The division was there for the Jacksonville Jaguars taking.
However, Gus Bradley and the Jacksonville Jaguars, failed to do something the franchise hasn’t done since the 1999 season, and that is win a division title.
A few weeks ago, after a 51-16 demolition of the Indianapolis Colts, it appeared Gus Bradley could have in fact, saved his job. Bradley’s record is 11-33 in his tenure in Jacksonville. And though the teams record of 5-9 is disappointing given the easy schedule, it’s clear the team is moving in the right direction with breakout years from Blake Bortles, Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson, and Telvin Smith.
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The stars aligned for the Jaguars after their Thursday night football win against the Tennessee Titans. The team had one game remaining against a team with a winning record, and that was the struggling Atlanta Falcons. They had the second easiest remaining schedule, apart from the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, the team has lost three of four since that Thursday night win. With losses coming against the Titans, Chargers, and Falcons.
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Though the Jaguars still have an outside chance at winning the division, they will need to win out, along with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts to lose out.
The Jaguars should win out. Why?
Because both the Saints and Texans will likely be playing their backups. In the Texans case it would be their fourth different starting quarterback this year.
The Jaguars have already lost to Brian Hoyer, Matt Hasselbeck, Marcus Mariota, and Jamies Winston. Losing to Matt Flynn and Brandon Weeden, and finishing 5-11 in a year where everything went in your favor, would be unacceptable.
Andrew Luck has been sidelined most of the year and the Texans quarterback position has been a revolving door.
The Jaguars will travel to the Big Easy on Sunday and take on the 5-9 Saints. The Superdome used to be one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. That isn’t so much the case anymore, as the Saints have a 3-4 record at home.
Drew Brees, who was hurt in the Saints loss last Sunday to the Lions, looks unlikely to play.
What I've learned on Drew Brees' plantar fasciitis: He's in horrible, miserable pain. He's rehabbed 24/7. He's intent on playing. We'll see
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2015
After the Saints, the Jaguars will then travel to Houston, to take on the Texans in the new year. The Texans have started Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, and T.J. Yates this season and will start Brandon Weeden at quarterback. Weeden started a few games for the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the season.
The Jaguars have already lost to the Texans once this season, losing 31-20, and the defense made Brian Hoyer look Tom Brady esque. There is no reason Bradley’s defense should give up more than 20 to Brandon Weeden.
Gus Bradley originally signed a 4-year deal back in 2013. According to Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Bradley will have until the end of 2016.
While I am all for stability and willing to give Bradley another season, it will be really difficult to feel that way if the team loses to Matt Flynn and Brandon Weeden.
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I am not making the decisions however. That will all be up to Shad Khan, and it will be interesting to see if he feels the same way.
At 5-9 there is still a lot of football left to be played for the Jaguars, and a lot of decisions to be made on the future of Gus Bradley.