Primetime snub vs. Broncos gives small-market Jaguars fresh bulletin board material

Look, I had my fun after the Jacksonville Jaguars blew the Cleveland Browns clear over the Cuyahoga River. But now, it's time to get down to some serious business.

After winning their ninth-straight regular season contest, the Jags won't be heading into a primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos. Instead, they'll be competing in the same late-afternoon window as the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers.

Even the most optimistic homer knows that this means the Jags won't be playing in front of a national audience during their highly anticipated rematch against a rising AFC powerhouse. Personally, I think it's a travesty.

The Jaguars deserve to be in primetime for Week 2.

I don't care if the Kansas City Chiefs turned the clock back to 1912 and had Patrick Mahomes taking snaps from a three-point stance, the Broncos are good!

They played in the conference title game and brought back their quarterback, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the best pass rushers in pro football. There's star power over there!

Luckily, someone in the national media agrees with me; and he's actually a figure whose voice carries a lot of weight in league circles.

Mike Florio wants to know why the Jaguars and Broncos aren't playing on the biggest stage

Hey! Don't click away now!

Look, I know Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has gotten a lot of heat for the credibility of his reporting in the past, but his operation is owned and operated by NBC - the same network that also broadcasts the fine Sunday night television program entitled Sunday Night Football.

As such, his recent comments about the lack of respect Jacksonville's gotten after winning 13 games and the AFC South crown last season are quite relevant, as his analysis of the situation is pointed towards his bosses upstairs as well.

While asking what's really going on here, Florio said, "Jaguars-Broncos isn’t one of the 4:25 p.m. ET games. It begins at 4:05 p.m., with a regional TV audience. The big window goes to Commanders-Cowboys on Fox (Raiders-Chargers and Seahawks-Cardinals are also in that spot)."

Florio continued, "Yes, the Cowboys are the Cowboys. They continue to draw big TV crowds. But the Jaguars went 13-4 last year. They thumped the Broncos in Denver in Week 16, 34-20."

That wasn't it, though, as the longtime NFL blogger immediately realized how Jacksonville would be able to take advantage of this disappointment:

"The scheduling decision fits nicely with Liam Coen’s belief that his team is being overlooked. It gives him extra grist for the “disrespect” mill . . . From a programming standpoint, it makes sense to go with the Cowboys. Still, Jaguars-Broncos should be a better — and more consequential — contest."

What will it take for the Jaguars to finally get the respect they deserve?

Well, that's kind of the problem. Every time the national media decides to hype up the Jacksonville Jaguars, they completely collapse and end up restarting things from scratch.

It happened in 2008, broke our hearts in 2018, and completely baffled us in 2024. With that being said, it isn't hard to see why the Jags haven't been the most marketable product in the 21st century. BUT, that doesn't mean the times aren't a-changin'.

The Broncos' woeful performance on Monday Night Football showed signs that they could be vulnerable against offenses that want to establish a power running game quick, fast, and in a hurry. Luckily for Coen and his crew, James Gladstone drafted two absolute road graders who put on a show against Cleveland during the Jaguars' home opener.

I can't believe the Jags actually spotted the exact weakness an upcoming opponent would wind up developing ahead of time, but that's why Shad Khan put his current crop of gridiron innovators together.

The coaching staff's strategy will be sound, and the organization will give everyone the tools they need to succeed, but it'll ultimately be up to the guys on the field to force the national media to give them the adulation they think they deserve.

For better or worse, the only way to do that is to rack up yet another regular season victory.

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