Big Cat Country Q&A: Who are the Jaguars opponents for 2020?

Let’s answer some questions ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars facing the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16!

Nick from Tampa, FL

Q: What are our opponents looking like next season? Also, I feel like this has been the weirdest season in franchise history with everything that has happened so far.

A: I’m glad it took until the next-to-last week in the season to start talking about 2020 opponents. We’ll play the NFC North and AFC North next season — the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens will be away, the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers will be home. We’ve also got six games against the AFC South and all three teams are better than the Jaguars at this point. (Sigh.) We’ll finish out with the last place teams in the AFC West (either the Los Angeles Chargers or Denver Broncos) and AFC East (Miami Dolphins).

Christopher from Casa Grande, AZ

Q: Do you see any way that Doug Marrone goes and Dave Caldwell stays?

A: I have zero idea what Shad Khan is going to do. I’d hit the restart on everything, but Marrone and Caldwell’s contracts don’t run out until 2021. He could give them both another year. If I had to predict, it would be Marrone and Caldwell both staying next season.

Keith from Jacksonville, FL

Q: How does the firing of Tom Coughlin change the Jaguars’ draft strategy if (gulp!) Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone are retained if the Jaguars win the last two games?

A: By all accounts, the one guy who wanted Nick Foles under center has now been fired. If the Jaguars win their final two games and Gardner Minshew finishes the season with a 7-5 record, I think they’d use 2020 to build around him. You still have two first-round picks in 2021 in case he’s not the guy and you can package those picks to go get your guy then. But if Minshew manages seven wins in his rookie season, he absolutely warrants an all-in approach from this regime.

Chris from Jacksonville, FL

Q: Who is the next to be fired? Who is going to replace them?

A: Regardless of Doug Marrone being retained or fired, I suspect Todd Wash is on his way out.

Austin from Jacksonville, FL

Q: I can’t help but want Doug Marrone to get one more year, especially seeing player response to Tom Coughlin being gone, as well as their desire for him to stay. Can he earn one more year if they win out?

A: Yes.

TK from Naples, FL

Q: Michael Walker is speedy playmaker, don’t you think they should try to get him the ball in space sometimes?

A: No.

Andrew from Gainesville, FL

Q: Is it okay to cry yet?

A: It’s always okay to cry, Andrew.

Matthew from Tallahassee, FL

Q: How do you stop Julio Jones on Sunday?

A: You cannot stop Julio Jones. You can only hope to contain him. That’s not an overused cliche (okay, it is) but it’s the truth. Todd Wash joked they’d be rushing one man and putting 10 into coverage. Jones is going to have his way on Sunday, but it’s about limiting his impact and making sure we keep him and Matt Ryan on the sidelines. I foresee a 24-21 type game this weekend.