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Jacksonville Jaguars not only NFL playoff hopeful in AFC on a roll
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- Jacksonville Jaguars not only NFL playoff hopeful in AFC on a roll
The Denver Broncos have won 11 consecutive games. The Jacksonville Jaguars five straight. The Houston Texans six in a row. And the Los Angeles Chargers are 6-1 in their last seven.
The AFC's top teams are on a roll entering Week 16 as they jockey for playoff position.
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The Jaguars can clinch a playoff birth this weekend with a win over the Broncos and a Colts or Texans loss or tie. The Jaguars will also clinch a playoff birth with a tie vs. the Broncos and a Colts loss, or a Colts tie and a Texans loss.
Here is a look at the conference's postseason picture:
1. Denver Broncos
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
| 12-2 |
Beat Green Bay 34-26 |
Vs. Jacksonville (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
The Broncos took over the AFC's top spot with their win over Green Bay and New England 's loss/collapse to Buffalo and became the first team in the conference to clinch a playoff berth. Denver has won 11 consecutive games and has the NFL's best pass rush (58 sacks) and third down defense (31.9%). Safety Brandon Jones (pectoral) was placed on injured reserve and running back R.J. Harvey has a rib injury.
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2. New England Patriots
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 11-3 |
Bye |
at Baltimore (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
Not since 1978 had the Patriots blown a bigger home lead than their 21-0 advantage over the Bills in Week 15 (23-point blown lead back in '78). The Patriots' 10-game winning streak was snapped and they squandered a chance to clinch the AFC East. Now they go on the road for a prime-time game at the desperate Ravens . New England allowed five consecutive touchdown drives to Buffalo. Let's see if the Patriots respond like the Jaguars did after blowing a 19-point lead at Houston (haven't lost since). The Patriots clinch a playoff berth with a win over Baltimore or losses by Houston or Indianapolis .
JAGUARS 10 THOUGHTS: Fastest start since 1998 propelled Jaguars to rout of Jets
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 10-4 |
at Denver (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
Make it five consecutive wins and the franchise's first 10-win season since 2017 for the Jaguars . They clinch a playoff spot with a win over Denver and a loss by Houston or Indianapolis. The Jaguars' pass protection, which has thrown five sack shutouts this year, faces the big test in Denver's pass rush. Trevor Lawrence has been sacked 32 times, but 14 of those came in two games (Seattle/L.A. Rams ).
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4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers took the lead over Miami 17 seconds left before halftime and never looked back , leading by as many as 25 points early in the fourth quarter. A workmanlike victory in freezing conditions. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 23 of 27 for 224 yards. Important for the Steelers, who lead Baltimore by a game in the AFC North, is their 7-3 conference record (Ravens are 5-5). The teams meet in Week 18.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 10-4 |
Beat Philadelphia 22-19 (OT) |
At Dallas (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
The Chargers are 6-1 in their last seven games after completing the season sweep of Kansas City and eliminating the Chiefs from playoff contention. The Chargers won in frigid conditions (15 degrees, third-coldest game in franchise history) and rallied from a 13-3 deficit. Next up for quarterback Justin Herbert is dicing up Dallas' 31st-ranked scoring defense (30 points per game). The Chargers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by Houston or Indianapolis.
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6. Buffalo Bills
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 10-4 |
Beat Cincinnati 39-34 |
At Cleveland (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
When you have Josh Allen , you can allow 246 rushing yards on the road and still win. The Bills are 6-2 in their last eight games and Allen is making a late-season push to repeat as league MVP. He was 19 of 28 for 193 yards and three touchdowns against New England. The Bills have to be concerned about their run defense, which again stinks this year (30th). The Bills can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Cleveland and losses by Indianapolis or Houston.
7. Houston Texans
| Record |
Week 15 |
Week 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 9-5 |
Beat Kansas City 20-10 |
Vs. Las Vegas (Sunday, Dec. 21) |
The Texans are on a six-game heater, which started with their 19-point comeback against the Jaguars back in Week 10. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is re-finding his rhythm after missing time with a concussion, completing 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns against the woeful Cardinals. Running back Woody Marks (ankle) missed the second half of the game.
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In the hunt
8. Indianapolis (8-6):The Colts have lost four straight and are 1-5 in their last six and their gauntlet continues against San Francisco on Monday, Dec. 22. After Week 10, the Colts were 8-2 and held the AFC's No. 1 seed.
9. Baltimore (7-7):It is AFC North title or nothing for the Ravens and it would be a shocker if they find a way to overtake the Pittsburgh. The Ravens' remaining schedule is vs. New England, at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh. Their 3-5 home record will doom them.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-game win streak, remain in AFC's No. 3 spot
