Titans at Jaguars Week 18 predictions: A win guarantees AFC South title

1 week ago 2

Imagine Bachman–Turner Overdrive in your head:

🎵 "I've been takin' care of business,Every day.Takin' care of business,Every way.I've been takin' care of business,It's all mine.Taking care of business and working overtime,Work out." 🎵

The Jacksonville Jaguars have done just that over the past seven weeks: they've been takin' care of business.

With the Houston Texans nipping at their heels, the Jaguars have done exactly what thy've needed to do: win every game. If they can win their final game of the season, they will be AFC South champions.

If they lose and Houston defeats Indianapolis, the Texans are AFC South champs.

So, the Jaguars need to take care of business one more time, against the Tennessee Titans at the friendly confines of EverBank Stadium.

Houston is on an eight-game winning streak, which began with a major fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Jaguars on Nov. 9. The Jaguars have won seven in a row, not losing since that debacle at Houston.

The Jaguars are 10.5-point favorites against Tennessee, but they can't take them lightly.

DEMETRIUS HARVEY

Jaguars beat writer

Jaguars 30, Titans 14

There's no question that Titans quarterback Cam Ward has improved over the course of the season, especially in the last few weeks. Still, the Titans are far behind the Jaguars in their build, and barring a few turnovers by Jacksonville, there should be no issue as they look to earn their 13th win.

Season: 13-3 (Won last week)

MIKE DiROCCO

ESPN

Jaguars 28, Titans 14

This game may go a lot like the first meeting: Physical battle, especially up front, and Jaguars need a half to gain control. But if they're able to jump on the Titans early, maybe get a first-quarter turnover, they could put it away early.

Season: 9-7 (Won last week)

RYAN O'HALLORAN

Times-Union Sports columnist

Jaguars 27, Titans 14

The full list of opportunities the Jaguars have had to clinch a division title on their home field is brief.

Jan. 2, 2000: The Jaguars entered 13-2, but still needed a 24-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals to clinch the AFC Central over the Tennessee Titans (13-3). The Jaguars would lose to the Titans in the AFC title game.

Jan. 7, 2023: In a win-or-go-home AFC South title game, the Jaguars beat the Titans, 20-16. The Jaguars would beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round and lose at Kansas City in the divisional round.

That is it. That is the list. Twice in the first 30 seasons of the franchise.

The third chance is this week when the 12-4 Jaguars host the 3-13 Titans. A win and the Jaguars capture the division and are at least the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed. A loss and the Jaguars could be hitting the road for wild-card weekend.

Urgency for coach Liam Coen should be the mandate.

Win this toss? Take the football like against the New York Jets in Week 15 (touchdown).

Want to re-start the running game? Get there after throwing your way to a big lead against the Titans’ depleted secondary.

An early lead would help negate Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, arguably the best defender the Jaguars have faced all year.

Time for division championship hats and t-shirts around 4 p.m.

Season: 12-4 (Won last week)

GARRY SMITS

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 24, Titans 10

Jaguars fans I know, including some in my family, keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. With every victory has come about 20 minutes of enjoying it, then wondering if it can last. They can’t even take full advantage of the 24-hour rule that Liam Coen gives his players.

Relax. I think this may go somewhere along the lines of the game in Nashville and last week at Indianapolis mainly because Coen may want to rest some starters if the Jaguars can get a decent halftime lead. He certainly isn’t going to open the playbook up any more than he has to, saving any wrinkles for the playoffs. (Save the hook and ladders for the Super Bowl parade).

There’s too much talent on one side of the ball, and too much motivation for winning. Besides, even last year when the Jaguars were horrible, they still swept the Titans. The Jags rendered a team that used to bully them to a yapping Chihuahua when Oakleaf’s Shaq Quarterman knocked Derrick Henry on his keister in 2022. Since then the Jags are 5-1 against their one-time nemesis. With the chance to win the division and get at least one home playoff game and possibly more, they’re not going to blow this now.

(I didn’t just hear a shoe drop, did I?)

Season: 10-6 (Won last week)

JUSTON LEWIS

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 31, Titans 17

Jaguars should close out the season with a win and move on to the postseason with relative ease.

Season: 10-6 (Won last week)

Florida Times-Union sports reporter Juston Lewis shown in portrait Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

CLAYTON FREEMAN

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 26, Titans 20

The Jaguars have a tendency to let games like this get more tense than necessary (see Week 18, 2022 season). There's surprise potential here from a Titans team that has won two of its last four, but the Jags should have enough firepower. Another big game from Parker Washington coming?

Season: 10-6 (Won last week)

TIM WALTERS

Times-Union Sports Editor

Jaguars 28, Titans 17

This should be easy, right? Let's hold off on that school of thought for a moment. Have you watched Cam Ward recently? He's starting to look like an NFL quarterback. Have you seen the chemistry he's developing with Chimere Dike? They could one day be a top tandem in the league. Have you observed Jeffrey Simmons? He's got double digit sacks and has been a menace this year. There are no easy games in the NFL. Sure, when the Jaguars won 25-3 the first time they met it looked easy, but this is a Titans team with more experienced rookies playing much better as the season nears an end. They're 2-2 in their last four games after losing seven in a row and 11 of their first 12. However, this is a team of the future, and the Jags are a team of right now. So they will win, but it won't be as easy as it was in November.

Season: 11-5 (Won last week)