Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2016 NFL schedule released
By John Buhler
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their best shot in years to make the AFC Playoffs with their improving roster and a relatively easy 2016 NFL season schedule.
The 2015 Jacksonville Jaguars may have only finished in third place in the bad AFC South with a 5-11, but there is hope entering the 2016 NFL season for North Florida’s NFL franchise. Not only do the Jaguars boast a surprisingly strong passing game, but they will have one of the easier schedules in football in 2016.
Jacksonville will play its six annual games against its AFC South rivals in the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Tennessee Titans, home and away. Tennessee is still rebuilding and Jacksonville is in contention for an AFC Playoff berth with Houston and Indianapolis this fall.
The Jaguars will have to play the AFC West in its entirety this season as part of intra-conference divisional rotation. Jacksonville will get to host the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders, but will have to play the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers on the road.
This year, the Jaguars will have to play the NFC North in its entirety as part of inter-conference divisional rotation. Jacksonville will get to host the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, but will have to play the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions on the road.
Since Jacksonville finished in third place in the AFC South in 2015, the Jaguars will have to play the 2015 third place finishers of the AFC East and the AFC North divisions to round out their 2016 NFL season schedule. The Jaguars will get to host the AFC North’s Baltimore Ravens, but will have to play the AFC East’s Buffalo Bills on the road in 2016.
Entering 2016, the Jaguars are tied with the Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers for the 23rd hardest NFL schedule. The Jaguars’ 2016 opponents went a combined 121-135 for a .473 winning percentage in 2015.
An improving roster, a dynamic passing game, and favorable 2016 NFL schedule could help the Jaguars make their first trip to the AFC Playoffs since 2007.
Since most of the Jaguars’ toughest games will be at home, if Jacksonville can assert a strong home field advantage in 2016, there is a strong chance that the Jaguars can either win the AFC South or contend for either AFC Wild Card berth.
For more posts on the NFL, please check out our NFL hub page.