JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t had a winning record (or made the playoffs) since 2007, and they’ve lost 10 or more games the past six seasons, which is tied with Detroit (2001-06) and Cleveland (2008-13) for the third-longest such streak in NFL history. However, the 2017 schedule is manageable, even with a tough start and finish. I did this exercise in April but after seeing how the offensive line and quarterback situations unfolded in preseason, I've changed my mind.
Week 1: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 10, at Houston Texans
The Jaguars have lost six in a row to the Texans, but the two losses last season were by a combined four points. The Jaguars led 13-0 in the second quarter and blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter in the second meeting, and owner Shad Khan fired coach Gus Bradley after the game. CB A.J. Bouye returns to the team with which he played his first four seasons to deal with WR DeAndre Hopkins. Record: 0-1
Week 2: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 17, vs. Tennessee Titans
The Jaguars routed the Titans on Christmas Eve, which cost Tennessee a chance to win the division. They Jaguars also knocked QB Marcus Mariota out of the game with a broken leg. That was the first victory for interim coach Doug Marrone. The Titans are essentially the team the Jaguars want to become. Record: 0-2
Week 3: 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 24, vs. Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London
Joe Flacco's back injury has kept him out of the preseason, which means he’ll have roughly two weeks of work before traveling to the U.K. The Jaguars are 2-2 in Wembley the past four seasons and have won their past two. However, they’ve struggled against the Ravens. They’re 2-2 in the past four meetings, and the Jaguars twice had the ball inside the Baltimore 31-yard line in the fourth quarter but got no points in a 19-17 loss. Record: 0-3
Week 4: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 1, at New York Jets
This would seem like a lock for the Jaguars, but they’ve won just seven road games the past six seasons. The Jaguars’ defense should shut down the Jets’ offense regardless of which quarterback plays. Record: 1-3
Week 5: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 8, at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ offense is so explosive with Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, so this game will give a good indication of just how much the Jaguars’ defense, specifically the pass rush and coverage, has improved. That Brown vs. Jalen Ramsey/Bouye matchup should be fantastic to watch. Record: 1-4
Week 6: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 15, vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Jaguars’ only victory in four games against the Rams came in overtime in Jacksonville in 2009. It was a rough rookie season for Rams QB Jared Goff, and now he’s on his second offensive system under new coach Sean McVay. But hey, at least he didn’t have to learn how to take a snap under center this offseason. Record: 2-4
Week 7: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 22, at Indianapolis Colts
The Jaguars haven’t won in Indy since Sept. 23, 2012, (their first game against Andrew Luck) and have lost four in a row at Lucas Oil Stadium. Luck has dominated the Jaguars (2,257 yards, 14 TDs, five INTs), and he led the Colts back from a 17-0 deficit in the 2016 season finale. Record: 2-5
Week 8: bye
Week 9: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 5, vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati absorbed some big losses in free agency the past two seasons, including G Kevin Zeitler and LT Andrew Whitworth this past March, so maybe this could be a game in which the Jaguars’ pass rush really asserts itself. WR A.J. Green vs. Bouye/Ramsey is another great matchup to watch. Record: 2-6
Week 10: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 12, vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s return to Jacksonville will obviously be a major storyline, but remember how badly QB Philip Rivers has destroyed the Jaguars in his career: He has completed 71.2 percent of his passes for 2,119 yards and 19 touchdowns with only four interceptions in seven meetings (6-1 record). And don’t forget Joey Bosa, who is already one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers in just his second season. Record: 2-7
Week 11: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 19, at Cleveland Browns
The Jaguars should win this game on the road, which would give them multiple road victories in a season for just the second time since 2010. Record: 3-7
Week 12: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 26, at Arizona Cardinals
This will be a homecoming for DE Calais Campbell, who spent the past nine seasons with the Cardinals. Arizona RB David Johnson is a nightmare for defenses to handle because he’s just as dangerous as a pass-catcher as he is as a runner. However, there are also two really good individual matchups worth watching: Ramsey/Bouye vs. Larry Fitzgerald and Allen Robinson vs. Patrick Peterson. Record: 3-8
Week 13: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 3, vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Jaguars have never beaten Luck at EverBank Field. In three games in Jacksonville, Luck has led the Colts to three victories by a combined score of 108-30. Remember, it was Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst quarterbacking the Colts in the Jaguars’ 51-16 victory in 2015. Record: 4-8
Week 14: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 10, vs. Seattle Seahawks
The last time these teams met, the Seahawks rolled up 28 first downs, 479 yards and three forced turnovers in a 45-17 rout. That was four years ago, and the Jaguars are better now, but this game could get ugly if Blake Bortles turns the ball over. The Seahawks’ defense might not be as good as it was when the team won the Super Bowl, but Seattle should be all over Bortles and banging around the receivers. It’ll be tough for the Jaguars’ offense to do much. Record: 4-9
Week 15: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 17, vs. Houston Texans
Depending on how the season unfolds, Deshaun Watson could be starting for the Texans by this point (or maybe even sooner). If he’s the real deal -- and he looked pretty darn good early in the preseason -- then that’s another potential draft pick the Jaguars didn’t make that could haunt them for years. Record: 4-10
Week 16: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 24, at San Francisco 49ers
Entering the season, the Jaguars have lost eight consecutive road games in the Pacific Time Zone dating to a 13-6 victory over Oakland in the final game of the 2004 season. That’s the longest active losing streak among teams that are based in the Eastern Time Zone. The Jaguars have lost those games by an average of 20.9 points per game, too. Record: 4-11
Week 17: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 31, at Tennessee Titans
Last season’s 36-22 embarrassment at Nissan Stadium on a Thursday night was the low point of the Bradley regime. The Titans could be playing for the division title this week (I expect a close race between the Titans and Texans), while the Jaguars are just trying to avoid finishing on a sour note. Record: 4-12