JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter/producer Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville in a Week 18 game Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Best ever? Very possible. The 12-4 Jaguars can clinch the AFC South Sunday. That opportunity and the accompanying chance for 13 victories put this season in the conversation for the best regular season in franchise history. A 13th victory would put this Jaguars team behind only the 14-2 1999 team for most victories in a season in franchise history, but this team has navigated a far tougher schedule than that team that lost at home in the AFC Championship Game to the Tennessee Titans. The '99 team, remember, played just one team in the regular season that finished with a winning record – and lost both games to the 13-3 Titans. The Jaguars this season have four victories over "power teams" – 34-20 over the 13-3 Denver Broncos, 26-18 over the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers, 35-6 over the 11-5 Los Angeles Chargers and 17-10 over the 11-5 Houston Texans – and they also have victories over the .500 Indianapolis Colts (two) and .500 Carolina Panthers. If the Broncos and 49ers both win Sunday, those two teams will enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively – meaning this Jaguars team would have road victories over the two "best" teams in the NFL. This may not be the best overall roster in franchise history, but a victory Sunday would very likely make this the best Jaguars regular season ever.
2. Better and better. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence's ascension continues to make the Jaguars a legitimate Super Bowl threat – and if his no-touchdown, one-interception performance in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday makes that statement seem oddly timed, consider: While Lawrence went without a passing touchdown Sunday for the first time since Week 9, and while he had two bad throws – one of which resulted in an interception – he continued otherwise playing at a remarkably high level. He continues to play with confidence, and he stood tall in the pocket and completed big-time, first-down converting passes on multiple occasions against fierce and violent pressure Sunday. He also continues making increasingly better pre-snap and in-play decisions as he becomes more comfortable in his first season in Head Coach Liam Coen's offense – and his chemistry with trusted receivers such as Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange continues developing. Lawrence sustained no significant dropoff Sunday. If he stays at his current level or ascends just a bit, this team will be very tough to beat in January.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

1. Time to send the Titans packing. Sunday marks the final game at EverBank Stadium in its current status, with reduced capacity planned for next season and the renovated State of the Future expected to open for the 2028 season. The Houston Oilers beat the Jags 10-3 in the Inaugural Game at the stadium in 1995. The Tennessee Oilers beat the Jaguars, 16-13, in December 1998 and delayed the Jaguars claiming their first AFC Central title. The 1999 Jaguars lost all three games to that franchise – newly named the Titans that season -- including the AFC Championship Game in Jacksonville. The Titans then knocked the Jaguars from the postseason with a 28-20 victory over the Jaguars in Nashville in the 2023 regular-season finale. It seems fitting to close out the original EverBank Stadium era with a statement victory over an old rival that has more than its share of such victories than I care to recall.
2. A healthy offensive line will be the difference in January. There was a stretch of the current seven-game winning streak whenLawrence was barely touched, but he has been hit 22 times and sacked seven times in victories over the Broncos and Colts the past two games. They Jaguars have good depth on the line. They love reserve center Jonah Monheim and are praising the recent reserve work of Walker Little at right guard, who have played extensively in the last two games – but most of the Jaguars' success this season has been with Robert Hainsey at center and Patrick Mekari at right guard. If the Jaguars' offensive line is ready to roll on Wild Card Weekend, I have a very strong, very high level of confidence in the group's ability to keep the offense rolling as it has for most of this season.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. Jags need to avoid a cold start. A flu bug tearing through the locker room locker room is the latest adversity this team will battle before the start of the postseason. Coen missed most of practice Wednesday due to illness and edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen told the media it feels like half the roster is dealing with some sort of sickness right now. I have no doubt the Jags will play through things Sunday, but they need to do their best to avoid a cold start. The Colts showed last week that just because a team is eliminated from the playoff hunt, it doesn't mean that team won't put up a good fight.
2. Jacksonville must use Sunday to perfect the details. In the final game before the playoffs, I hope to see a few key improvements for the Jags. The penalties have been held in check the last month, but the Jaguars' highest count of 13 this season came against the Titans in Week 13. I also hope to see improvement with the offensive line, which has been banged up the last few weeks. Some players such as tackle Cole Van Lanen and center Jonah Monheim have stepped in and played well, while others such as Walker Little need to pick it up. Finally, I want to see the Jags continue to stick with the run. The success of the passing game lately has been amazing, but in postseason play it always comes down to the run. I want to see the team establish the run early and utilize running back Travis Etienne Jr. as needed going forward.