Jacksonville Jaguars: A look at the week 12 AFC playoff picture
By Billy Long
The Jacksonville Jaguars keep on winning, and with that, are positioning themselves in prime territory as the playoff push continues.
It’s Thanksgiving week, and there are bountiful reasons to be thankful for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team has become one of the feel good stories in 2017, and led by the top defense in the league, are winning week after week.
They haven’t all been pretty, but Jacksonville is currently riding a four game winning streak. After the win in Cleveland on Sunday, the Jaguars have improved to 7-3 and continue to increase the size of their safety net in the AFC playoff race.
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As the Jaguars gear up for their final game of November against the Arizona Cardinals, let’s take a look at how the AFC playoff picture shapes up in week 12.
AFC Standings
Division Leaders
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
2. New England Patriots (8-2)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
Wild Card
5. Tennessee Titans (6-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Jaguars would play host to the Baltimore Ravens, who Jacksonville thrashed 44-7 in London in week three. The Ravens are playing much better football since then, particularly on defense, but the Jaguars would still be the favorite at home in the rematch.
But things will change between now and January, and the wild card spots are wide open for the taking.
The Jaguars are Chiefs have been going in opposite directions in recent weeks. While Jacksonville has won four in a row, Kansas City has lost four of their last five. Because of that, and after taking control of the AFC South, the Jaguars have climbed all the way up to the three seed.
Looking at week 12, the Jaguars can continue to have their playoff odds skyrocket. If Jacksonville takes care of business against the Cardinals on Sunday, they will keep a hold on the lead in the division, as well as the lead on teams in wild card contention. The Jaguars have already made it very difficult to fall out of playoff contention at this point, and another win would make it almost impossible.
With a win, the Jaguars will most likely remain put at the three spot heading into week 13. Jacksonville has a chance, albeit a slim one, to move up to the second seed and momentarily have a first round bye in the playoffs. For that to happen though, the Jaguars would have to win, of course, and then have Brett Hundley and the Packers beat the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. So yeah, not great looking odds for moving up, for this week at least.
But in the big picture, all the Jacksonville Jaguars are worried about is handling their own business and continuing to win games. Win the games, and everything will fall into place for the Jaguars in the playoff race.