Status of Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence could help impact several playoff spots

The Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans game on Sunday could be one of the most important games on the Week 18 schedule. Not only is it a win-and-in game for the Jaguars as it relates to the AFC South title, but several other teams around the AFC are also going to be watching the outcome of that game. 

What makes it even more noteworthy is that the Jaguars still do not know if they will have quarterback Trevor Lawrence for that game, or what he is going to be capable of if he does play. 

Officially, the Jaguars are considering Lawrence questionable for the game with Friday's practice playing a big role in whether or not he plays. He missed the Jaguars' Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers due to a shoulder injury, which came just a couple of weeks after he also suffered a concussion and an ankle injury. 

If Lawrence can't go it would leave the Jaguars offense in the hands of backup C.J. Beathard for a second consecutive game. That could be big news not only for fans in Jacksonville, but also fans in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Houston and Indianapolis. 

Let's start with Pittsburgh. If the Steelers win on Saturday it would open up a few paths for them to potentially sneak into a wild card spot. One of those paths would be a Jacksonville loss to the Titans (they could also get in with a Buffalo loss or a Houston and Indianapolis tie). 

A Jacksonville loss would also eliminate some pressure for the Bills in their Sunday night game against the Miami Dolphins because it would automatically clinch them a playoff spot. They would still have the division to play for, but wins by Pittsburgh and Jacksonville would put the Bills into a situation where a Sunday night loss to the Dolphins would not only take the division from them, it would knock them out of the playoffs entirely.

Then we have the other two AFC South teams still in contention for the division. A Jaguars loss means that the winner of the Texans-Colts game would take the division title and get a home playoff game. 

Even though the Jaguars were able to get a win against Carolina without Lawrence this past week, Sunday's game is going to present an entirely new set of challenges. For one, it is a road game instead of at home. It will also be against a Tennessee team that, even though it is eliminated from postseason contention, seems very determined to win. Head coach Mike Vrabel was passionate about competing, veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill talked about the importance of going out with a win and it could also be running back Derrick Henry's final game in Tennessee. They are going to be motivated even without a playoff spot on the line and it will not be an easy game for Jacksonville.

If Lawrence is anything less than 100 percent the challenge gets even tougher. Lawrence initially suffered his ankle injury on Dec. 4 and struggled in his next three starts with the Jaguars losing all of them. Now he has a shoulder injury on top of that.