During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL. We rank each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Jacksonville Jaguars most difficult games are the focus.
Jacksonville Jaguars Most Difficult Games in 2016
1) Week 1 vs Green Bay Packers
Quite possibly the worst way the Jaguars could start off their season. General manager Gus Bradley will be hoping that the amount of money and picks he invested in the Jaguars’ defense this off-season repays him early. They will need to perform straight away.
Aaron Rodgers is never an easy opponent, and this game will be his first competitive game in a year with Jordy Nelson, ouch. The Jaguars received a lot of hype in the off-season, but if the catalogue of defensive acquisitions aren’t able to perform effectively in Week 1, the Jaguars fire may well be extinguished in front of their own fans before the season has even begun.
2) Week 13 vs Denver Broncos
Defense wins championships.
The only reason why the Packers pip the Broncos as the most difficult game the Jaguars will play in 2016 is due to the fact they play Green Bay during Week 1. Make no mistake, the Denver Broncos will still be the team to beat in 2016.
Despite the fact that there is no clear starting quarterback in Denver, the defense makes them one of the favorites in the AFC. Pass rusher Von Miller signed a monster contract to remain in Denver. It will be interesting to see how disruptive the defensive line is with Pro-Bowler Malik Jackson going against his former team in Week 13. Whoever ends up getting the starting nod at quarterback for the Broncos this year will be incredibly thankful for the disruptive force he will have on his side.
3) Week 7 vs Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack is a one man wrecking force. After being the first player selected to the All-Pro side in two positions; the only other ceiling which Mack can reach is usurping J.J. Watt for Defensive Player of the Year. This may not be the only accolade he receives this season. He is being pitted as the first defensive player since Lawrence Taylor to win the NFL MVP award.
Mack, alongside a revamped defensive front, is leading the Raiders back to an era of supremacy. The offense certainly cannot be ignored either. Quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Amari Cooper look to continue building their rapport and torching opposing defenses. If the Jaguars’ secondary does not perform to their expectations, this game could prove as difficult as any for Jacksonville.
4) Week 15 at Houston Texans
Turn down for Watt.
The AFC South could be decided in the final few weeks of the season, and this Week 15 match-up could well be the clincher for one of these two teams. Facing J.J. Watt twice a year is a nightmare for every offensive linemen in the division. With a lackluster Jaguars line, there is plenty of cause for concern. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has become a supreme run stopper. He will likely have a field day in 2016 as offenses will likely prefer to double team his supernatural teammate.
Both of these games will be tremendously difficult thanks to the rejuvenated Texans’ offense. If Brock Osweiler and his brand of receivers are able to gel during training camp, there is every possibility they could possess one of the more potent offenses in 2016.
5) Week 9 at Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City pulled off a ten-game winning streak during the latter stages of the 2015 season. It would be unsurprising to see them record a similar amount of wins during the 2016 campaign. Defensive stars Eric Berry and Tamba Hali will look to improve on seasons which saw them both included on the NFL’s Top 100 list. Second year corner Marcus Peters looks ready to cement his status as a top five corner in the NFL.
If Alex Smith is able to repeat his 2015 form, then the AFC West may become the new dominant division in football. It is certainly a division which the Jaguars will hope to avoid in years to come.
6) Week 10 vs Houston Texans
The main reasons why this game will be slightly easier than the Week 15 game between these two is due to the fact that Jacksonville will be at home. While it may not be the most deafening atmosphere at Everbank Field, there is always a home field advantage during divisional games.
The other reason is that the game is slightly earlier in the year. While the Jaguars haven’t been in a position to be branded as ‘chokers’ in recent seasons, it will be much easier for Jacksonville to play fluid, exciting football a little earlier in the year. If the Jaguars are able to pick up the win during this tilt, it may give them the confidence needed to prevail in the latter stages of divisional match ups.
7) Week 17 at Indianapolis Colts
Division games are always tough. Division games against Andrew Luck to potentially seal the AFC South title are even tougher. Especially when you’re on the road.
It all depends on circumstance. It is impossible to predict what stead either of these teams will be in by the final week of the season. Will either of them be in the picture for the division title? If it does come down to the game at Lucas Oil Stadium then the game will test the meddle of both sides. Due to the fact that coming into 2016 Luck will automatically have post-season expectations, the Jaguars are likely underdogs to prevail in this match. If they are able to repeat their last performance against Indianapolis, then anything is possible.
8) Week 14 vs Minnesota Vikings
The level of difficulty of this game hinges on the form of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Each team the Vikings face this year will have an individual game-plan for superstar running back Adrian Peterson. However, if Bridgewater is capable of playing at a consistently high level then the Vikings will be much more difficult to this season.
Mike Zimmer has truly transformed this defense into something incredibly special, and linchpins Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith will be incredibly important as ever to allowing the Vikings to make another post season appearance. If Trae Waynes is able to live up to his 2015 draft selection, then this could be an incredibly difficult team to face in 2016.
Be sure and check out the Jackonsville Jaguars eight easiest games in 2016.
