Jaguars get spark of hope from hated rival Titans with upset win in Week 12

While the Jacksonville Jaguars enjoyed their much-needed Bye, lots of things happened in Week 12, and a few of them affected them. For instance, the Tennessee Titans upset the Houston Texans and inadvertently gave the Jags a reason for optimism in what's otherwise been an unremarkable season.

That's right, Jacksonville and playoffs are two words you probably wouldn't type in the same sentence at this point of the season. However, they surprisingly still have a chance, albeit a remote one, to punch their way in.

The Jaguars are 2-9 following the Bye and will next face the hurting Texans. They already lost their first matchup but Houston is vulnerable, having lost four of the last six games. Their last defeat came at the hand of a Tennessee team that didn't have much to play for but hasn't thrown in the towel.

Heck, it didn't look like the Titans had a chance. Sophomore quarterback Will Levis was sacked a whooping eight times, many of them because he lacks pocket awareness. Nevertheless, he got up every single time and kept fighting, just like a Tennesse defense that kept rattling C.J. Stroud and forced him to take a safety to seal the win late in the game.

Of course, the loss goes beyond Stroud but the Texans are tumbling after a strong start to the season, and the Titans' win has now given Jacksonville a slight opening in the thick of the playoff race.

Where do the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence stand in the playoff race?

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a humiliation against the Detroit Lions in Week 11. Changes were expected following the 52-6 loss, but owner Shad Khan stayed put and it looks like he'll decide the fate of head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke until the offseason. One big reason that could be the course of action he'll take is that the Jags somehow remain in the thick of the playoff race.

That's right, the Jags would have a 20 percent chance of winning the division or earning a Wild Card berth if they run the table, according to Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union. For the time being, ESPN puts them at less than 1.0 percent.

Crazier things have happened, and the Jaguars face a steep hill to climb, the thought of having a chance despite their underwhelming record could incentivize the team to rally the rest of the way.

The X-Factor could turn out to be Trevor Lawrence. The fourth-year quarterback has been dealing with a shoulder sprain and missed the two games before the Bye. During his absence, former first-round pick Mac Jones filled in for him and showed how dreadful the offense is without Lawrence, mustering a combined 13 points in the two losses.

If Lawrence is healthy enough and returns, the Jaguars may have a legitimate opening. There's no guarantee it will happen, and if they play the way they did before the Bye, it won't matter that the AFC South is in bad shape. Conversely, Jacksonville could seize the division or a playoff seed if they take advantage of the opportunity like they did in 2022. That year, they won six of their last seven games and made their way to the postseason. Can they pull it off again?

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