JACKSONVILLE — The NFL released its 2026 schedule Thursday night, and the league is betting big on the Jacksonville Jaguars, awarding the franchise three nationally televised primetime games and a punishing road-heavy slate that will test whether last season’s turnaround was real.
The Jaguars, who flipped from a four-victory team to a 13-victory team under first-year Head Coach Liam Coen by winning their final eight games in 2025, open against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 before facing a gauntlet: at Denver in Week 2, New England in Week 3, at Cincinnati — and quarterback Joe Burrow — in Week 4, then Philadelphia and Houston in back-to-back London games in Weeks 5 and 6. All five opponents from Weeks 2 through 6 are playoff or playoff-caliber teams from last season.
The primetime spotlight falls in the second half of the schedule, with nationally televised games at Baltimore in Week 9, home against Pittsburgh in Week 14 and at Dallas in Week 16. The Jaguars play five home games in the first eight weeks, including the two in London, then face seven of their final 10 regular-season games on the road.
“I look at the Jaguars’ ‘26 schedule and see the NFL testing a promising team to see if it’s for real,” Jaguars Media senior writer Brian Sexton said. “The Jaguars following 2017 and 2022 AFC South titles couldn’t sustain success. Can this Jaguars team be different?”
The road-heavy finish carries added significance. Jaguars Media writer J.P. Shadrick noted the Week 15 game at Houston “could be massive coming down the stretch for the AFC South,” while a December run of at Chicago, home against Pittsburgh and at Houston pits Jacksonville against projected contenders in three consecutive weeks.
Jaguars Media writer Kainani Stevens said the schedule is also a preview of what lies ahead in 2027, when no games will be held in Jacksonville as the stadium undergoes construction. “The NFL schedule-makers have shined the light on Jacksonville and clearly are bought in to the new direction of the team,” Stevens said. “The league is betting on the Jags playing meaningful games in December.”
Jacksonville opens the regular season at home against Cleveland in Week 1, with the bye falling in Week 7. The Jaguars close the regular season at Indianapolis in Week 18.