In Week 18, all eyes will be on the Jacksonville Jaguars, as their win-and-in game against the Tennessee Titans will be crucial for several other AFC teams and their playoff hopes. If the Jaguars win in Nashville, the Buffalo Bills must beat the Miami Dolphins in order to make the playoffs; the Steelers must root for a Bills loss or they will miss the playoffs; and the Houston Texans will be the No. 6 or 7 seed.
But what happens if the Jaguars lose? The Bills can then make the playoffs with a loss, the Steelers as the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, and the Texans as the AFC South champions.
In short, the No. 4, No. 6, and No. 7 seeds are all dependent on the outcome of the Jaguars-Titans game, and the Bills and Steelers’ playoff hopes could hinge on the Jaguars’ win or loss. The bad news for the other AFC teams rooting for the Jaguars is that they haven’t lost to the Titans since Doug Pederson took over as coach, and the Titans are 5-18 in their last 23 games.
“Our goal of competing for a Super Bowl will never change.” “Getting into the playoffs is the only way to have a chance to win the Super Bowl,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said this week.
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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (right shoulder) will play against the Titans  in their next matchÂ
The Jaguars’ franchise quarterback will be available for the season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
Trevor Lawrence will play on Sunday despite a right shoulder injury that kept him out of last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers, his first missed start in the NFL.
Lawrence, who is also dealing with a left finger injury, was limited in practice all week before being designated as questionable for the weekend.
The availability of the third-year quarterback is critical for Jacksonville, as the AFC South and a playoff berth are still on the line in Tennessee.
With a win, the 9-7 Jaguars will be able to overcome their four-game losing streak from Weeks 13-16 and repeat as division champions, something they haven’t done since the 1998-1999 seasons.
A loss, on the other hand, would eliminate the Jags from postseason contention and hand the division to the Texans, who already defeated the Colts on Saturday.
Lawrence, who has 3,736 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2023, has dealt with a slew of injuries, including a high ankle sprain and a concussion, in the latter part of the season as Jacksonville has struggled.
He’s fit to play again, and he’s the team’s best chance of taking care of business rather than letting outside results determine its fate.
At 1 p.m. ET, his Jaguars will face the Titans (5-11).
