NFL playoffs: Implications of Jaguars-Titans for AFC rankings in Week 18

Jaguars vs. Titans: AFC Playoff Implications

On the final day of the 2025 NFL regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face off against the Tennessee Titans in a crucial AFC South matchup.

The Titans have already been knocked out of playoff contention, which means they’re looking ahead to the offseason. Meanwhile, the Jaguars still have a shot at the postseason and need to put in some effort on this last Sunday.

So, what does this game mean for the AFC playoff picture? Let’s break it down.

Jacksonville Jaguars AFC South Scenario

First, let’s think about the AFC South.

As the season wraps up, Jacksonville stands in third place overall in the AFC and leads the AFC South with a 12-4 record.

Hot on their heels are the Houston Texans, who are at 11-5.

This puts the Jaguars just one game ahead of the Texans as they head into the final day. Both teams are already in the playoffs, but securing a home game in Week 18 is something to strive for.

The Jaguars will play the Titans on Sunday, while the Texans will take on the Indianapolis Colts. Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South with a win or tie against the Titans. However, even if the Texans lose or tie against the Colts, they could still emerge as AFC South champions.

Jacksonville Jaguars No. 1 Seed Scenario

But the AFC South isn’t the only thing the Jaguars are eyeing this weekend.

Jacksonville also has a slim chance of landing the No. 1 seed.

Right now, the Denver Broncos are in a solid position for that spot with a 13-3 record. The Broncos and Patriots are tied, but Denver holds the tiebreaker advantage due to their shared game record.

The Jaguars are one game behind at 12-4.

If they beat the Titans, the Broncos lose to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Patriots lose to the Miami Dolphins, then Jacksonville will snag that top seed.

On the flip side, if the Jaguars falter and miss the AFC South title, they could drop to the seventh seed. If they lose to the Titans, while the Texans beat the Colts and the Chargers defeat the Broncos, along with several other teams winning, it could get messy for Jacksonville.

That scenario seems a bit unlikely, but it’s worth noting just in case.

With the Titans already out of playoff contention, this game doesn’t impact them in terms of tiebreakers. The outcomes primarily affect the Jaguars’ playoff positioning.