Jacksonville Jaguars 2023 schedule: Game-by-game score, record predictions and analysis

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play under the lights at least three times during the 2023 regular season.

Last week, the team got official word from the NFL that they’ll play three prime-time games and five total standalone games during the year with the NFL’s schedule release coinciding with the Jaguars’ performance from a season ago, winning the AFC South.

Jacksonville’s expectations have risen since the arrival of head coach Doug Pederson in 2022 after years of disappointing seasons.

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By virtue of schedule rotation, the Jaguars will play the NFC South this year along with the AFC North. The team will also play the first-place teams within the AFC, including the Buffalo Bills (AFC East) and the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) along with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC West last year.

Jacksonville will also play the AFC South, as usual, giving the team a total strength of schedule of .479, ranked 23rd in the league.

Compared to last year’s records, Jacksonville's relatively soft schedule should bode well for the team. Still, let’s take a look by going game-by-game in an effort to predict what is likely to come for the Jaguars this season.

Week 1: Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Prediction: Jaguars, 31, Colts 14

Thoughts: The Jaguars start their season off strong. They’ll face either a rookie quarterback (Anthony Richardson) or Gardner Minshew. That’s a win.

Record: 1-0

Week 2: Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: While this game could go either way and is at home for Jacksonville, the Chiefs are simply too good of a team to overcome early. Plus, have you seen Patrick Mahomes’ September record? It's 13-3. The Jaguars will have to wait until the playoffs to exact their revenge on Kansas City.

Record: 1-1

Week 3: Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Prediction: Jaguars 24, Texans 7

Thoughts: The Jaguars get this done effortlessly. The Texans have a long way to go and will be starting a rookie QB in CJ Stroud.

Record: 2-1

Week 4: Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons (London)

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Falcons 14

Thoughts: The team’s first game in London shouldn’t be difficult. The Falcons’ QB situation makes them a tough team to pick even with Bijan Robinson in the fold.

Record: 3-1

Week 5: Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (London)

Prediction: Bills 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: After an easy win the previous week, Jacksonville stays in London and travel fatigue sets in. Bills take this one, but it will be a tough battle.

Record: 3-2

Week 6: Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

Prediction: Colts 24, Jaguars 17

Thoughts: After two-straight London games, the Jaguars come back home and fall to the Colts, who have an improved Richardson at the helm. This is a typical trap game before a matchup against the Saints.

Record: 3-3

Week 7: Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (TNF)

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Saints 14

Thoughts: Feeling disgusted by their previous loss, the Jaguars get this one done under the bright lights in the Bayou.

Record: 4-3

Week 8: Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Steelers 17

Thoughts: The Jaguars have owned the Steelers, historically. This is a renewed rivalry, but the team gets it done on the road to cap their only back-to-back road games of the season.

Record: 5-3

Week 10: Jaguars vs. San Francisco 49ers

Prediction: 49ers 31, Jaguars 14

Thoughts: Coming off a bye week, this one doesn’t have to be a blowout, but it could, especially considering 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and the 49ers’ fantastic defense. This could be the only clunker by Jacksonville in the season.

Record: 5-4

Week 11: Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Titans 10

Thoughts: The Jaguars’ first matchup against the fighting Arden Keys went well and they took the second-place Titans down with ease.

Record: 6-4

Week 12: Jaguars at Houston Texans

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Texans 17

Thoughts: Again, the Texans have a long way to go. This one should come easy as they sweep Houston for the first time since 2017.

Record: 7-4

Week 13: Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals (MNF)

Prediction: Jaguars, 24, Bengals 21

Thoughts: This one will be tough, but the Jaguars are fortunate to play this one at home. The crowd will be going crazy ala last year’s season-ender and playoff game. Lawrence will finally beat Burrow.

Record: 8-4

Week 14: Jaguars at Cleveland Browns

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Browns 20

Thoughts: This game will be a sneaky tough matchup for Jacksonville. The Browns aren’t a powerhouse, but it would make sense if Deshaun Watson returned to form by this point. Still, the Jaguars' defense holds steady, and they sneak out of Cleveland with a win.

Record: 9-4

Week 15: Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens (SNF)

Prediction: Jaguars 35, Ravens 31

Thoughts: Another game that could go either way depending on who is healthy. The Jaguars barely beat the Ravens last year without Odell Becham Jr. And rookie Zay Flowers in the fold. Still, Jacksonville’s offense is too good to overcome for Baltimore.

Record: 10-4

Week 16: Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Buccaneers 14

Thoughts: The Buccaneers are about to experience a serious rebuild during their life after Tom Brady. This should come easy for Jacksonville late in the year.

Record: 11-4

Week 17: Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers

Prediction: Panthers 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: There is always one head-scratcher loss for teams and that’s this one for the Jaguars. Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young should be very improved by this point and Jacksonville gets caught napping.

Record: 11-5

Week 18: Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Jaguars, 21, Titans 14

Thoughts: The Jaguars sweep the Titans for a second-straight year. They’ll be playing this game for seeding purposes within the AFC, attempting to capture the second seed.

Final Record: 12-5

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars 2023 schedule: Game-by-game score predictions and analysis