The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) will host the Tennessee Titans (3-12) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday (1 p.m. EST, CBS) in a matchup of NFC South teams grappling near the bottom of the NFL standings.
Both teams are expected to deploy backup quarterbacks on Sunday in a game that will impact the projected 2025 NFL Draft order, but little else. The Jaguars, currently expected to land the No. 4 pick, would move solidly into the top three with another loss. Ditto for the banged-up Titans, who have been leaky on defense and come in losers of four straight games.
Jacksonville enters Week 17 with a whopping 10 losses by one-score or less on the season. Last week’s effort in Las Vegas against a bad Raiders team was uninspiring, though, as Mac Jones and Co. managed just 15 total first downs in a 19-14 loss.
Tennessee has been decently competitive for first-year head coach Brian Callahan in a lost season. With veteran Mason Rudolph under center, the Titans put 30 points on the board against the Indianapolis Colts last week in defeat.
This one feels like one of the more unpredictable games on the NFL’s Week 17 slate. One of these tanking teams has to win.
Here’s what the experts are saying, with score predictions, for this lowly NFC South matchup:
NFL picks, predictions Week 17: Jaguars vs. Titans
Iyer: “The Titans and Jaguars might as well be the same team with the same record in the AFC South. This is a really a coin flip in a matchup between former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph, who didn’t deliver before Christmas, and former Patriots QB Mac Jones, who also didn’t win last week. Flip a coin and it lands on the home team.”
Bender: “Jacksonville beat Tennessee 10-6 in Week 14, and the Titans have allowed a total of 75 points over the past two weeks. Tennessee has created seven turnovers in its past three games, and the Jaguars have a minus-7 turnover margin in their past four games. Tennessee steals the rematch in another ugly AFC South matchup.”
Cluff: “These teams are a combined 6-24 on the season. The Jaguars beat the Titans in an ugly 10-6 game earlier this season. Expect a similar result this week.”
Johnson: “The NFL schedule keeps throwing the Jacksonville Jaguars into matchups against teams at the bottom of the standings, allowing everyone to see just how bad this team is. It’s not like the Tennessee Titans are even marginally better, but they do have a better quarterback and defense. That should probably be enough in a Week 17 matchup that will be less fun to watch than paint drying.”
Rolfe: “We saw the other week how evenly matched these two teams are. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a slightly better offense, while the Tennessee Titans have a slightly better defense. Overall, it’s very even. Both teams are starting backup quarterbacks for this one, making it messier than ever.”
