The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding a six-game winning streak. Their latest victory came against the Denver Broncos and has put them at 11-4. Having taken care of business, they're in control of their playoff destiny, but that doesn't mean they should have a rooting interest in the outcome of the other matchups.
In fact, the Jags should be rooting for the San Francisco 49ers when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night. Here's why.
The Jaguars can make the playoffs with a 49ers win on Monday Night Football
After beating Denver 34-20 at Mile High, the Jaguars are pretty much a lock to make the playoffs. They have games remaining against the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans. Both are winnable matchups, so finishing with a 13-4 record suddenly seems realistic. Having said that, Jacksonville hasn't clinched a postseason berth yet.
And tha'ts the thing, a meltdown is highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened in the NFL. The Colts suddenly could get hot and finish the season strong. Similarly, the Houston Texans are lurking right behind the Jags and could realistically get ahead of them in the race for the AFC South.
However, San Francisco can take a bit of pressure off Jacksonville's shoulders with a win over the Colts, as it would help the Jaguars clinch a playoff spot and knock Indy out of playoff contention. A 49ers win would also ensure that both the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers get in.
It's also worth noting that even if the Jaguars clinch a playoff berth on Monday night, they've yet to win the AFC South. Houston is 10-5 and within striking distance, so they can't afford to lose to the Colts or Tennessee in Weeks 17 or 18, respectively. Right now, Jacksonville's odds of seizing the division crown sit at 77.3 percent.
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Can the Jaguars trust the 49ers to beat the Colts?
You bet. Even though the 49ers have dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout the year — they lost edge rusher Nick Bosa for the year, while quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey missed time — they've found ways to win. In fact, they've already clinched a playoff spot while the Colts have struggled to win games after an Achilles tear cut Daniel Jones' season short.
The Colts have lost four in a row and haven't managed to bounce back despite the fact that they brougth in the aging Philip Rivers in a desperate effort to keep their season afloat. Meanwhile, the Niners have won five out of six and suddenly look in great shape to make a deep playoff run.
Sure, you should always expect the unexpected in the NFL, but if the 49ers play the way they have and take care of business against the Colts, the Jaguars can start planning for the postseason.