Breaking down the Jaguars' top 5 home and away matchups on 2022 schedule

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson's first season in Jacksonville is going to be daunting. He is tasked with turning around a franchise that's had 10 losing seasons in 11 years.

They have landed the No. 1 overall pick the previous two seasons because they finished with the worst record in the NFL in both 2020 and 2021. But just after he was hired, Pederson acknowledged it's not going to be an overnight fix to turn around the Jaguars.

Starting with the season opener Sept. 11 against the Washington Commanders on the road, the Jaguars and Pederson have 17 weeks' worth of challenges. How they do it is anybody's guess?

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But here is a look at the top five home matchups and top five away matchups that are in no particular order.

FIVE BEST HOME MATCHUPS

Baltimore Ravens, Nov. 27

The Jaguars have lost two of their last three meetings against Baltimore, including a 40-14 shellacking in 2020. But this could be an opportunity for the Jaguars to pull off an upset this season at TIAA Bank Field. The Ravens' offensive line is no longer a strength after allowing quarterback Lamar Jackson to be sacked 38 times last season. Jackson is always a threat to make a big-play but he threw a career-high 13 interceptions and was unable to lead the Ravens to the playoffs after they started the season with an 8-3 record. However, Baltimore landed a generational caliber safety with the selection of former Notre Dame All-American Kyle Hamilton, and they re-signed six-time Pro Bowler and former Jaguars Calais Campbell to anchor their defensive front.

Tennessee Titans, Jan 7/8 TBA

This will be the game where the Jaguars will see if their emphasis on using five of the seven picks in the draft to defensive players will be a difference. The Titans are not going to do anything fancy other than trying to run the ball directly at the Jaguars with Yulee native Derrick Henry. The strategy has worked because the Jaguars have lost five games in a row to the Titans, which includes getting swept in the two-game series in 2021.

Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 18

The Cowboys had the highest-scoring offense last (31.2) and they led the league in total offense (407.0). Quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs a big game, and they need a breakout performance from both wide receiver Christian Kirk and running back Travis Etienne because they have all the makings of a scoring shootout. If the Jaguars' front seven can disrupt Cowboys Dak Prescott it increases their chances of pulling off the upset significantly. It will be Dallas' first visit to Jacksonville since 2006.

Las Vegas Raiders, Nov. 6

The Raiders went from finishing 8-8 in 2020 to going 10-7 last season and making the playoffs. The Jaguars worked extensively toward improving their cornerbacks room with the signing of former Los Angeles Rams' Darious Williams, even though they already have Shaq Griffin and Tyson Campbell. They are going to need a big effort from every one in the secondary because the Raiders have one of the best big-play receivers in the league in Davante Adams, who they acquired in an offseason trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Indianapolis Colts, Sept. 18

Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Carson Wentz is no longer with the Indianapolis Colts, who they traded to the Washington Commanders. But the Jaguars will face him in the season opener on the road at Washington. The Colts' starting quarterback is now Matt Ryan. But the Jaguars need to disrupt him the same way they did Wentz in the season finale when they sacked him six times and turned the ball over twice, which led to 10 points. The Jaguars beat the Colts 26-11, which kept them from making the playoffs. Revenge will be on the Colts players' minds, but the Jaguars will look to extend their streak to eight in a row at home against Indianapolis.

FIVE BEST ROAD MATCHUPS

Philadelphia Eagles, Oct. 12

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson will be facing the franchise that he led to their first Super Bowl title during the 2017 season. Although Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie fired him after the 2020 season when they fared 4-11-1, Pederson is still revered in the City of Brotherly Love because his 42 wins in five seasons ranks as the fifth-most in franchise history. On another front, even though quarterback Gardner Minshew is a backup quarterback, it will be his first game against the Jaguars since they traded him last August. The Jaguars have not played the Eagles since 2018 when they lost 24-18 in London. The Jaguars have lost the last three meetings against the Eagles (2018, 2014, and 2010).

Los Angeles Chargers, Sept. 25

This one will be about two young emerging quarterbacks — the Chargers' Justin Herbert and Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence. In 2021, Lawrence did not have the rookie season that Herbert enjoyed in 2020. Herbert, a sixth overall pick in 2020, set the NFL rookie record for most touchdowns (31) and most completions (396). A dysfunctional mess created mainly by former head coach Urban Meyer overshadowed Lawrence's rookie season. Lawrence's receivers dropped too many passes, and he threw 17 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns. This game will be a testament to show Lawrence's growth in Year 2 with a more stable and NFL-experienced coaching staff. The Chargers have been the Jaguars' nightmare since 2010, winning eight of the last nine meetings with most of the damage caused by now-retired quarterback Phillip Rivers. The Chargers still have big-play weapons like receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, who are going to provide the Jaguars rebuilt defense a substantial test.

Detroit Lions, Dec. 4

Jaguars No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker is going to be compared to edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for his entire career. But the comparisons will definitely be the focus during the week the Jaguars play the Lions for Walker's first game against the Lions, who drafted Hutchinson No. 2 overall. Before the April 28 draft, Hutchinson was considered to be the safe pick, a more polished edge rusher than Walker. However, the Jaguars selected Walker because they thought he was a better fit based on his potential and versatility to play multiple positions. Playing the Lions also means the Jaguars will be facing wide receiver DJ Chark, who signed a one-year deal with Detroit after spending his first four seasons in Jacksonville. The Jaguars wanted to re-sign Chark, but he wanted to start a new chapter with another franchise after his 2021 season was cut short after suffering a broken ankle against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.

Kansas City Chiefs, Nov. 13

The Chiefs traded their top playmaker, Tyreek Hill, to the Miami Dolphins after negotiations for a contract extension broke down. Still, the Jaguars won't be able to catch a break because the Chiefs offense remains potent with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and they added receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. If the Jaguars cannot get an effective pass rush to disrupt Mahomes or force takeaways, this one could be over quickly. Memories have not diminished from Jacksonville's last trip to Arrowhead Stadium when they were riding high with a 3-1 record, including a huge 31-20 home victory over New England during Week 2 of the 2018 season. Then, the Jaguars got hit with the reality that their team, led by former quarterback Blake Bortles wasn't that good. They were dominated by the Chiefs, losing 30-14, before going on to lose the next six games before finishing the season with a disappointing 5-11 record after reaching the AFC Championship game in 2017.

New York Jets, Dec. 22

Both the Jaguars and Jets have been at rock bottom since 2018. During the stretch, the Jets have gone 17-48. The Jaguars have had the worst record in the league over the past two seasons to land the No. 1 overall pick in back-to-back years. Both franchises can't go anywhere but up. The Jets, though, drafted well this offseason, adding cornerback Ahmad Gardner, former Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. In free agency, they improved their offensive line by signing former 49ers guard Laken Tomlinson, and they provided second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick behind Lawrence in the 2021 draft, with playmaking tight end C.J. Uzomah. It is yet another challenging road game for the Jaguars and Lawrence. Last season, Wilson earned bragging rights over Lawrence when he led the Jets to a 26-21 victory. Wilson set the franchise's single-game rushing record for a quarterback with 91 yards on four carries, most of it coming on a 52-yard touchdown run.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: NFL schedule: What are Jaguars' top home, away games in 2022?