The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t played many meaningful December games over the last dozen years. They’re usually so far out of the AFC South race by then that mock drafts are the only postseason scenarios that matter to the small-market franchise; But ,having won three of their last five games — combined with Tennessee’s three-game skid, the Jaguars (5-8) suddenly find themselves in the playoff picture late. That’s something that Jacksonville has in common with the Dallas Cowboys (10-3) who are currently sitting comfortably with 5th seed in the NFC.
The Cowboys and Jaguars both have something at stake when they meet in Jacksonville on Sunday for the first time since 2006. Dallas can clinch a postseason berth for the second consecutive year, a feat “America’s Team” last accomplished in 2007. The Jaguars, meanwhile, need a victory to either keep pace with or close the gap on the AFC South-leading Titans. It’s a rarity for Jacksonville to still have a shot this late in the season. The team has finished last in the division each of the last four years and was in playoff contention down the stretch just once previously since 2010.
The Cowboys have won four in a row (including the last two against Indianapolis and Houston from the AFC South) and six of seven to gain a stranglehold on an NFL wild-card spot. NFC East-leading Philadelphia remains within reach for the Dallas Cowboys but they need some help if they hope to catch the red hot Eagles. This team cannot afford to have a letdown in Jacksonville against a very underrated and competitive team. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is a big believer in how the months of the season are different, and there is no month more important than December during the regular season. The Cowboys have won nine in a row in December and are 9-1 in the month since McCarthy was hired in 2020. That’s ties him with Andy Reid‘s Kansas City Chiefs for the most December victories in the NFL during that stretch.;
The key to the Cowboys success this season on offense has been the running game. Tony Pollard is taking over the spotlight in Dallas’ backfield with a career-best 12 total touchdowns, one more than his first three seasons combined. He’s the best playmaker and most dangerous scoring threat the Cowboys have. Still, two-time rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott is quietly putting together some impressive numbers himself. Elliott has at least one touchdown run in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. With one against the Jaguars, he and all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith would be the only Cowboys running backs with rushing TDs in at least seven straight games. Smith set the franchise record by scoring in each of the final 14 games of the 1995 season, playoffs included. Elliott also scored the go-ahead touchdown against Houston on a 2-yard run with 41 seconds remaining to cap an impressive 98 yard drive led by quarterback Dak Prescott. I expect the Cowboys running game to continue to have success against the Jags and keep their hopes of catching the division leading Eagles alive for another week.
Final Prediction : Dallas Cowboys 31 Jacksonville Jaguars
*Photo by Joe Glorioso; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode