The Jacksonville Jaguars won a fourth straight game when they beat the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. The team’s back-to-back losses in September are far in the rear view mirror and the Jaguars now sit 5-2 with their playoff aspirations very much in tact.
Jacksonville has been helped by the fact that no other team in the AFC South has been able to stay above .500. The closest are the Houston Texans, who remain at 3-3 after a Week 7 bye.
The Indianapolis Colts had a chance to stay a game behind the Jaguars, but gave up a go-ahead touchdown with 15 seconds left in a wild, 39-38 shootout loss to the Cleveland Browns.
There’s plenty of football left to be played, including three more divisional games for the Jaguars, but here’s where things currently stand in the AFC South and the rest of the NFL with only a Monday night game left in Week 7:
AFC South
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-2
- Houston Texans: 3-3
- Indianapolis Colts: 3-4
- Tennessee Titans: 2-4
Both the Texans and Titans were off this week and the Jaguars took care of business Thursday, so the only AFC South team playing Sunday were the Colts.
Next week, the Jaguars will travel to play the Pittsburgh Steelers while the Texans will face the winless Carolina Panthers on the road. Jacksonville will travel to play in Houston three days after Thanksgiving in Week 12.
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: 5-2
- Buffalo Bills: 4-3
- New York Jets: 3-3
- New England Patriots: 2-5
The Bills’ issues run a lot deeper than jet lag. New England snapped a three-game losing streak with a 29-25 win against Buffalo.
Fortunately for the Bills, it didn’t cost them a game in the AFC East as the Eagles wore down the Dolphins on Sunday night.
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: 5-2
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-2
- Cleveland Browns: 4-2
- Cincinnati Bengals: 3-3
The Ravens entered the weekend as the AFC North leader and stayed there by blowing the doors off the Lions in a 38-6 win. Things were far less smooth for the Browns and Steelers, but they both did just enough to stay a half-game off the division lead.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6-1
- Las Vegas Raiders: 3-4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 2-4
- Denver Broncos: 2-5
The Chiefs’ reign of terror in the AFC West doesn’t look to be in jeopardy of ending this year. With a Kansas City win against the Chargers coupled with a Raiders loss, the Chiefs have built a three-game lead in the division.
If the AFC playoffs started today...
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6-1
- Miami Dolphins: 5-2
- Baltimore Ravens: 5-2
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-2
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-2
- Cleveland Browns: 4-2
- Buffalo Bills: 4-3
Jacksonville didn’t catch the Ravens in Week 7, but pulled even with the Dolphins. All three are still chasing the Chiefs for the top seed. For now, Miami is hanging on to the No. 2 seed thanks to a 3-1 record in AFC play. The Ravens’ 4-2 conference record is also better than the Jaguars’ 3-2.
If the NFC playoffs started today...
- Philadelphia Eagles: 6-1
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-1
- Detroit Lions: 5-2
- Atlanta Falcons: 4-3
- Seattle Seahawks: 4-2
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-2
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-3
The Eagles staked their claim for the No. 1 seed Sunday night, but the 49ers will have a chance to take it back Monday night.
