Jaguars look to go up to penthouse

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a chance to go from cellar to stellar -- and it’s a well-trampled path.

In each of the last seven NFL seasons, at least one team has gone from last to first place in its division from one year to the next. That’s the longest such streak in league history.

The Jaguars play at Indianapolis on Sunday, and with a victory would clinch a season sweep of the Colts and the AFC South title to boot. Were the Colts to win, however, they would hold the other tiebreakers with the Jaguars and Jacksonville likely would wind up out of the playoffs. The Colts are aiming for their seventh division title since realignment in 2002.

“Obviously, it’s a make it, take it kind of game,” Colts Coach Jim Caldwell said this week. “It’s like that old basketball game you used to play as a kid, right? So we have to get ourselves in position to score so that we can stay after our No. 1 goal.”

The teams to go from “worst to first” in their division since 2000 (* Tied for last place; ** Won Super Bowl):

SEASON, TEAM, W-L, PRIOR

2000, New Orleans, 10-6, 3-13
2001, Chicago, 13-3, 5-11
2001, New England**, 11-5, 5-11
2003, Carolina, 11-5, 7-9
2003, Kansas City, 13-3, 8-8*
2004, Atlanta, 11-5, 5-11
2004, San Diego, 12-4, 4-12*
2005, Chicago, 11-5, 5-11
2005, Tampa Bay, 11-5, 5-11
2006, Baltimore, 13-3, 6-10*
2006, New Orleans, 10-6, 3-13
2006, Philadelphia, 10-6, 6-10
2007, Tampa Bay, 9-7, 4-12
2008, Miami, 11-5, 1-15
2009, New Orleans**, 13-3, 8-8
Source: NFL?

Y3K St. Louis standout Sam Bradford needs 116 yards passing against Kansas City on Sunday to become the third rookie quarterback in NFL history to pass for 3,000 yards.

Beyond that, there’s the far larger incentive for Bradford of leading the Rams to the playoffs. Like the Jaguars, the Rams and Chiefs have a chance to go from worst to first in their respective divisions.

The Rams are looking for Bradford to bounce back from a rough loss to New Orleans, when he failed to throw a touchdown pass and had two throws picked off in the red zone. The Rams rank 31st in touchdown efficiency inside the 20 at 36.2%.

“Turnovers killed us,” Bradford said of the loss to the Saints. “Turnovers hurt you everywhere, but when you get into the red zone and turn the ball over, it just gives the other team all of the momentum in the world. I’ve got to be better when we’re down there and I have got to be smarter.”

How Bradford compares to the rookie quarterbacks to pass for 3,000 yards (*Through Week 14):

PLAYER, TEAM, YEAR, YARDS
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 1998, 3,739
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 2008, 3,440
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, 2010, 2,884*
Source: NFL?

Playoff picture

According to the NFL, New England is the only team to have clinched a playoff spot. Here’s how the rest of the field looks:

NFC, eliminated: Carolina, Detroit, Washington, Dallas, Minnesota.

Atlanta clinches a playoff spot with: 1) Atlanta win or tie; 2) Giants loss or tie; 3) Chicago loss or tie 4) Green Bay loss or tie.

Chicago clinches NFC North division: 1) Chicago win + Green Bay loss.

New Orleans clinches a playoff spot: 1) New Orleans win + Tampa Bay loss or tie + Giants loss or tie; 2) New Orleans win + Tampa Bay loss or tie + Chicago loss or tie; 3) New Orleans win + Tampa Bay loss or tie + Green Bay loss or tie; 4) New Orleans tie + Tampa Bay loss + Green Bay loss; 5) New Orleans tie + Tampa Bay loss + Giants loss + Chicago loss.

Giants clinch a playoff spot: 1) Giants win + Chicago loss + Green Bay loss + Tampa Bay loss + Giants clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.

AFC, eliminated: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Cleveland.

New England clinches AFC East division and a first-round bye with: 1) New England win + Jets loss or tie; 2) New England tie + Jets loss.

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division: 1) Pittsburgh win + Baltimore loss + Pittsburgh clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Baltimore. Pittsburgh clinches a first-round bye: 1) Pittsburgh win + Baltimore loss + Pittsburgh clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Baltimore and Jacksonville; 2) Pittsburgh win + Baltimore loss + Jacksonville loss or tie + Pittsburgh clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Baltimore. Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot: 1) Pittsburgh win or tie; 2) Indianapolis loss or tie + Kansas City loss. (There are other scenarios in which Pittsburgh may clinch a playoff spot if it clinches the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend).

Jacksonville clinches AFC South division: 1) Jacksonville win.

Jets clinch a playoff spot: 1) Jets win + Miami loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie + Kansas City loss. (There are other scenarios in which Jets may clinch a playoff spot if they clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend).

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot: 1) Baltimore win + Indianapolis loss or tie + Miami loss or tie + Kansas City loss. (There are other scenarios in which Baltimore may clinch a playoff spot if it clinches the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.)

sam.farmer@latimes.com
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