Texans can eliminate Jaguars from division contention with win

At 3-7 and four games behind the division-leading Texans at 7-3, the playoffs are surely an afterthought for Jaguars fans at this point in time. However, as long as they are not mathematically eliminated from contention, miracle scenarios still exist in which the Jaguars could still sneak their way in to the postseason.

The Texans could eliminate one such scenario and the easiest for the Jaguars to accomplish with a win on Sunday, though. With a win the Texans would take a five game lead over the Jaguars with five games to play, making them impossible to surpass by the Jaguars.

Even in a three-way tie scenario with the Texans, Jaguars and Titans all finishing at an 8-8 record, the first tiebreaker is winning percentage between the three clubs. The Texans already have a pair of wins over each the Jaguars and Titans and with a win Sunday would pick up the third that would clinch the spot for them in the tiebreaker.

Of course, a win on Sunday for the Jaguars doesn't mean they are back in the thick of the playoff race. They would still require a ton of help, namely a Texans collapse. However, a win on Sunday will keep the Jaguars gasping for life in 2011.