jaguars final 2022 game-by-game prediction: Weeks 3 to 5, a mixed bag
Week 3: @ Los Angeles Chargers, Win
Many of the best quarterbacks in the league reside in the AFC West and the Jaguars will take on one of them, Justin Herbert, in Week 3. The Los Angeles Chargers were close to making the playoffs last year but ultimately were eliminated by the Las Vegas Raiders in the season finale.
Herbert has yet to win a playoff game in his NFL career. Then again, there are several players on the Bolts’ roster that could give the Jaguars a headache in Week 3. They have one of the best wide receiver duos in the league in Mike Willaims and Keenan Allen. Also, Austin Ekeler is an asset in the passing game and the three of them will provide a good test to Jacksonville’s back seven.
Still, the Jaguars should get their third win of the season.
Week 4: @ Philadelphia Eagles: Loss
After three straight wins, the Jaguars lose their first game of the year at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles’ brass has put a playoff-caliber team together this offseason. They acquired A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans before the draft and also traded for cornerback Chauncey Gardner-Johnson not long ago, showing how serious they are about competing in 2022.
Jalen Hurts should also make a leap in Year 3, so Doug Pederson won’t be able to exact revenge on his former team in his first time returning to the Linc since being given the boot.
Week 5: vs. Houston Texans, Win
The Jaguars get back to the win column in Week 5, when they play against a Houston Texans team that came out of the draft with a solid haul but wasn’t as aggressive in free agency. Also, Davis Mills should make a leap in Year 2 but it won’t be as big as Trevor Lawrence’s.
Although Houston swept the Jags last year, they won’t improve nearly as much as their AFC South foes and will lose their first matchup of the 2022 season.
Jaguars final 2022 game-by-game prediction: Weeks 6 to 8
Week 6: @ Indianapolis Colts, Loss
By Week 6, Matt Ryan should be in sync with all his wide receivers. Also, the game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium and Shaquille Leonard might be back in the fold. While the Jaguars are better than they were last year and have an improved coaching staff, they will hit a few speed bumps in 2022 while learning how to win. Their second game against the Colts will be one of those times.
Jonathan Taylor will find a way to get into the end zone a couple of times and will give the Jaguars’ run defense fits.
Week 7: vs. New York Giants, Win
In Week 7, offensive lineman Evan Neal and defensive Kayvon Thibodeaux will try to show the Jags made a mistake when they chose Travon Walker first overall in this year’s draft. By then, Thibodeaux should be ready to go after spraining his MCL earlier this year.
Similarly, Jacksonville’s secondary will take on wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who broke Urban Meyer’s heart last year. Nevertheless, the Jaguars’ defense should be able to contain quarterback Daniel Jones, which will give them the edge.
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos, Loss
The Jaguars won their first game of the 2021 season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, they won’t be as fortunate this year, when they face off against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.
With Patrick Mahomes and Derek Carr playing in the same division, it’s easy to forget how great Russ is but he will remind the Jags and everyone else during the NFL International Series.
Jaguars final 2022 game-by-game prediction: Weeks 9 to 12, a tough stretch
Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Loss
Even though former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock oversaw a bad string of drafts, his predecessor, Dave Ziegler, and head coach Josh McDaniels inherited a pretty stacked roster.
The Raiders have a lethal wide receiver duo in Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. With Adams and Renfrow drawing most of the attention, Derek Carr should find tight end Darren Waller often, which will lead to a win at TIAA Bank Field, and the Jags’ first losing streak of the year.
Week 10: @ Kansas City Chiefs, Loss
The Jags won’t be able to stop their losing skid in Week 10, as they will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs. Even without Tyreek Hill, who is now with the Miami Dolphins, Patrick Mahomes should find success against the Jaguars’ secondary.
To make matters worse, the game will be at Arrowhead Stadium, one of the most hostile venues against opposing teams in the whole league.
Week 11: Bye
The Jaguars take a break before taking on the Baltimore Ravens.
Week 12: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Loss
Both the Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens finished last in their respective divisions in 2021. However, the AFC North was one of the toughest divisions in the league, and they should bounce back after surrounding Lamar Jackson with a better supporting cast. Also, they revamped their defense, which will make things difficult for Trevor Lawrence, and the rest of the Jags’ offense.
The Jags last faced off against Baltimore in 2020. They lost then and they will do it again in 2022.
Jaguars final 2022 game-by-game prediction: Weeks 13 to 15, bleeding stops
Week 13: @ Detroit Lions, Win
Just like the Jaguars, the Detroit Lions have undergone several chances over the last two years. Dan Campbell is the kind of head coach that knows how to press the right buttons and has players competing on a weekly basis, even when they’re outmatched, which was often the case last year.
Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. signed a one-year, prove-it deal with Detroit in the offseason, and he will try to show his former team they made a mistake when they let him go. However, he will fall short and the Jags will win this one, putting an end to a four-game losing streak.
Week 14: @ Tennessee Titans, Loss
Unfortunately, the Jags will return to the loss column in Week 14, when they face the reigning AFC South champs, the Tennessee Titans. Despite the fact that this division foe will be weakened due to Harold Landry’s torn ACL, the Titans still have several talented pieces on both sides of the ball.
The Jags will try to keep up to the best of their capacities and will keep the game close. However, they will ultimately fall short.
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Loss
The Jaguars will experience their second losing skid of the year when they take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. Even without Amari Cooper, Dak Prescott will still have a couple of talented wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, who should be fully healthy by then.
Moreover, the Boys will deploy second-year linebacker Micah Parsons in a way that will make it hard for the Jaguars to stop him.
Jaguars final 2022 game-by-game prediction: Weeks 16 to 18, a strong finish
Week 16: @ New York Jets, Win
Things will start to look up for the Jags in Week 16, when they face off against the New York Jets. This will be the second straight year Jacksonville takes on the Gang Green and their second matchup between Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, which you can go ahead and call Lawrence vs. Wilson II.
Of course, the quarterbacks won’t be the only players that decide this game but whoever ends up having the best game will help their team get the W. And Lawrence will fare better than Wilson.
Week 17: @ Houston Texans, Win
The Jaguars will do in 2022 something they haven’t done in a while, sweep the Texans. Sure, head coach Lovie Smith will have his squad playing hard but the Jaguars should be better than their division archrival this upcoming season.
By Week 17, Jacksonville should be in contention for a playoff spot. Even if they ultimately don’t qualify, they will be in the conversation.
Week 18: vs. Tennesee Titans, Win
This game will be held at TIAA Bank Field but could have serious playoff implications. Even if the Jaguars are eliminated from contention by then, they could knock out the Titans if they are, which is likely. They did it against the Colts last year and they could do it again with Tennessee.
And there you have it, this writer projects the Jaguars to win nine games in 2022. While it seems overly optimistic, Doug Pederson has the team trending in the right direction and Trevor Lawrence should have a pretty good year, which should give them a fighting chance in most weeks.