Jaguars Playoff Chances: What does Jacksonville need to earn an AFC playoff spot?

The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a tough 19-3 win against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, boosting their playoff chances. They're now tied with the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South lead with seven wins. If the Titans lose on Sunday, the Jags will take first place on tiebreaker criteria.

This was Jacksonville's third straight win, and an unlikely run for the AFC South crown now has become very much possible. With a Week 18 game against the Tennessee Titans in hand, things could get better still.

Interested in betting? The Titans are favorites against the Texans in Week 16.

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Playoff scenarios for Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars entered Week 16 controlling their own destiny to earn a playoff spot, and they're still in great shape. While the Titans have one less loss, Jacksonville holds the tiebreaker advantage, meaning even if they reach Week 18 one game behind, it will be the kind of win-or-go-home matchup.

No other AFC South team can fight for the division title. The Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans are already eliminated from playoff contention.

While mathematically possible, a run for an AFC wild card spot is more than unlikely for Jacksonville, as they need a major run of results to earn a berth. The list is so long that it really doesn't matter: the division title is the real possibility, especially with the Titans struggling badly.

One important note: if they beat the Texans in Week 17, and the Titans lose their next two games, Jacksonville would enter the crucial Week 18 matchup with a game in front. In this scenario, a win for the Titans would see both teams finishing the season with an 8-9 record, and Tennessee would take the division crown based on their division record.

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Jacksonville Jaguars' schedule after Week 16

There are only two games remaining for the Jacksonville Jaguars following their win against the New York Jets. They travel to Houston to play against the Texans on New Year's Day and have the aforementioned game against the Titans on January 8.

There's a strong possibility that the Titans vs Jaguars matchup gets moved to Sunday Night Football on NBC because of the importance of the clash. Usually, Week 18 games with two teams fighting for a playoff spot are played on Sunday Night Football to close the regular season.