Big Cat Country
The Jaguars would seem to have the easiest schedule in the AFC South for 2025. Sharp Football Analysis recently listed the rankings of each NFL teams' strength of schedule, based on Vegas forecasted win totals, with Jacksonville landing at 6.
Oh, how an offseason can change things. While fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars have known since January who the teams’ finalized opponents would be, the offseason changes for multiple opponents and for Jacksonville has upended the NFL landscape. When the 2025 lineup of opponents was initially finalized, many in the fan base were of the opinion that Jacksonville would likely be in a floundering state under GM Trent Baalke, hoping for 7–9 wins in 2025.
With Trent Baalke no longer with the organization, substituted for James Gladstone, Tony Boselli holding the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations, and Head Coach Liam Coen replacing Doug Pederson, significant roster adjustments have been made in both Jacksonville and for their opponents.
Warren Sharp, of Sharp Football Analysis, recently listed his rankings of each NFL teams’ strength of schedule (SOS), based on Vegas’ forecasted win totals. As a note, this evaluation of SOS is normally more accurate than using the teams’ 2024 record, due to offseason changes and the propensity for the sportsbooks to be closer to the mark.
As Sharp notes, the Jaguars have the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL behind only the 49ers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Buffalo Bills. With matchups against the 49ers, Bengals, Rams, Chargers, Chiefs, and Broncos, multiple difficult matchups lie in wait. However, playing in the AFC South absolutely has its advantages for Jacksonville in 2025.
The Jaguars will play their normal six divisional games, in addition to eight matchups against the AFC West and the NFC West. Of these matchups, as noted by BCC’s Gus Logue, “three games will be against teams that also finished third in their respective divisions.”
Comparatively, the Tennessee Titans have the eighth-easiest schedule. The Indianapolis Colts have the twelfth easiest schedule. And the reigning AFC South Champion Houston Texans wrap up the division with the eighth-hardest schedule in the NFL. Interestingly, Vegas would seem to view Jacksonville as potentially a year away, as this sixth-easiest schedule still is coupled with a Vegas win over/under for Jacksonville of 7.5 games.
What say you, Jaguars fans? Will Jacksonville hit the over in 2025 (8+ wins), or...
