The Jacksonville Jaguars now know what their schedule will be for 2026. The Jags have some tough opponents, but for the most part, their strength of schedule ranks among the middle of the pack.
Jacksonville is slated to play in three prime-time games this season, as well as play in two standalone games in London.
Of course, how difficult a schedule is or isn’t will depend on a variety of things — travel time, when the bye is, and if there are any extended road trips all factor in. And there is also the reality that, even teams that go into 2026 looking weak can end up being a surprise. The 2025 Jaguars are a prime example of that.
And one of the most important factors for a team’s success is the quarterback leading it. Here are the five toughest QBs Jacksonville will face in 2026.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
If fans are honest, they’ll admit that the Patriots were successful in 2025 for two reasons, and two reasons only: their schedule was ridiculously easy, and Drake Maye is an incredible quarterback. Maye dragged New England to success and was runner-up to being named the league MVP. He was an elite quarterback in 2025, even though it was only his second year in the NFL.
Analysts expect Maye to improve even more in 2026. The Patriots added more offensive weapons for Maye to work with, and while there may be some level of regression because New England has a tougher schedule this year. But that doesn’t change how good he is, and there’s no doubt that he’ll still put up a big fight for the Jaguars defense.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears may have struggled in recent years, but that changed in 2025. And it’s because of QB Caleb Williams, who had a breakout season. He showed significant improvement from 2024 to 2025, and especially excelled at leading the Bears in fourth-quarter comebacks.
Under Ben Johnson, it’s expected that Williams will only continue to get better. The Bears retained most of their offense and made the offensive line even stronger, so he will likely still be a huge threat for the Jaguars.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati may be an inconsistent, struggling team, but the same can’t be said for Joe Burrow. He remains a top-tier quarterback, with elite accuracy and production, and a scarily accurate ability to read defenses.
Burrow was a Pro Bowler last year, and the Bengals retained both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They also upgraded the offensive line. It bodes well for Burrow, and perhaps not-so-great for the Jaguars.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts is a three-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl MVP, and has one of the best win percentages in the NFL. Hurts is also a true dual-threat quarterback, challenging opponents with both his arm and ability to extend plays when needed.
2025 was a less-than-stellar season for Hurts, and the Eagles as a whole, but Philadelphia has a new offensive coordinator, and Hurts still has plenty of weapons to work with. The Jaguars should underestimate him at their own risk.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
A two-time MVP, Jackson dismantles defenses in a variety of ways. His passer rating is among the best in NFL history, and it’s been argued that he is the best rushing quarterback of all time as well. He can throw deep passes and remain accurate, and he was the first quarterback to throw for over 30 touchdowns and run for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
Jackson struggled a bit more in 2025, which saw him face his first losing season… ever. And while he wasn’t as good as he has been in past seasons, it wasn’t because he stopped being a good quarterback. Under his new head coach, Jesse Minter, and a new offensive system, Jackson is expected to have a resurgence. And the Jaguars will have to take him on during prime-time television.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: NFL schedule: Ranking Jaguars’ toughest QB matchups in 2026
