Jaguars 2026 NFL Schedule Released for Travis Hunter, Trevor Lawrence, Liam Coen's 2nd Year

After making the playoffs in their first year under head coach Liam Coen, the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to chase a deeper postseason run in 2026.

The Jags learned their 2026 schedule on Thursday after the NFL released the full 17-game slate for all 32 teams. Jacksonville will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1.

Full schedule information available on the team's official website.

Analysis

After winning the AFC South title, the Jaguars locked in matchups against three fellow division champions: the New England Patriots, the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. The team will also face all four squads from the AFC North and NFC East.

Still, the 2026 slate isn't as daunting as it initially sounds. The Jaguars' strength of schedule ranks 22nd in the league based on their opponents' winning percentage from 2025.

Jacksonville wasn't too aggressive in free agency this offseason and instead appears to be banking on the continued development of star quarterback Trevor Lawrence in another year in Coen's offense. The team also moved two-way star Travis Hunter to defense full-time, which raised some eyebrows after he impressed on offense as a rookie.

Despite the lack of major additions, the runway appears clear for the Jaguars to reach even greater heights during the upcoming season.

Pivotal Matchups

The Jags dominated the AFC South last season, going 5-1 in division matchups. They could be in for similar success in 2026 while the division continues to rebuild.

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to have quarterback Daniel Jones back healthy from a torn Achilles tendon. The Tennessee Titans are entering a new era under head coach Robert Saleh, who is taking over the development of 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward. The Houston Texans are coming off a devastating playoff loss in which star quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions.

Jacksonville should be the favorite to win the AFC South crown once again. However, the team could face more of a challenge from its non-divisional slate.

Matchups against the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers could be interesting for the Jags. Teams like the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals all reloaded after disappointing 2025 seasons and should be tough opponents in 2026.

If the Jags can get through the most difficult parts of their schedule, they could have a shot to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.