The Jacksonville Jaguars clinched the AFC South title with a 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 18. The game extended their winning streak to eight. The Jaguars got off to a poor start in the game as Tennessee held a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, however, Jacksonville responded with 41 unanswered points. The Titans struggled to generate anything in the game as rookie quarterback Cam Ward left the game with an injury following his touchdown.
The Jaguars were able to remove their starters late in the second half, as backup quarterback Nick Mullens got some rare playing time. Unlike several other teams around the league, the Jaguars were unable to rest their starters in Week 18 as they needed a win in order to clinch the division. Jacksonville had already clinched their place in the postseason after a win in Week 16 against the Broncos.
Now, the playoff picture is set for the Jaguars.
Jaguars’ Next Opponent: Who Will Jacksonville Play in the NFL Playoffs?
The Jaguars finished as the AFC’s No. 3 seed after both the Patriots and Broncos won their respective Week 18 matchups. Jacksonville will now host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round. The two teams did not face each other during the season, but they did play in the 2024 season, a game the Bills won 47-10 on Monday Night Football in Buffalo.
Additionally, the Bills and Jaguars faced off in the 2017 playoffs. On that occasion, Jacksonville came out on top 10-3. That game represented the end of the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought. That playoff run by the Jaguars was also the last time Jacksonville made the AFC Championship round, where they lost to the Patriots in controversial fashion.
Aside from a win over the Bills, the Jaguars will hope the No. 2 seed Patriots lose to the Los Angeles Chargers. A win by the Chargers and Jaguars would result in Jacksonville hosting a playoff game in the divisional round. If the Patriots and Jaguars both win, the Jaguars would go to New England to take on the Patriots in the divisional round.
The Bills and Jaguars meeting in the Wild Card round will be the first home playoff game in Jacksonville since the 2022 season. On that occasion, the Jaguars overcame a 27-0 deficit to punch their ticket to the divisional round.
NFL Playoff Schedule: Wild Card Round
The NFL is yet to announce when the Jaguars will play their opening matchup against the Bills. The Wild Card Round will feature two games being played on Saturday, January 10, three games on Sunday, January 11, and one Monday Night Football matchup on January 12.
The NFL is expected to announce the official playoff schedule on Sunday, January 4, during the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Ravens and Steelers. The winner of that matchup will determine the No. 4 seed for the AFC. Jacksonville will not face off against either of those teams unless they were to make the AFC Championship, in which case Jacksonville would have home-field advantage.
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