JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser and senior correspondent Brian Sexton offer quick thoughts as the Jaguars (7-8) prepare to play the Houston Texans (2-12-1) in a 2022 Week 17 game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer

1. Play on. The Jaguars will play to win. That was the major Jaguars news Wednesday, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying all healthy players will play Sunday even though the Jaguars-Tennessee Titans regular-season finale at the 'Bank the following weekend will be winner-take-all for the AFC South title – and even though the Jaguars can't clinch the South by beating the Texans. One reason the decision makes sense is Pederson's belief that "There is never a meaningless game – never, ever, ever, ever." A bigger reason perhaps is that Texans-Jaguars still very much could impact the Jaguars' postseason chances. If the Titans beat the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, the Jaguars could clinch the South against Tennessee not just by beating the Titans but also by tying them in that Week 18 game. The most straightforward reason Jaguars-Texans matters, though, is that a victory could keep the Jaguars' wild-card hopes alive. If the Jaguars beat Houston AND New England beats Miami in Week 17, AND the Seattle Seahawks beat the New York Jets in Week 17 AND the Jets beat Miami in Week 18, the Jaguars would make the AFC playoffs as a wild card with a loss to Tennessee in Week 18. That's not so far-fetched a scenario that the Jaguars should give it away by resting starters and giving away Sunday's game against the Texans.
2. A test of depth. Play enough NFL games and your depth will get tested. The Jaguars have played 15 games this season, and that inevitable attrition is becoming an issue along the offensive and defensive lines. The Jaguars in the last two weeks have lost two critical lineman – offensive tackle Cam Robinson and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot – placing both on injured reserve on Monday. The Jaguars lost significant experience with the injuries; Smoot and Robinson are essentially tied for second behind offensive guard Tyler Shatley as the Jaguars' longest tenured players – both having been selected by the Jaguars in the 2017 NFL Draft. Make no mistake: Losing Robinson and Smoot will hurt, but the Jaguars should have adequate depth to handle the situation. Second-year veteran Walker Little has played well the last two weeks at right and left tackle – and while Smoot leads the Jaguars in sacks with five, the team likely will get rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker back in the foreseeable future – and veterans Arden Key and Josh Allen have gotten some significant pressure in recent weeks. Contending teams must be able to handle a few injuries. The Jaguars' may be nearing their limits in terms of what they can withstand on the offensive and defensive lines, but the losses thus far appear to be withstand-able.

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the NFL; his record tells the whole story. When I watch how he uses multiple formations, personnel groups and tempo I find myself more interested in the head coach than the quarterback. In recent seasons, I've sought out San Francisco games on television to watch how he puts it all together. Then Pederson arrived in Jacksonville and I have gotten to see up close a head coach who is an artist with an offense. I've enjoyed watching how he moves personnel all over the formation to get desired matchups, then how he combines different routes to give quarterback Trevor Lawrence room to create. Wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram are all on pace for career-best seasons. Now mix in wide receiver Jamal Agnew – an X-factor who Pederson uses with no fear – and you have more options for the quarterback than a defense can reasonably hope to defend. Agnew told me this week he looks forward to Wednesday mornings when he gets his first look at the gameplan to see what Pederson, offensive coordinator Press Taylor, passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and the offensive staff have in mind for him. Engram smiled and nodded this week when I asked about the advantage Pederson and Co. have given this offense in recent weeks. The confidence level on that side of the ball is off the charts right now and Pederson is the real reason why it's so high.
2. When I asked players why Sunday would be different than the last nine games – all losses – against the Texans, the answer surprised me. To a man, they pointed to the Week 13 loss in Detroit. They were embarrassed that Sunday afternoon – and while they still can't explain how a game like that happens with so much on the line, they know things were different when they got back to work the next Sunday. Middle linebacker Foye Oluokun told me they didn't need to say anything to each other, and the coaching staff didn't need to say anything, either. They all knew they missed a chance to build on their come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Ravens the week before. They righted the ship, are on course for the playoffs and are determined not to hit that same iceberg in Houston that knocked them off course in Detroit. Their eyes are wide open after watching the Texans push the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs to the edge, then topple the Titans last Sunday. They're leaning on what they learned after the Detroit debacle to make sure that doesn't happen again.