As fans of the team know by now, the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the least-represented NFL teams when it comes to getting primetime games. Customary Thursday Night Football game against the Tennessee Titans aside, the Jaguars very rarely find themselves kicking off at 8 p.m. In fact, Jacksonville has only had three primetime fixtures in the last three seasons, with no late kickoffs in their 2017 10-win season.
Now, the Jaguars have announced that they are playing all eight home games on home soil this year and are scheduled to play multiple storied franchises. Simply put, the window of opportunity is wider than it has been in previous seasons.
The NFL is set to release the 2020 schedule on Thursday night and here are some possible match-ups to look out for in those primetime slots:
Away vs. Green Bay Packers
Fans should expect all the primetime games possible in Green Bay. With the Packers selecting Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, television coverage will be smothering Lambeau Field this season. Thankfully for the Jags, the Packers don’t host many illustrious teams next season.
Whilst there’s no indication that this will be the last year in green and yellow for Aaron Rodgers, if the Jaguars bookend the Packers’ schedule on either side, chances are they could be playing a primetime game.
Green Bay routinely receives the maximum allocation of late games, and with the team coming off the success of a 13-3 campaign, the Jags could fall favor to storylines out of their control.
Away vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were one of the hottest teams in the league last year. With the reigning MVP under center, television cameras will be focused on Baltimore for much of the 2020 season.
Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the Ravens face more impressive home opponents than the Packers do. That includes a home schedule with the Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs coming to M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens will likely find themselves in a primetime game against their divisional opponents in the Pittsburgh Steelers, whilst a trip to the Brady-less Patriots will no doubt catch media attention. Any NFL team is allowed five primetime games in any single season, so the Jaguars could strike as the Ravens’ fifth fixture to be played on a national stage.
Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jaguars’ last met their in-conference rivals, the Pittsburg Steelers, in 2018. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sought and got revenge after the Jaguars were able to take two wins away from Heinz Field in 2017.
The teams look immensely different from their 2018 rosters, and a lack of star-power might keep this from being pushed into a late slot. The Jaguars are without all but Myles Jack and Abry Jones (on defense) from their 2017 team, whilst LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown are no longer with the Steelers. That said, this matchup will consist of significantly younger rosters.
Still, as many know, there is history between these two franchises and they could provide the nation with a physical game that could also be entertaining.
Home/Away vs. Tennessee Titans
If fans were to put money on a Jacksonville primetime game, it would be a Thursday Night Football match-up with the Titans. In recent seasons Jags fans will have become alarmingly accustomed to watching Derrick Henry peel off huge gains as linebackers are thrown flying.
Not only did Henry manage a 74-yard touchdown when the two teams met last season, but he equaled the longest rushing touchdown in NFL history, with a 99-yard score in December of 2018. The Jaguars will be hoping recent front-seven acquisitions will slow the former Heisman winner and chances are we’ll find out on a Thursday night at some point this year.
