Jacksonville Jaguars lose: What that means for Steelers, rest of AFC playoffs
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 28-20 loss against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday was a huge boon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers needed a loss from either the Jaguars or the Bills in Week 18 to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Jacksonville’s loss puts Pittsburgh into the Wildcard round next week and makes 11 postseason appearances for Mike Tomlin-led Steelers teams.
Pittsburgh, with a 10-7 record, will join the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns in the playoffs. The Ravens locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye, despite losing to the Steelers in Week 18.
The Jaguars had the opportunity to take the lead over the Titans in the Week 18 matchup in Nashville but fell short in the fourth quarter. They got the ball, down eight points, with 2:18 remaining. Needing to gain two yards, quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw incompletions on third and fourth down.
Steelers star T.J. Watt suffers MCL injury
On Sunday, the Steelers benefitted from the Ravens having already clinched the top seed in the AFC postseason. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh elected to rest quarterback Lamar Jackson, the likely NFL MVP, and several other key players. Tyler “Snoop” Huntley replaced Jackson at quarterback.
They used a 71-yard pass from Mason Rudolph to Diontae Johnson early in the fourth quarter to take the lead. Then they relied on a smash-mouth running game late to burn more than four minutes off the clock before Chris Boswell kicked a 25-yard field goal to take a 10-point lead with 3:13 to go. The final score was 17-10.
However, as excited as the Steelers were to place themselves in position for the playoffs, they may be without one of their stars if they make it to wildcard weekend. Superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt, moments after he picked up his second sack of the game, suffered an apparent knee injury. Watt walked to the locker room unaided. But the medical team quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Watt sprained his MCL. He wanted to go back into the game, but team doctors would not allow him to do so.
On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this report.