The Jacksonville Jaguars are the talk of the town because they made a couple of big trades just before the November 10 deadline. However, they were pretty good even before their latest splashes. That's probably why the NFL just gifted them a schedule flex.
The league announced that it's moving Jacksonville's Week 11 game against the New York Giants from 1:00 p.m. ET to 4:25 p.m. ET. Granted, the NFL isn't switching the showdown to primetime, but the Sunday afternoon time slot is most definitely more appealing than Sunday morning, and with that, Jacksonville will draw more fan interest from a national perspective.
Why the NFL is flexing the Jaguars vs. the Giants to Sunday afternoon?
The Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the NFL at 6-2 following their dismantling of the Ravens on Thursday Night. Currently, they're the fourth seed in the AFC, and there's a chance they'll get a higher one based on how they're playing.
Just before the trade deadline, the Jags addressed their two biggest roster needs when they traded for Davon Godchaux and Jessie Bates III. Before the moves, they were already a contender. In the aftermath, their odds of making a deep playoff push just went up.
On the other hand, the Giants are the top team in the NFC East at 5-2 despite the fact that they lost starting quarterback Jaxon Dart for the season. With Jameis Winston and after trading for draft bust J.J. McCarthy, though, Big Blue has not only managed to stay afloat but also remain in the playoff conversation. John Harbaugh most definitely deserves praise for the work he's done in just his first season in the Big Apple.
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The Jaguars are quietly garnering widespread NFL recognition
Following their trouncing of the Ravens, you have probably seen talking heads hop onto the Jaguars' hype bandwagon, and understandably so. Although they finished 13-4 in 2025, they were expected to regress this season. However, not only has Jacksonville avoided a regression but has also taken a step forward. Head coach Liam Coen is certainly responsible for all the continuity and carryover from last year, but having Trevor Lawrence catch fire has also played a big role.
Now, when you hear analysts discuss the top contenders in the NFL, you will see them include Jacksonville. On the other hand, Coen won't let the success get to his team's head.
Coen will look for ways to motivate his players; even though they're no longer flying under the radar, you can bet that he'll lean on the small-market angle as a rallying cry in the second half of the season.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars have quietly put in the work to once again be relevant. While they still have a long way to go, the NFL has recognized their progress by gifting them a schedule flex.
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