After beating the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night, the Jacksonville Jaguars can enjoy a long weekend. But just because they don't play Sunday doesn't mean they shouldn't be paying attention to the outcome of other games.
While the Jags are 6-4 after their latest win, they'll probably want to keep an eye on the rest of the division and other teams in the AFC who are in the thick of the playoff race. After all, Sunday's results could impact the seeding in the conference.
And with this in mind here are a Jaguars rooting guide for Week 9. Enjoy.
Week 9 rooting guide for Sunday, November 8
Houston Texans (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)
After beating the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars in back-to-back weeks, it looked like the Houston Texans were going to make a push to finish the season after starting 0-4. However, they proceeded to lose to the New York Giants in overtime. The Texans then had their BYE and will next face off against a winless Los Angeles Chargers team. This game has upset written all over it.
The Chargers haven't shown signs of life this season, and Jim Harbaugh's seat is suddenly heating up. The same is true for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels, who's moved into an upstairs booth to call the plays after spending most of the season on the sidelines in an effort to shake things up.
Either Houston is going to rage, or the Bolts are going to pull off the upset; there doesn't appear to be anything in between. That said, the Jags will probably be rooting for Los Angeles, as a win would stick a massive fork in the Texans' playoff hopes.
Indianapolis Colts (2-6) at Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
Say what you want about the Indianapolis Colts punting on the season when they held a fire sale, but trading Quenton Nelson seems like the right call, as he'll miss time after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage, which will sideline him for a while. Anyway, Indy will face a Dallas Cowboys club that's trying to gain ground in the NFC East race.
With a loss, the Cowboys will have trouble catching up with the Giants, so expect them to come out swinging. But even if Dallas lost, a Colts' win won't be a threat to the Jags, as they have a comfortable lead in the division.
Tennesee Titans BYE
Bonus Week 9 rooting guide
The Buffalo Bills also have their bye in Week 9, so they will retain the top seed in the AFC South regardless of how things unfold. Having said that, the Jaguars should be paying attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers will be facing off against a Washington Commanders team that is trying to keep its playoff hopes alive. If they come out on top, not only will they weaken Pittsburgh but could also make a strong push for Brian Thomas Jr., who was teammates with Jayden Daniels at LSU.
On the other hand, the Broncos already beat Jacksonville this season, so they'll have tie-breaker. That said, a loss to the Carolina Panthers would put the Jags within striking distance of the third seed (if the Steelers lose).
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