The Jacksonville Jaguars have won three of their last four games, and in the AFC South, it only takes a small run to give any of the four teams a legitimate chance to win the division.
Confidence is currently building for the Jaguars, who improved to 4-6 with Thursday night’s 19-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.
“It’s big for everybody’s confidence,” center Stefen Wisniewski said, via the Florida Times-Union. “Obviously, with our division, we still have a great shot and these last two games were just so big for confidence, but to stay in it.”
The Jaguars came from behind, using a 63-yard punt return from Rashad Greene and Blake Bortles’ short touchdown pass to tight end Julius Thomas to take down the Titans. Now, a loss by both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans on Sunday will vault Jacksonville to first place in the AFC South. It’s a plausible scenario, as the Colts go on the road to play the Atlanta Falcons, while the Texans host the New York Jets.
“We haven’t been in this situation for a long time,” Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny said. “That’s great for the organization, great for this environment, great for these guys to be a part of and to now [say], ‘Hey, this is all going to count late in the year.’”
The Jaguars haven’t been within a game of the division lead at the end of Week 11 since 2010.
A division title isn’t a crazy thought considering Andrew Luck’s injury issues and the teams on Jacksonville’s schedule over the final six weeks.
Luck—who is dealing with a lacerated kidney—may not play again until into December for the 4-5 Colts. While veteran Matt Hasselbeck has been a strong backup, there’s no guarantee Indianapolis is going to keep rolling behind the 40-year-old quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars could be setting up to make a run. The team’s remaining schedule has only one team with a winning record, and that game against the Falcons will be played in Jacksonville. The Jaguars also get the Colts at home, plus division games against the Titans and Texans. Next week, the 2-7 San Diego Chargers travel across the country to Jacksonville.
Becoming the AFC South champion in 2015 might not require any more than seven or eight wins. The surging Jaguars can get there.