Jaguars’ devastating loss costs them NFL playoffs spot as Bills, Steelers clinch

The Jaguars’ collapse is complete.

In a must-win game to win the AFC South and make the NFL playoffs, the Jaguars lost on the road to the lowly Titans, 28-20, and will miss the postseason, having lost five of their last six games to finish 9-8 in a disastrous end to the season.

As a result, the Steelers and Bills have clinched the final two playoff spots in the AFC, with the Texans winning the AFC South and claiming the No. 4 seed.

The Steelers will be a wild-card team, while the Bills can clinch the AFC East by beating the Dolphins on Sunday night.

Houston clinched a playoff spot with its win over the Colts on Saturday night, and the Steelers’ win over the Ravens earlier Saturday put them in position to make the postseason if they got the help they needed, which they did.

Titans star Derrick Henry ran for over 150 yards and a touchdown in the upset.

Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, the third time in his last four appearances he’s thrown multiple interceptions in a game.

The Jaguars were sitting pretty through Week 12 at 8-3, looking not only like the clear favorites to win the AFC South but appearing to have a chance to compete for the No. 1 seed in the conference.

But with Lawrence banged up and the offense sputtering, Jacksonville’s fortunes turned quickly.

An overtime home loss to the Bengals on Dec. 4 started a string of four consecutive losses for the Jaguars, who fell on the road to the Browns, at home to the Ravens and on the road against the Buccaneers.

Despite missing Lawrence in last Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, the Jaguars were able to beat the Panthers, 26-0, with C.J. Beathard under center.

They controlled their own destiny Sunday, but instead of building off of last season’s run to the Divisional Round, the Jaguars now face a litany of questions after their late-season nosedive.