Jaguars enjoy encouraging surge in NFL Power Rankings after win vs. Titans

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the worst NFL teams this season, so it wasn't particularly shocking to see them near the cellar of most power rankings in recent weeks. However, they showed in Week 14 that they haven't thrown in the towel when they beat the Tennessee Titans. The win has helped the Jags move up a few spots in the eyes of most analysts.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports placed Jacksonville at No. 27 after the divisional win. However, he thinks that the win over the Titans was counterproductive as they steered away from the No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

"They did the dumb thing and went out and beat the Titans. Now the top draft pick is slipping away from them."

Prior to the win, Jacksonville was on pace to earn the top overall selection but they're now slated to the No. 5 pick.

On the other hand, Eric Edholm of NFL Media argues that Doug Pederson and Mac Jones deserve credit for ending a nine-game losing streak without Trevor Lawrence dating back to last year.

"If Doug Pederson has to answer some tough questions about how this season has unfolded, he can at least point to the fact that on Sunday, his team ended a nine-game losing streak in road games that dated back to last December -- and the Jags accomplished it without Trevor Lawrence, clamping down in key situations to prevail after trailing in the fourth quarter."

Edholm acknowledges that Jones was far from great but did enough to pull off the win. Moreover, he highlights wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.'s performance in recent weeks, pointing out that has tallied 76+ yards in three consecutive games.

Thomas now has 54 receptions for 815 yards with six touchdowns. With four games left, he's on pace to set a new franchise record for yards and catches in a season by a rookie receiver. Moreover, he should have no trouble crossing the 1,000-yard mark.

On the other hand, Jones has yet to throw a touchdown in his three starts in Jaguars uniform. Then again, he did log two touchdowns when he replaced Trevor Lawrence in Week 13. Still, he's performance has left a bit much to be desired.

The Jaguars have a reason for celebration even if it comes with drawbacks

In a season when not many things have gone the way they expected, it's great to see the Jacksonville Jaguars get their third win. Having already been eliminated from playoff contention, they don't have much to play for, but they are still looking to finish the season strong. Doug Pederson certainly deserves credit for keeping the team focused. That said, the victory should be taken in context.

For starters, the Titans are among the worst teams in the NFL while the Jags aren't doing much better and have lost several close games this season. Maybe they'll finish the season strong and even win the remaining four games, but it will be meaningless. You could argue that their momentum will carry over into 2025 but there's a strong chance that Pederson will get the boot, so it won't matter whether they run the table or lose the rest of the way.

As a matter of fact, running the table could increase the chances of Pederson staying beyond 2024. Add the fact that the Jags may no longer hold the first overall pick, and that's probably not the outcome fans were looking for. Sure, the win is a reason for celebration, but it should be noted that it came with a few drawbacks.

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