Week 15 AFC South predictions: Jaguars get measuring-stick game vs. Ravens

Things are heating up in the AFC South as the season nears an end. Just one game separates the division-leading Jacksonville Jaguars from the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, who are tied for second place. 

Though they’re nearly out of the playoff race, the Tennessee Titans are riding high from their 28-27 upset of the Miami Dolphins. Here are predictions for Week 15’s slate of games:

Houston Texans (7-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-8): In the first matchup of the season between these two teams, fans might be robbed of a C.J. Stroud vs. Will Levis matchup with the former in the concussion protocol and his status for this weekend still unknown. The defenses and run game are a wash, so this game will come down to the quarterbacks. 

If Davis Mills does, in fact, start for Houston, the Titans chances go up exponentially. He has a 1-2 career record against Tennessee with a passer rating barely above 90. Conversely, Levis is coming off his best game as a pro, in which he threw for 327 yards and a touchdown in an upset of the Dolphins. I like the Titans to pull out another close one and Levis to outduel Mills.

PREDICTION: Titans 24, Texans 23

Indianapolis Colts (7-6) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6): With Kenny Pickett already ruled out this week, the Colts are essentially being handed a freebie facing Mitch Trubisky, who threw for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception and lost to the 3-10 New England Patriots last week.

Indy is coming off its own loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but it had won its previous four games before that. Even with Gardner Minshew running the show, the Colts rank eighth in scoring (24.2 points per game) and 14th in total offense (337.1 yards per game). There seems to be some division in Pittsburgh’s locker room, and the Colts could be primed to take advantage of it at the right time.

PREDICTION: Colts 27, Steelers 21

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-3): If the Jaguars want to prove they’re for real and not a pretender, this is the kind of statement game they need to win. The Ravens are the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the only 10-win team in the conference. A win over them would go a long way to legitimizing Jacksonville’s case for being a legit threat in the postseason.

Travis Etienne has been relatively quiet since his streak of three straight games with two or more touchdowns six weeks ago. He needs to have more than the 50.3 yards he’s averaged over the last six games for the Jags to have any kind of chance against Baltimore’s No. 2-ranked defense. 

Additionally, Trevor Lawrence, who’s thrown for 300 yards just twice this season, needs to have a breakout game to keep up with the Ravens’ No. 6-ranked offense. I just don’t think Jacksonville has the horses to keep up with Lamar Jackson and company.

PREDICTION: Ravens 35, Jaguars 22