Quick thoughts: On to Week 17

JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser and senior correspondent Brian Sexton offer quick thoughts as the Jaguars (7-8) prepare to play the Houston Texans (2-12-1) in a 2022 Week 17 game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday

1. Play on. The Jaguars will play to win. That was the major Jaguars news Wednesday, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying all healthy players will play Sunday even though the Jaguars-Tennessee Titans regular-season finale at the ‘Bank the following weekend will be winner-take-all for the AFC South title – and even though the Jaguars can’t clinch the South by beating the Texans. One reason the decision makes sense is Pederson’s belief that “There is never a meaningless game – never, ever, ever, ever.” A bigger reason perhaps is that Texans-Jaguars still very much could impact the Jaguars’ postseason chances. If the Titans beat the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, the Jaguars could clinch the South against Tennessee not just by beating the Titans but also by tying them in that Week 18 game. The most straightforward reason Jaguars-Texans matters, though, is that a victory could keep the Jaguars’ wild-card hopes alive. If the Jaguars beat Houston AND New England beats Miami in Week 17, AND the Seattle Seahawks beat the New York Jets in Week 17 AND the Jets beat Miami in Week 18, the Jaguars would make the AFC playoffs as a wild card with a loss to Tennessee in Week 18. That’s not so far-fetched a scenario that the Jaguars should give it away by resting starters and giving away Sunday’s game against the Texans.
2. A test of depth. Play enough NFL games and your depth will get tested. The Jaguars have played 15 games this season, and that inevitable attrition is becoming an issue along the offensive and defensive lines. The Jaguars in the last two weeks have lost two critical lineman – offensive tackle Cam Robinson and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot – placing both on injured reserve on Monday. The Jaguars lost…