After going 4-13 in 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars exceeded expectations last year, winning 13 games and seizing the AFC South title. A big part of their success was due to hiring Liam Coen and James Gladstone as the head coach and general manager, respectively. It also helped that Trevor Lawrence played like a top-10 quarterback to end the year. All three are back, and the Jags are poised to pick up where they left off.
Although Jacksonville opted not to take a bold swing in free agency or the draft, the franchise will benefit from the much-needed continuity Coen provides. Moreover, most of the roster core that played a role in their 2025 turnaround is back, so it's hard to see the Jaguars take a step back. Quite the opposite.
After Gladstone addressed the larger scale roster in the draft, expect the Jags to make noise not just in the conference, but in the NFL as a whole. And with this in mind, here's a game-by-game prediction for the 2026 season.
Week 1: Jaguars vs. the Cleveland Browns
There's no such thing as a guaranteed win in the NFL, but the matchup against the Browns in the opener is as close as it gets. Sure, rookie receiver KC Concepcion should be able to thrive opposite Jerry Jeudy, and sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins should make a leap after a promising rookie season.
And with Myles Garrett around, the Browns will always have a chance. Having said that, they're still missing a quarterback. Unless Deshaun Watson suddenly becomes the Pro Bowl quarterback he was in the distant year of 2020, it's hard to see the Jags lose this one.
Prediction: Win
Week 2: Jaguars @ the Denver Broncos
This is going to be one of the most notable games (even if it didn't get a primetime slot) in the Jaguars schedule only because they'll be looking to prove that their win over Denver in 2025 was no fluke. It wasn't; Jacksonville was the better team. The issue is that the Broncos are no pushover, and they'll turn the tables this time around.
Bo Nix has a new receiver in Jaylen Waddle, who could give the Jaguars trouble opposite Courtland Sutton. Couple that with the signing of running back JK Dobbins, and Denver is more talented this time around.
Prediction: Loss
Week 3: Jaguars vs. the New England Patriots
Losing stinks, but it will also give the Jaguars the fuel to fend off the New England Patriots in Week 3. Make no mistake, the Pats were talented enough to make the Super Bowl, but the Seattle Seahawks exposed them and wasted no time pummeling them into submission.
You can bet Liam Coen will look at the blueprint to hand New England a loss when it comes visit.
Prediction: Win
Week 4: Jaguars @ the Cincinnati Bengals
The Jaguars had better hope this contest goes better than it did when they lost to the Bengals on Thursday Night Football and Urban Meyer stayed to go clubbing. Meyer is long gone (and won't be paid the remainder of his salary after being fired with cause), and Jacksonville is a much better team.
So it won't matter that the game will be on the road, Liam Coen will have his team ready to defeat Cincinnati and hop on the plane back home in the aftermath.
Prediction: Win
Week 5: Jaguars vs. the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles cut ties with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after he failed to get the most out of a talented core of players. To remedy the issue, they hired Sean Mannion to kickstart the offense and steer Jalen Hurts in the right direction.
But it will take the Philadelphia offense a bit of time to gel, and the defense won't be able to make up for its shortcomings. That will result in a loss to the Jags at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Prediction: Win
Week 6: Jaguars vs. the Houston Texans
All good things must come to an end, and after riding a three-game winning streak, the Jaguars drop one against the dreaded division rival Houston Texans. Jacksonville won't give up without a fight, but the Houston defense is loaded with talent at all three levels. On top of that, C.J. Stroud should bounce back after an underwhelming 2025.
Stroud doesn't have to be elite. As long as he keeps drives alive and lets the defense do its thing, the Texans will be a threat.
Prediction: Loss
Week 7: Jaguars have a Bye
The only prediction is that the Jaguars will take advantage of their time off to heal and won't suffer any serious injuries, unlike last year.
Week 8: Jaguars vs. the Indianapolis Colts
The Colts haven't won at EverBank Stadium since 2014. The Jaguars will keep their skid alive by repelling them in Week 8. Sure, Daniel Jones is back, but he's currently recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered in Week 14 last year. Even if he's back behind center early in the season, he probably won't be at full strength, which would give Jacskonville an edge.
The alternative would be to put Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson behind center, but neither option is appealing, so expect the Jags to fend off Indianapolis regardless of who starts behind center.
Prediction: Win
Week 9: Jaguars @ the Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Night)
The Jaguars are set to face several heavyweights next season. The Baltimore Ravens are among them and could be better than anticipated in Jesse Minter's first season as the head coach. Sure, John Harbaugh is one of the best in the business, but the Ravens grew stagnant the past few years with him at the helm.
Minter will revitalize a Baltimore team that is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and hand the Jags their third loss of the season.
Prediction: Loss
Week 10: Jaguars @ the Tennessee Titans
As the Murphy Law states, when everything can go wrong, it will. And just one week after falling to the Ravens, Jacksonville will lose to the Titans. This may sound odd at first, but Tennessee is better than analysts give it credit for, especially after hiring Robert Saleh as the head coach.
Saleh will turbocharge the defense, while offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will help second-year quarterback Cam Ward make the leap. That will be more than enough to defeat the Jags.
Prediction: Loss
Week 11: Jaguars @ the New York Giants
The Jaguars will get to face cornerback Greg Newsome when they play the New York Giants. They'll show why they let him walk and will ultimately be too much for sophomore Jaxson Dart and the rest of the G-Men.
Prediction: Win
Week 12: Jaguars vs. the Tennessee Titans
Things are constantly changing in the NFL, and just one week after trouncing the Jaguars, the Titans will come up short in their attempt to sweep them for the first time since 2021. And that's the thing, the Jags aren't perfect, but they're a resilient bunch and won't lose to the same team twice in a season.
Prediction: Win
Week 13: Jaguars @ the Chicago Bears
The Jaguars will continue their winning streak when they visit the Chicago Bears in Week 13. Although this NFC North foe made the playoffs in 2025, it is expected to regress and fail to qualify next season. Jacksonville will help stick a fork in the Bears and prove that they have the better coach in Liam Coen.
Prediction: Win
Week 14: Jaguars vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday Night)
After weeks of uncertainty, Aaron Rodgers just signed a one-year deal worth $25 million to return for a second season in Steel City. That said, Pittsburgh shouldn't expect much from the future Hall of Famer, as he's several years removed from his prime. Sure, he's their best choice, but that doesn't mean much when the alternatives are Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and the unproven Drew Allar.
The fact that the Jaguars will defeat the Steelers on Monday Night will help them generate buzz ahead of the playoffs.
Prediction: Win
Week 15: Jaguars @ the Houston Texans
The Jaguars will win the rematch of their divisional bout against the Texans. Expect Houston to take the wire, but Liam Coen will find a way to motivate the troops and win their fifth game in a row.
Prediction: Win
Week 16: @ the Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night)
The Jaguars couldn't take advantage of the past two times they got multiple primetime games. Sure, they lost to the Ravens in this prediction, but they'll win the other two, including the one against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
In theory, the Boys should be better in Year 2 of the Brian Shottenheimer era, but when was the last time they accomplished anything meaningful? The Jags will take advantage of playing on the stage that A&T Stadium provides and solidify their place as one of the top contenders in the NFL.
Prediction: Win
Week 17: Jaguars vs the Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders made the AFC Championship as recently as 2024, but they're facing several questions after failing to qualify for the postseason last year. The biggest one is whether Jayden Daniels can bounce back. That may be a tall order with offensive coordinator Kliff Kinsbury out of the picture.
Sure, Dan Quinn is still the head coach, but until proving otherwise, they should give Jacksonville a favorable matchup.
Prediction: Win
Week 18: Jaguars @ the Indianapolis Colts
Prediction: Win
There's no better way to end the season than by handing the Colts a loss and pulling off the sweep. More often than not, the season finale carries a lot of weight in the AFC South, and this year will be no different.
The Jaguars will arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium and prove that they're the team to bet in the AFC South.
If you're keeping track of the wins in this game-by-game prediction, you will notice that the Jaguars finish 13-4, more than enough to seize the AFC South title for the second year in a row.
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