Jaguars have the AFC South title and a home playoff game within reach against the Titans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have a championship celebration planned for their regular-season finale against Tennessee. And they’re finally willing to talk about it.

Hats. T-shirts. Maybe even a cigar or two.

The streaking Jaguars (12-4) can wrap up the AFC South with a victory against the Titans (3-13) at home Sunday. Jacksonville has won seven consecutive games and is a 13½-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Jaguars are 11-0 in franchise history when favored by 12 or more points and haven’t had as much on the line — a division title and a home playoff game — in any of those previous matchups.

After maintaining a “go 1-0 this week” mantra all season, first-year coach Liam Coen and the Jaguars are embracing the stakes of this matchup.

“The message to the players was going 1-0 this week and, yeah, there’s a hat and a T-shirt that comes along with that,” Coen said.

Jacksonville secured a playoff berth two weeks ago and has faced division-clinching scenarios since. But all of those required Houston to lose, and the Texans are the only NFL team hotter than the Jags right now.

“You can talk about winning the division because it’s what we’ve got an opportunity to do, and it’s one game,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. “We’re here. Leading up to this point, we weren’t here yet. … We had to win all those games to get to this point to have the opportunity to continue to control the division and keep it in our hands.

“And that’s what we did, and none bigger than this one. We’re here to win the division this week.”

The Titans, meanwhile, are looking to play spoiler.

“They’re going to try to embarrass us at home to win a division,” Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “So I hope guys know and kind of what our message (has) been, especially in the defensive meeting room, (is) to come out there ready to fight.

“Our job is to go out there and win a football game, and it means a lot to us. We haven’t won a division game; they beat us already.”

Tennessee became the first NFL team to make a coaching change this season and will have a new regime in a few weeks. A roster overhaul is likely to follow.

“We can’t control who’s not going to be in this locker room after this season,” Simmons said. “Everyone get paid to do a job and I think guys need to just focus on their film. … Your film is your resume.”

Jacksonville’s resume hasn’t been this stout since 1999. The Jaguars are trying to win 13 games for the first time since that season. They already set the franchise’s single-season scoring record (433 points) and need one touchdown for the most in any season.

More important, they can win the AFC South for the third time.

“The goals don’t change for us,” running back Travis Etienne said. “Just go 1-0. If we do that, all the things that come with that are just going to happen naturally. That’s the greatest thing about football: If you focus on the team objective, great things happen for everyone else.”

The Titans are trying to avoid going winless in the division for the first time since the inception of the AFC South in 2002. Tennessee has been outscored by 96 points in five divisional losses, with only of those games being close.

“I don’t care what the record is,” guard Peter Skoronski said. “You go against a division opponent and they have something to play for, you better battle your (butt) off. I think that’s what we plan on doing. And we’d love to screw things up a little bit in the AFC if we can.”

Titans running back Tony Pollard needs 66 yards to reach 1,100 yards rushing for the season and earn a $250,000 bonus, according to NFL Network. Only Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor has topped 66 yards rushing against Jacksonville and the NFL’s top-ranked run defense this season.

Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead needs 1½ sacks against the Titans to reach seven on the season and earn a $1 million bonus. Armstead, though, hasn’t had a sack since Week 10.

Simmons has 10 sacks and three forced fumbles, both career highs. One more sack would give him the most by a Titans defensive tackle since 1999, passing Jurrell Casey’s mark of 10½ in 2013.

The Jaguars consider Simmons the most disruptive defensive tackle in the NFL.

AP Pro Football Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) is tripped up by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) on the last play of the game, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scores past Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy reacts on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates after a catch and run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Myles Garrett has sacked Joe Burrow plenty of times in the six seasons since Burrow was the top overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.

That's why it would be fitting if the Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher takes down the Bengals quarterback Sunday to tie or set the NFL's single-season sacks record.

“He’s got me a lot," Burrow said.

Eleven times, actually. That's tied with Baltimore's Lamar Jackson for the most among the 51 players Garrett has sacked.

For the season, Garrett is at 22 sacks and needs one to surpass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt’s shared mark of 22 1/2.

“I’ve seen his face on the ground looking up at me saying, ‘Hi, Myles’ and ‘Hi, Joe’, too many times. So yeah, I figured he’d be at the top," Garrett said Friday about Burrow's spot on his personal sacks list.

Garrett had two sacks in the Browns' 17-16 loss to the Bengals in the season opener. He's also three away from achieving his goal of 25, which he has had written on his right wrist tape since early in the season.

“My confidence hasn't wavered," Garrett said of setting the record. "I'm fully confident that it will come.”

Burrow said the one thing he has appreciated about Garrett is the ability to remain even-keeled despite what is taking place around him.

“He’s more athletic than everybody else on the field. He’s bigger, stronger than everybody else," Burrow said. “He has a mindset that he’s not too high or too low at any point, which is pretty unique for a defensive lineman. I think he’s probably got a unique mindset as far as that position goes, but it’s one that you can appreciate.”

Both teams would like to end the season with a win.

Cleveland (4-12) surpassed its win total from last year with a 13-6 victory over Pittsburgh last week. Cincinnati (6-10) has two straight weeks during which it has scored at least 37 points after being shut out against Baltimore on Dec. 14.

Kevin Stefanski could be coaching his last game for the Browns on Sunday. He's a two-time NFL coach of the year, but Cleveland has gone 7-26 since making the playoffs in 2023.

Stefanski, who has a 44-56 record, has refused to address his future the past couple weeks. He has led the Browns for six seasons, the longest tenure for a Cleveland coach since Sam Rutigliano, who was at the helm for 6 1/2 seasons from 1978 through '84.

“This game is never going to be about one person, and that includes me,” Stefanski said on Friday.

If the Browns part ways with Stefanski, it likely won't take long. Since Jimmy Haslam became owner in 2012, the news of a coaching change has happened on Sunday night after the final game.

“I want things to be successful. However that looks," said Garrett about if he would prefer to see continuity with the coaching staff.

Zac Taylor appears set for an eighth season in Cincinnati despite a 52-62-1 mark and not making the playoffs for the third straight year.

Taylor has two seasons remaining on his contract and owner Mike Brown is conservative when it comes to making changes. Taylor also has the backing of Burrow, who has often expressed his support for not only his coach, but the front office.

Cleveland rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will be without his leading rusher and receiver.

Running back Quinshon Judkins was lost for the season with a broken leg on Dec. 21 against Buffalo, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has been declared out due to a groin injury. Fannin first suffered it during practice on Dec. 26 and aggravated it two days later against Pittsburgh after catching a 28-yard touchdown pass from Sanders.

Sanders is 2-4 and averaging 207 passing yards per game in his six starts.

“Just stay consistent, taking what they give me," Sanders said about his goals for the final start. "Whenever we get off rhythm, get back on rhythm, get back on track. And I think that’s the next part of my game I’m trying to evolve is whenever it’s either we’re stagnant or some adversity comes and being able to get back on track.”

The Bengals' defense is ranked near the bottom of most categories — including last in total and yards rushing allowed — but it has done a better job of forcing turnovers during the latter half of the season.

Cincinnati has forced 11 takeaways the last six games, tied for third most in the NFL during that span.

More could come against the Browns as Sanders has thrown seven interceptions the past three games.

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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor watches from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, left, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) warms up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)