JACKSONVILLE – The turnaround has happened.
That doesn't mean it's complete.
The Jaguars on Sunday can clinch their first AFC South title in three seasons, and they can finish the season with a nine-game improvement on their record from a season ago. That's cool. It's impressive. But as wide receiver Parker Washington sees it, it's far from the ultimate goal.
"We've come a long way and we're just going to keep building on that," he said.
Washington spoke Monday, a day after the Jaguars’ 23-17 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts (8-8) moved them to 12-4 entering Sunday’s Week 18 game against the Tennessee Titans (3-13) at EverBank Stadium. They can clinch a third AFC South title in nine seasons with a victory Sunday, with the game also having ramifications for playoff seeding.
"We haven't had any of those conversations," said Head Coach Liam Coen, who on Sunday became the first first-year head coach in NFL history to coach a team to 12 victories after the team won four or fewer games the season before.
"We're playing for a division," Coen added. "We're obviously playing for a number of things. For us to go and execute at the level we need to, it needs to be trending toward playoff football. I think a lot of these guys will understand that this week."
The Jaguars, winners of seven consecutive games and eight of the last nine, have secured a postseason appearance. They will win the South with a victory or tie Sunday or with a Houston Texans tie or loss against the Colts in Houston.
"It's just been cool to have this staff push us to be better and it's just cool to see where we're at now," Washington said. "I'm excited, we're excited and we're ready to have some fun."
The Texans-Colts and Jaguars-Titans both kickoff at 1 p.m., with the South winner assured of a home playoff game.
"We really need that," Jaguars defensive Travon Walker said. "As far as the atmosphere, there's nothing like once you get into the playoffs, a home game and the crowd's just electrifying. I feel like that's kind of an extra defender or extra player that we have, the fans.
"That'll play a major role and that'll definitely be lovely to get a home playoff game as well."
Next Up in the 'Bank
The Jaguars host the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 at EverBank Stadium. The team will close out the regular season in their Prowler throwback uniforms.
The Jaguars also remain in contention for the AFC's No. 1 or No. 2 seed. They will be the No. 1 seed if they win Sunday – and the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (13-3) lose to the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Sunday and the AFC East-leading New England Patriots (13-3) lose to the Miami Dolphins (7-9) in New England Sunday.
The Jaguars will be the No. 2 seed with a victory Sunday and a loss by either Denver or New England. They will be the No. 3 seed with a victory Sunday and victories by Denver and New England.
"It's kind of tricky," Walker said. "You really still want guys to continuously do what they've been doing throughout the whole process of the season. That did play a major part in where we are now into our season – everybody's preparation, what they've been doing leading up into games and things of that nature.
"But I really don't like trying to make it bigger than it's supposed to be because we've been doing this all year and we just want to continuously do what we've been doing prepping wise to get to where we are now."
NOTABLE
- Center Jonah Monheim made his second career start Sunday, with Coen on Monday praising the seventh-round rookie from Southern California for a "great job" in a game in which the Jaguars rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns with two sacks allowed on quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Monheim started Sunday for veteran Robert Hainsey, who sustained a groin injury in a victory over the Denver Broncos the previous week. "The operation was clean, didn't feel like there were any real issues from that standpoint – or handling multiple different cadences throughout the game," Coen said. "His snaps were all really good. I didn't feel any sort of difference. So, credit a guy that has prepared the right way all season long. Every week you really can tell Jonah's locked into the plan. He takes so much from Hainsey. They communicate so much. That group has communicated at a high level and credit the coaching staff for continuously working with him to get him prepared. I was proud of Jonah."
QUOTABLE
- Washington: "Making it about us, that's so important. When we start to look at the outside noise too much and let that be our foundation, that's when it crumbles. This whole process we've just been looking within and then letting a little bit of outside noise fuel us in a way and just give us that extra little cherry on top. It has just been cool. When you're doing something new and changing the organization or program around, a lot of people aren't going to believe. So, it's just been cool to make this change and have some fun doing it, and we're excited."
Swipe through to relive this Week 17 victory! From top fan photos and celebrations to behind-the-scenes locker room moments. 🏈
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
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GM James Gladstone, HC Liam Coen, and EVP Tony Boselli
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HC Liam Coen
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