Jacksonville Jaguars Host Tennessee Titans For AFC South on Saturday Night

The NFL had the opportunity to flex one game to a rare Saturday night time slot for Week 18, and they picked a good one. The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Tennessee Titans in their season finale in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC South title and the conference's number four seed.

Regardless of the outcomes in Week 17, the winner of the Jaguars and Titans game in Week 18 is guaranteed to win the AFC South. pic.twitter.com/1e7n87aSWY
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 25, 2022

The Jaguars and Titans faced off not all that long ago. In Week 14, the Titans were dominated at home by the Jaguars in a 36-22 blowout. Not a lot has gone their way since. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is hurt, and Josh Dobbs is expected to start in his stead. The Titans have lost three straight since that defeat and six games overall.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars appear to be cresting at just the right time. They've won four straight, scoring 30 or more points in three of four games. They won a gutsy 40-34 shootout over the NFC powerhouse Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 2061 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only two interceptions in his last eight starts. Running back Travis Etienne has totalled 380 yards from scrimmage over his last three contests with explosive marks of 5.88 yards per carry and 9.44 yards per target. Everything is pointing their way.

Everything except franchise history. The Jaguars have seldom found themselves in regular season games this significant, while the Titans have won the AFC South for two straight years and made the playoffs in four of the past five seasons. The Titans better hope experience plays a factor, and the Jaguars are simply too young and unseasoned for Saturday's bright lights. The Titans don't have much else going for them.