The AFC playoff picture still includes a scenario where the Jaguars and Titans can both get into the postseason but a lot needs to happen.
Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Jaguars and Titans is being billed as a winner-take-all matchup. Whoever emerges victorious will indeed take the AFC South division title and the playoff spot that comes with it.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s a do-or-die scenario for the two teams.
As Ari Meirov pointed out on Twitter, there is a scenario where both sides advance to the postseason.
AFC playoff picture: How both the Jaguars and Titans can make the playoffs
- Titans beat Jaguars
- Patriots lose to Bills
- Dolphins lose to Jets
- Steelers lose to Browns
Basically, the Titans have to beat the Jaguars because a Jacksonville win would hand Tennessee their 10th loss, eliminating them from the plays. If the Jags lost, they’d drop to 8-9 with the chance to end up in a tiebreaker scenario with the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers.
From there, Jacksonville would need each of those teams to lose their final matchup, keeping them all at 8-9.
A win for the Patriots would put them in regardless of other results. They can also get in despite a loss is Miami, Pittsburgh and Tennessee all lose. The Dolphins need to win and New England to lose. The Steelers need the Dolphins and Patriots to lose while also beating Cleveland.
If all of those losses came together, the Jaguars would be able to grab the final AFC Wild Card spot despite losing the AFC South divisional race. It’s a longshot but it’s possible.
Of course, Jacksonville won’t be thinking about anything but being in a win-and-in scenario. A win is the goal regardless of alternative scenarios. They won’t want to depend on the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers screwing up to get them in.