The Houston Texans will need help Sunday from the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs in order to capture the last remaining AFC wild card berth.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will wind up another season simply seeking help.
A victory a week ago this past Thursday night over the Tennessee Titans all but eliminated any chance of the Jaguars finishing in at least a tie for the worst record in the NFL. But for seventh year in a row, their offseason will begin before the playoffs start with questions about the direction in which the team is headed.
While their confidence in coach Gus Bradley and rookie quarterback Blake Bortles appears unshaken, the future is considerably murkier for others. This could well be the final game for both wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and tight end Marcedes Lewis, who have combined for only three touchdown catches all season. And it might be time to begin pondering whether some free-agent signings and draft choices who haven't worked out as hoped should continue to stay around.
Even should the Jaguars play the role of spoiler to the hilt and post their first road victory all season, their 4-12 record would only equal how they finished in Bradley's first year.
The Texans wiped out a 13-10 halftime deficit Dec. 7 in defeating the Jaguars 27-13 at Jacksonville. That win took place with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, but an injury to him the following week forced them to sign Case Keenum. Their 25-13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens came with Keenum completing fewer than half of his passes for 185 yards.
The combination of wins by the Texans over the Jaguars, the Browns over the Ravens and the Chiefs over the San Diego Chargers would result in a trip to the postseason for a team which lost its final 14 games of last season and got next to nothing out of No. 1 draft pick Jadeveon Clowney.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Texans DE J.J. Watt vs. Jaguars offensive line.
For someone with four previous starts in his pro career, right tackle Sam Young did not get overwhelmed being matched up against Watt for the majority of the game earlier this month. Of the three sacks recorded by Watt, just one was Young's responsibility.
"I'll go back and watch the film, see what I can learn that I didn't pick up the first time around, and make those adjustments," he said.
The Jaguars have already set a dubious franchise record with 66 sacks allowed, including four against the Titans. To try slowing down Watt, whose 17.5 sacks are more than the rest of the Texans have combined, Young could get some help from a running back (Toby Gerhart or Jordan Todman), a tight end (Lewis or Clay Harbor) or right guard Brandon Linder.
Linder, the third-round pick from Miami who has started every game but one as a rookie, is arguably the most consistent blocker the Jaguars have had all season.
The Jaguars ran for a total of 2 yards in the second half of the loss to the Texans. Being able to get either Gerhart or Todman going will be a necessity.
TRENDING UP
Jaguars: It's a long shot at best. But if the Jaguars play a penalty-free game, they would set a franchise record for the fewest penalties in a season with 69. The current mark of 70 was set in 2009, with the next-lowest total being 76 in 2007. By comparison, Jaguars opponents have been flagged 109 times for 831 yards through 15 games.
Texans: Arian Foster is averaging a career-high 101.9 yards rushing per game, a figure which includes a 127-yard performance against the Jaguars three weeks ago. When he led the league in rushing in 2010, he amassed 1,616 yards over a full 16 games. He currently has 1,223 yards despite missing three contests.
TRENDING DOWN
Jaguars: Ace Sanders, whose 51 receptions as a rookie last season represented the second-highest total on the team, has only five catches this year. Two of those came Oct. 5 in his first game back from a four-game suspension. The 2013 fourth-round draft pick has also yet to return a punt for longer than 23 yards in his career.
Texans: Of all teams either headed to the playoffs or still in playoff contention, they are the lowest-ranked in passing offense (26th). Seven-time Pro Bowl selection Andre Johnson is averaging a career-low 10.7 yards per reception and has fewer touchdown catches (2) than Watt (3).
INJURY REPORT
Jaguars: DOUBTFUL -- DT Roy Miller (knee sprain); PROBABLE -- RB Toby Gerhart (ribs), WR Cecil Shorts III (shoulder), QB Blake Bortles (foot), C Luke Bowanko (wrist), DE Andre Branch (groin), DE Chris Clemons (knee) and WR Tommy Streeter (abdomen).
Texans: OUT -- TE Garrett Graham (ankle), LB Mike Mohamed (concussion), WR DeVier Posey (calf) and QB Tom Savage (knee); PROBABLE -- G Brandon Brooks (knee/ankle), NT Ryan Pickett (groin), T Tyson Clabo (shoulder), TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (shoulder), WR DeAndre Hopkins (wrist), CB Kareem Jackson (back), G Xavier Su'a-Filo (back), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle), LB Brian Cushing (ankle), LB Whitney Mercilus (back/finger) and LB Jeff Tarpinian (knee).
DID YOU KNOW?
If defensive end Ryan Davis gets at least half a sack, it would give the Jaguars three players with seven or more this season. The only other time that happened in franchise history was in 1999 with Tony Brackens, Kevin Hardy and Gary Walker.
QUOTEBOARD
"The challenge is to show your true character â go out and continue to play hard. It's still your job to go out and play this game. We're going to do that. Our team and especially our group will make sure that we uphold that and keep everybody else involved." -- Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, on playing the final game of the season with little at stake other than draft position. Marks is second in sacks among all players at his position but was named only as an alternate Tuesday night when the selections for the Pro Bowl were announced.
"We told ourselves since day one that we're not going to look at ourselves as rookies. We've got to hold ourselves to a higher standard. So in the future, we're going to be really good." -- Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns, on the play this season of himself and fellow rookies Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee. All three have at least 35 receptions, with Hurns having overtaken Robinson â who went on injured reserve Nov. 17 â for the team lead in that category with 49.
"What's impressive about him is we have challenged him to make good decisions, play smart, but it hasn't affected his mentality. He goes out there, he's still willing to take chances and risks, and he's been ultra-competitive throughout the whole thing." -- Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, on quarterback Blake Bortles. While Bortles has thrown just three interceptions in five games since their bye week, he has not passed for more than 210 yards in any game during that same stretch.
"Me, D.G., A.C., Cyp and Josh -- we all have zero interceptions. So we'd like to get our hands on that ball. That's a goal we seriously have to focus on this week." -- Jaguars cornerback Demetrius McCray, referring to himself, Dwayne Gratz, Aaron Colvin, Johnathan Cyprien and Josh Evans. The only two interceptions made by Jaguars defensive backs have been by Allen Ball in the season opener and Sherrod Martin on Nov. 2.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
