Two weeks ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars had an opportunity to take over the top seed spot for the American Football Conference playoffs. Most figured the spot was theirs as they hosted the Cincinnati Bengals without Joe Burrow and were favored by 10 points at TIAA Bank Field..
Didn’t happen.
In the game, the Jaguars struggled and late in the contest their franchise quarterback, Tervor Lawrence, went down with an injury that not only knocked him out of that contest but seemed to threaten more of his season. The overtime loss to the Bengals left the Jaguars needing a win last week to maintain their multiple game lead in the AFC South Division.
Didn’t happen.
Jacksonville got Lawrence back, but lost a second straight contest, this time to another team playing with a backup quarterback, the Cleveland Browns. If Jacksonville had lost to Burrow and Deshaun Watson the past two weeks one could give them a pass.
But to fall in important games to Jake Browning and Joe Flacco, is inexcusable for a team that appeared destined to follow-up their playoff campaign of a season ago with an even more serious challenge in this year’s postseason.
Now, with their consecutive losses and the Indianapolis Colts late season surge with wins in five of their most recent six games, which includes yesterday’s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jaguars need a win today to hold onto sole possession of first place in their division.
And who do they play today?
The team with the best record in the conference, the Baltimore Ravens.
A couple weeks ago we would have thought the outcome of this matchup would determine who won home field advantage for the AFC playoffs. Now, the Ravens could put a near lock on that advantage and the Jaguars could have their postseason plans wiped off the board.
So, who needs this game more?
Obviously, the Jaguars.
Does that mean they are going to get it?
Not based on recent performances.
What we have here is one of the best teams in football playing a Jaguars squad that is sputtering like a team new to winning often does down the stretch of a season. This is a prime motivational spot for the Jaguars to succeed as a home underdog, but their competition appears inspired enough to be able to overcome the motivational factors and drop Jacksonville into a tie with the Colts, both teams with eight wins.
I am stuck in the middle.
I like Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh in these situations, but am more prone to lean with the motivational factors the point the Jaguars way.
I don’t wager out of confusion, so we’ll let this one play out without a vested interest in the outcome.