“This is an exciting time right now,” Head Coach Jack Del Rio said at his Monday afternoon press conference. “We are still in the hunt and have an opportunity this weekend against a Houston team that was able to get us at their place a little while back, so our entire focus and attention must go to the Texans and it will go there.”

Del Rio’s Jaguars have made some of their own luck, and they’ve been fortunate to avoid a major injury (so far) that would set them back. Quarterback Byron Leftwich’s knee injury cost him two games, but David Garrard filled in admirably as they Jaguars went 1-1 in Leftwich’s absence. Add in Fred Taylor’s continued solid play and Jimmy Smith’s march into the record book and the “playmakers” for the Jaguars are making the difference. It’s something Del Rio has been waiting for.

“It was excellent to see. Playmakers, it’s what the game is about. Guys making plays and making the plan work, making it look good. I think Jimmy made a couple real nice moves and catches on those touchdowns. Byron threw the ball very well. Fred, he just straightened up that safety and ran by him. That’s special stuff. When your playmakers are making plays, good things happen for you.”

All along the Jaguars have needed things to fall into place for a young team to win. They’ve gotten better than expected play from Leftwich. They’ve stayed healthy. Their defense, although a little sporadic, can be a dominating unit in any game. Special teams are improved. Josh Scobee looks like a player. Even Reggie Williams is starting to contribute.

“We’re excited about the fact that we’ve earned our way into this fight, into this playoff picture, where we have a legitimate chance,” Del Rio Added. “What we have to do is continue to focus on winning football games and playing as well as we can as a team.”

And it’s happening at the right time. The Jaguars might, statistically look like a pass happy team, but they’ve shown the ability to slug it out like a cold weather team. Those are the teams that win in December and January, especially if they have to go on the road to places like Green Bay. Del Rio, as a former player, is well aware of that.

“I do believe it’s imperative that you play your best football late in the year. It’s imperative that we finish strong in order to have a chance of making the tournament. I think we have given ourselves an opportunity to be in it here late, so we’re excited about it. I think the team is playing hard and giving it up and really believing we are capable each week.”

“I like the fact that people are beginning to see what we believe, and that’s that we can compete regardless of the weather and regardless of who the opponent is, we can compete. That’s been our approach from the beginning, is we’re going to go after it, prepare hard and play hard and live with the results.”

The way the playoff picture works, the Jaguars do, pretty much, control their own destiny. If they win against the Texans and Oakland, the only team that could possibly slip by them is Baltimore, and the Ravens would have to defeat Pittsburgh this week to do so. As far as playoff opponents go, Indianapolis is the most likely opponent, but San Diego is also a possibility.