The reeling Jacksonville Jaguars are set to visit a red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers team Christmas Eve in a game between two teams on the bubble of the NFL Playoffs.
Jacksonville sits at 8-6 and in a three-way tie in the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. Doug Pederson’s squad has lost three consecutive since winning eight of 11 to open the season.
As for the Buccaneers, they are 7-7 on the campaign in an two-way tie with the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. Led by Baker Mayfield’s strong performance, the Bucs have won three consecutive after losing six of their previous seven.
With these two teams trending in a different direction, this all-Florida matchup has huge playoff implications. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Jaguars currently have a 69% chance of making the NFL Playoffs. With a win, that number would go up to 90%. A loss would drop the Jaguars’ chances to 56%.
It’s even more eye-opening for Tampa Bay. The team has a 73% chance of earning a playoff spot heading into NFL Week 16. A win would increase this number to 84% with a loss dropping the odds to 59%.
Related: Tampa Bay Buccaneers standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Jacksonville Jaguars facing recent struggles with NFL Playoffs on the line
Losing to the Baltimore Ravens last week wasn’t too surprising. The Jaguars were a mistake waiting to happen. Meanwhile, Baltimore is tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL’s best record at 11-3.
It was consecutive losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns heading into Week 15 that could do the Jaguars in. Both were without their starting quarterbacks and were still able to come out on top.
Related: AFC Playoff picture heading into Week 16
The good news for Jacksonville? After taking on Tampa Bay this week, it has outings against bottom feeders in that of the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans to close up shop on the regular season.
In addition to being in a first-place tie with Houston and Indianapolis in the AFC South, the Jags are also very much alive for one of the two final wild card spots in the AFC. Cincinnati also finds itself at 8-6, but has the upper-hand given that it beat Jacksonville.
Related: Week 16 clinching scenarios for NFL Playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers riding high heading into Week 16
Fresh off a record-breaking performance at Lambeau Field in a win over the Green Bay Packers, Baker Mayfield is playing some of the best football of his career. The former No. 1 pick has thrown for 727 yards with eight total touchdowns compared to one interception during Tampa’s three-game winning streak.
The Bucs are also in an interesting situation in that they can earn a spot in the NFL Playoffs without winning the NFC South. The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams currently boast the same record as Tampa by while owning the final two wild card spots. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints are also 7-7. Yeah, it’s a wild race in that conference.
After taking on Jacksonville this week, the Buccaneers close up shop on the regular season against the Saints and Carolina Panthers. That Week 17 outing at home versus New Orleans could end up very well being for the division.
Fun times in Florida.