Finally, after all the waiting, we get our schedule.  Like I expected, it's a mixed bag of goodies.  No Thanksgiving game, though perhaps the re-tooled Detroit Lions can beat the reviled Titans while I gorge myself on fried turkey and cranberry sauce.  Seriously, how poorly does Vince Young have to perform in order for the NFL to realize he's not worth highlighting.  

Three "Prime-Time" games, but only one of the prestigious Sunday night games.  The Jaguars will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, October 5th.  That'll be a good one.  The we've got a Monday Night Football game against the Houston Texans on December 1st and we also host Indianapolis on a Thursday night game on december 18th.  

Divisional Schedule

As expected, we open the season on the road, this time against the Tennessee Titans.

Jacksonville HAS to get out to a fast start if they are to have any shot at winning their division, the Jaguars play at Tennessee and at Indianapolis  in weeks 1 and 3, then week four has us hosting the Texans.    If we come out firing, we could find ourselves 2-1 or 3-0 in the division nice and early.  Or we could eliminate ourselves from the divisional race right out of the gate.

Interestingly, we don't see our division rivals again till late november, where we host the Titans on November 26.  Our last divisional game, go figure, is against the Indianapolis Colts, where we could be battling for the divisional title.

Road Trips

How's Chicago in December for you?  December 7th to be specific.  That'll be on the chilly side.  Other than that, we've got two back to back away games, the Bengals and Lions back to back and then two weeks later at Houston and Chicago.  No three game road trips this year though, which is nice.  Every time we go on the road for two weeks the team comes back to back to back home stands, which is also nice.  

Toughest Stretch

September.  Everything we want out of the 2008 season is at stake in the first four weeks.  Starting out strong and winning out in September means everything as far as the divisional hunt.  We've got a nice bye week, right in the middle on October 19th, and no seriously intimidating series of away games.  Getting the NFC North does a nice job to offset some of the tougher AFC North teams.  Though we get Pittsburgh and Cleveland at home, rather than going to their house in December.

The Schedule

Sunday, September 7 at Tennessee Titans 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, September 14 BUFFALO BILLS 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, September 21 at Indianapolis Colts 4:15 p.m. CBS

Sunday, September 28 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, October 5 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8:15 p.m. NBC

Sunday, October 12 at Denver Broncos 4:05 p.m. CBS

Sunday, October 19 OPEN DATE

Sunday, October 26 CLEVELAND BROWNS 4:05 p.m. CBS

Sunday, November 2 at Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, November 9 at Detroit Lions 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, November 16 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, November 23 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1:00 p.m. FOX

Monday, December 1 at Houston Texans 8:30 p.m. ESPN

Sunday, December 7 at Chicago Bears 1:00 p.m. CBS

Sunday, December 14 GREEN BAY PACKERS 1:00 p.m. FOX

Thursday, December 18 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 8:15 p.m. NFLN

Sunday, December 28 at Baltimore Ravens 1:00 p.m. CBS

What do you thing?  Who's the toughest non-divisional game?  Season Predictions?

-Chris