The Jaguars can make real noise in the AFC race in Week 10, but only if they handle their own business first.
Everything starts in Nashville on Sunday against the Titans. If Jacksonville takes care of that one, the rest of the weekend could give them a meaningful boost in the standings and strengthen their grip on the top of the conference.
A Jaguars win would pair well with a Chiefs loss, and that’s the cleanest path to moving Jacksonville firmly ahead of Kansas City in the AFC picture heading into Week 11. The Chiefs enter the week at 6-2 and face the Falcons, a matchup that doesn’t exactly scream danger for Kansas City. Still, if Atlanta can pull the upset, Jacksonville would be in a much better spot.
Houston is another team the Jaguars will be watching closely every week until the standings make that irrelevant. The Texans have already dropped several games they should not have lost, and while they have a relatively easy second-half schedule and a talented quarterback, the Jaguars would gladly take any Texans setback they can get. A Browns upset over Houston would help Jacksonville plenty, even if it wouldn’t be the most shocking result of the 2026 season.
The same goes for Buffalo’s game against the Jets. That one doesn’t feel especially close.
The Bills have been finding ways to win all year, and the Jets have been one of the NFL’s biggest losers over the last few seasons. Aaron Glenn’s group would need a major turnaround to knock off Josh Allen and Buffalo.
Jacksonville also has a reason to keep one eye on Pittsburgh. The Jaguars are in a race with both the Steelers and Bengals at the top of the AFC, but the Bengals feel like the bigger threat for the No. 1 seed, especially with the rest of their schedule. That’s why a Steelers loss would still be useful news for Jacksonville.
There’s also a direct connection coming soon. The Jaguars will face the Steelers in a few weeks, and right now they are 3-0 against the AFC North. If they can beat Pittsburgh and complete the sweep against the division, that would leave them in a strong position in the tiebreaker race.
In Other News...
Jaguars Just Gave Titans Fans Another Reason To Feel Disrespected
The Jaguars will have to wait a little longer to see two of their newest defensive additions on the field. Coach Liam Coen said Jordan Davis and Jessie Bates will not play in the upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans, with Jacksonville choosing to give both players extra time to settle in and recover after arriving via trades this week.
The timing is part of the equation, since the Jaguars had their bye week earlier than the Eagles and Falcons, the teams those players came from. Davon Godchaux, another recent acquisition, is set to play, giving Jacksonville at least one fresh body ready for a divisional game that already carries plenty of edge. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Titans Suddenly Has Extra Edge After Coen Saleh Revisit Past
Liam Coen and Robert Saleh had a chance this week to revisit a past misunderstanding that had added some unnecessary heat to a Jaguars-Titans matchup already carrying plenty of AFC South weight. The Jacksonville coach and Tennessee coach talked through their previous competitive interactions and cleared up the signal-stealing accusations that had lingered around their relationship, turning what could have stayed awkward into a more straightforward exchange between two coaches who know the game can get chippy.
Still, the timing matters. With Jacksonville and Tennessee set to meet Sunday, the conversation only sharpened the sense that this one has a little extra edge to it, even if both sides have made a point of showing mutual respect. The rivalry does not need much help to feel competitive, but a recent reset between Coen and Saleh gives the game another layer for both teams to carry into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookies Are Suddenly Fighting For Bigger Roles
At the midpoint of the season, the Jaguars rookie class is no longer just a future project. Jacksonville has already kept 10 draft picks and one undrafted free agent on the 53-man roster for 2026, and a handful of those young players are starting to move from developmental pieces into real depth options. Some of the class has had a slower path because of injuries, but the overall picture is beginning to sharpen as the team sorts out who can help now and who still needs time.
Parker Hughes and Zach Durfee have both spent time on injured reserve, which has limited their chances to get on the field and build momentum. Elsewhere, Jalen Huskey and Tanner Koziol have started to see playing time, a sign that the staff is willing to test certain rookies in live action as the season unfolds. For a team trying to balance immediate production with long-term roster building, the next stretch should tell a lot about which first-year players are ready to expand their roles and which ones are still waiting for their opening. [Read more 🡒]