Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

The good, the bad and the ugly of the Jaguars 42-20 loss to the Titans

There wasn’t much good to talk about after the Jags loss to the Titans Week 12 aside from running back Leonard Fournette.

Another week, another absolute shellacking from a division rival to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars wrapped up another disappointing week with a loss to the Tennessee Titans by a score 42-20 in a game where they were flat-out dominated. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 4-7 on the year and are dead last in the AFC South. This is the third straight loss to a AFC South division rival and also their third consecutive loss by 20 or more points.

There is not a lot — if anything — that went the Jaguars way on Sunday. Nevertheless, here are the good, the bad and the ugly moments from the Jaguars and TitansWeek 12 matchup:

The good: Leonard Fournette continuously showing that he is a franchise running back

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

While the Jaguars offense left much to be desired, one player who showed up to play was Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette.

Fournette put the team on his back to the best of his ability as he finished with 97 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Fournette now has 951 total rushing yards on the season, which is good for sixth in the NFL. He even led the team in receptions with nine for 62 receiving yards.

Fournette’s continued growth has been completely lost in the Jaguars’ miserable season. He is currently fourth in the NFL in receiving among running backs with 391 yards. That would represent the highest total since his rookie season where he finished with 302 yards on 36 receptions.

Fournette is also on pace to rush for 1,366 yards which would shatter his rookie total of 1,040. In a season filled with disarray and disappointment, the Jaguars at least can be excited with knowing Fournette is truly panning out to be the productive No. 4 overall pick that they hoped for.

The bad AND the ugly: Every single thing on the Jaguars’ side of the ball not named Fournette

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This game was so bad for the Jaguars that it can not be separated between being bad and ugly.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Jaguars were almost helpless.

The Jaguars didn’t score their first touchdown until 2:23 in the third quarter when the game was already out of hand at a score of 35-11. Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles finished with 272 passing yards with a large majority of most of those yards coming in the fourth quarter when the Jaguars were down as much as 42-17.

On the defensive side, the main issue all season was the Jaguars’ sieve-like rush defense. This game was no different as the Jaguars’ defense was completely victimized by Titans running back Derrick Henry to the tune of 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Henry even broke out for a 74-yard run in the third quarter.

The real story was Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who started the season as the backup to Marcus Mariota. He absolutely eviscerated the Jaguars’ defense and showed some toughness overall leaping into the air for a 21-yard rushing touchdown. The Jags’ defense allowed Tannehill to not only pass for 259 yards with a 14.4 yards per pass average and two touchdowns, but he also ran for 40 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. In total, Tannehill finished with a 93.0 quarterback rating and a 155.8 passer rating and completely demoralized the Jags’ defense.

The Titans not only dominated the entire game, but also erased the hopes of a respectable season from Jaguars fans. The loss put them further down the standings in the AFC South and could possibly lead to them acquiring the last spot in the division.

A loss is one thing, but another extremely brutal loss to a division rival is flat out embarrassing at this point. Something needs to change and the bleeding has to stop eventually. Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone will have to take a deep look at the game film and the makeup of this team and figure out where their hearts are at this point in the season.

Doug Marrone says he’s not considering QB or DC change after Titans loss

The Jags will stay the course with Nick Foles and Todd Wash despite the scrutiny both have received for the Jags’ struggles.

The Jacksonville Jaguars continued their theme of losing to divisional opponents by over 20 points this Sunday after another poor showing against the Tennessee Titans. In a game in which they kept close in the first half, it never felt like the Jags were going to find themselves — and they didn’t — as the wheels fell off in the second half, leaving both the fans and players looking for answers.

When looking at the box score, there were issues all over the place and the team as a whole didn’t show up. However, the defense failed the team once again by not only allowing the opposition to have another big day on the ground with over 200 rushing yards, but through the air as well after allowing 252 total passing yards on the night.

Needless to say, a performance like that led to fans once again questioning if Todd Wash will get fired but head coach Doug Marrone shot those speculations down by telling the media he has no plans to do so. Marrone also shot down any speculations as to if the Jags would bench quarterback Nick Foles, who also hasn’t been the answer for the offense since returning from his collarbone injury.

Of course, neither statement will make fans happy but they also aren’t shocking. In Wash’s case, Marrone may feel that the staff should all go down together, which is actually a respectable stance if that’s his thought process. In all probability, the playoffs are out of reach when considering how the team has played in their last three games, so a change at defensive coordinator might not make much of a difference.

As for Foles, the coaching staff put a lot of time into making him the offense’s guy. While it also shouldn’t be ruled out that the front office is influencing the situation because of the money they invested in the veteran, I believe Marrone rather place the fate of his job in the hands of a veteran like Foles over a rookie in Gardner Minshew II. When looking at the momentum the rookie had earlier in the season, that may be a questionable call, but one Marrone is fine with losing his job over.

Jaguars’ frustrating loss leads to Yannick Ngakoue flipping Titans off

Yannick Ngakoue, who is tired of losing like Jags fans, let the Titans know just how he felt after Week 12’s loss.

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered an embarrassing 42-20 loss against the Tennessee Titans, leading to the team’s third straight 20-plus point loss. Of course, with the fanbase already on edge from Shad Khan’s latest interview, the Jags embarrassing display once again riled up the fanbase, who simply want to see their beloved Jags win.

However, the fans seemingly weren’t the only ones upset by the 42-20 display as defensive end Yannick Ngakoue ended the game giving the Titans’ sideline a piece of his mind with a certain one-fingered gesture late in the fourth quarter.

Ngakoue’s display comes after a game in which he had a pretty solid performance, accumulating two tackles and another strip-sack to his résumé, so it’s easy to see where the frustration came from — though it’s still not excusable.

The fourth-year pass rusher is in a contract year and many fans believe he has well earned an extension. In just four seasons, Ngakoue has already surpassed all but Tony Brackens on the all-time sack list in franchise history, with an impressive 35.5 sacks to his name. Regardless of who the staff is, time is surely running out to re-sign the star pass-rusher.

Ngakoue unquestionably isn’t the only player frustrated after this rough season as his teammates can’t be happy either. That said, changes will likely come and we will be sure to keep a close eye on the key decisions that will be made in the coming weeks.

Instant analysis: Titans hand Jags third consecutive blowout loss within the division

The Jaguars were embarrassed once again by a divisional opponent and their playoff hopes went out the door with the loss.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered Week 12’s game against the Tennessee Titans with it being a do or die situation for their playoff hopes but fell flat on their faces as they did in their last two games. In fact, the game got downright ugly as they fell to their longtime rivals by a score of 42-20.

The game was close (7-3) heading into half-time but the wheels fell off in the third quarter. In the first series, the defense gave up a huge 36-yard reception to receiver A.J. Brown, which set the Titans up for an easy 1-yard touchdown reception to Denis Kelly. Afterward, the struggling rush defense allowed a 75-yard touchdown to Derrick Henry.

After a fumbled kickoff return by Michael Walker that put Tennessee on the Jags’ seven, they were able to punch in another touchdown with Henry, putting the score at 28-3. The bleeding didn’t stop there, however, as Brown added a 65-yard touchdown reception before the third quarter could end.

The Jags tried to respond with two touchdowns of their own by running back Leonard Fournette but the damage was done at that point. Not to mention, the Titans added a fourth quarter touchdown courtesy of quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

In a nutshell, the loss came down to another embarrassing performance from the defense, which allowed 471 total yards, 219 of which were rushing yards. Additionally, the Jags’ $80-plus million man Nick Foles struggled once again with hitting his receivers when it counted. With the Titans pouring it on, he had 48 passing attempts which led to a padded total of 272 passing yards on the night. Simply put, the loss is one that signals the team has hit rock bottom and changes could be on the horizon.

The Jags’ next game will be at home against the Tampa Bay Bucs, who are coming off a 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons. That game will take place on Dec. 1 with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Injury news: Ronnie Harrison ruled out with a concussion vs. Titans

The Jags sustained a blow to their secondary early in Week 12 as Ronnie Harrison sustained a concussion and was ruled out for the game.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans’ Week 12 game was expected to be physical and it’s seemingly already taking a toll. Safety Ronnie Harrison went to the sidelines late in the first quarter with a concussion and was ruled out not too soon afterward.

The injury occurred on a 20-yard reception to Titans tight end MyCole Pruitt. Harrison appears to have collided with Jarod Wilson while bringing him down and was slow to get up afterward.

The Jags replaced Harrison with Andrew Wingard as a result of they injury. He came into the game with eight tackles and already has two since replacing  Harrison.

Jaguars X-factors on offense and defense vs. Titans

The Jags will likely need some big contributions from a couple of players who don’t start and DL Dawuane Smoot could be one of those players.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will look to get the season sweep against a Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Both teams are looking to avoid the bottom spot in the AFC South and possibly sneak in as a dark-horse playoff pick.

The Jaguars beat the Titans in the first meeting this season in Week 3 by a score of 20-7. The defense stepped up that night as they would collect nine sacks and limited the Titans’ offense to 4.5 yards per play.

Rivalry games are extremely unpredictable as both teams are familiar with each other. These are times where a player who isn’t particularly a household name can step up a catch the opponent off guard.

The Jaguars will look to get some contributions from players who aren’t exactly the main starters to supply a spark and secure the victory against the Titans.

Here are the Jaguars players who could end up being X-factors in Week 12’s game:

WR Chris Conley

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars wide receiver Chris Conley will be counted on to stretch the Titans defense as the team’s third receiver. Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook was listed with an illness earlier in the week and he missed some time as a result.

Should Westbrook’s snaps be limited in any way, the Jaguars should feel confident in knowing that Conley can handle the load. Conley has fared well in his last four games with 15 receptions for 276 yards and a touchdown.

The Titans defense is ranked No. 20 in the NFL in terms of receiving yards allowed. Conley’s game is highly predicated on big plays as he possesses some serious speed and sits at 17.9 yards per reception. This looks like a game where he can be successful based on not only his skill set but also Westbrook’s limited impact (if not 100%) and the Titans’ questionable secondary.

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Jags vs. Titans: TE Delanie Walker listed amongst notable inactives for Week 12

As expected, Delanie Walker won’t play in Week 12’s game against the Jags.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of inactive players for Week 12’s game against the Titans and offensive lineman Will Richardson surprisingly surfaced as what looks to be a healthy scratch.

Throughout the year, Richardson has shared snaps with guard A.J. Cann and both really haven’t separated themselves from each other. Richardson has a grade of 45.9 (357 snaps), per Pro Football Focus, while Cann has a slightly better grade with a 47.3 (448 snaps). That said, coach Doug Marrone likely felt the difference between the two wasn’t that significant and decided to go with the veteran, who is much more experienced.

As for the Titans, there weren’t really any surprises. Coming off their bye week, only two players were on their final injury report in offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile (knee) and tight end Delanie Walker (ankle), both of whom were doubtful and eventually ruled inactive.

The Titans full list of inactives can be seen below:

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 12 Q&A with Titans Wire

Jags Wire managing editor Jame Johnson chopped it with Titans Wire managing editor Crissy Froyd about Thursday night’s Week 12 battle.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will be taking the field for yet another battle in which fans of both fan bases have likely had circled due to the history between both teams. To get a little insight on the current status of the team as they’re coming off their bye week, we did our weekly question exchange with Titans Wire editor Crissy Froyd and here are five burning questions she was kind enough to answer:

Jags Wire: Earlier in the week Doug Marrone praised Ryan Tannehill as an improved player. How has he played since becoming the starter in your eyes? 

Crissy Froyd: Tannehill is very decisive and comfortable in the pocket — two things that Mariota never was. He’s been efficient, but needs to stay consistent. 

JW: The Titans are coming off a bye week which could lead to a playoff push from this point. Who are some key players they got back in the process? 

CF: The Titans overcame a lot of injuries, and tight end Delanie Walker is just one of a few players slowly getting back to full capacity. He was one of two players (alongside OL Kevin Pamphile) still listed as doubtful on this weekend’s injury report.

JW: Aside from a change at quarterback, how has this roster grown since Week 3?

CF: We’re seeing a lot of young receivers step up, and Derrick Henry being put to good use. Henry wasn’t used correctly in the beginning of the season, and that showed. The Jags face a much better put together team this time around.

JW: What would you say has been some of the Titans’ weaknesses throughout the season?

CF: Allowing one big play a game, like Dean Pees said. The Titans have a solid team, but there are things they let slip away from them that cost them the game. Tackling has also been inconsistent at times. 

JW: What are your final score predictions for the game?

CF: The Titans come out on top, 21-17.

Jaguars vs. Titans: 3 players to watch in Week 12’s AFC South battle

Taven Bryan is one of many players who will be key to a Jags victory against the Titans due to his abilities behind the line of scrimmage.

This week the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Nashville to face off against their third consecutive division rival: the Tennessee Titans. After falling to the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts the last two games, the Jags are hoping to turn things around against a Titans team on a hot streak. New quarterback Ryan Tannehill has brought back life into the Titans team and looks to have them back in the playoff hunt.

If Jacksonville has any hope of getting back into the playoff picture, it starts here. Here are some key players to watch in this matchup that may just turn the tide in favor of the teal and black:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Center Brandon Linder

Brandon Linder has been a team leader since his early days with the Jags when he was one of the league’s top offensive lineman. Unfortunately, as of the last two seasons, he has been largely inconsistent and doesn’t look like the dominant force we have all come to know. The running game has struggled as of late and penalties have plagued the line all season.

Through the first eight games, Leonard Fournette was on a record pace as a rusher. Since, the back has seen just 19 carries and the offense has similarly struggled to get going. Whether it is the fault of play-calling or execution, the offense needs to get back on its feet and the offensive line is the key. With Jurrell Casey posing a threat on the other side of the line of scrimmage, Linder will need to play his best ball.

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Jaguars vs. Titans: 3 matchups to watch

The Jags will need to win some key matchups Sunday to overtake the Titans and one of them is the battle between Fournette and Rashaan Evans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) will clash for their second time in 2019 with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Needless to say, that means neither team can take a loss in Sunday’s matchup, which will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three we’ll be watching in particular:

Edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen vs. offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin

While the Jags aren’t quite where they want to be record-wise, fans who like breaking down the film should at least be happy to see this matchup regardless of the outcome. It’s rare to see two tandems of this magnitude duke it out on the edge and I’ve personally been waiting to see this matchup since Josh Allen was selected by the Jags.

In the Jags’ and Titans’ Week 3 meeting, Taylor Lewan was suspended and his absence showed as quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times. Now he’s back and the playing field is level. With that being the case, it will be interesting to see how Yannick Ngakoue and Allen respond to the tandem as Lewan and Jack Conklin are regarded as one of the NFL’s top bookend duos.

RB Leonard Fournette vs. ILB Rashaan Evans  

Leonard Fournette wants more carries and the Jags want to give him that. That said, if the Jags give him the ball as most suspect he’ll have to deal with the Titans leading tackler in Rashaan Evans. These two are quite familiar with each other after their time in the Southeastern Conference and now the rivalry has followed them to the league due to being selected by the Jags and Titans.

Evans will enter the game with 82 tackles while Fournette will enter the game with 854 rushing yards and one touchdown. As we’ve mentioned in the past, he’s struggled against the Titans. Throughout, four starts against them, he’s garnered 62 carries for 211 yards (good for a 3.4 YPC average) and a touchdown, which is not an impressive stat line. Simply put, that needs to change Sunday if the Jags want to win.

LB Myles Jack vs. RB Derrick Henry

This kind of goes back to what was said in our bold predictions post when I mentioned that Myles Jack is the most criticized player on the Jags’ defense — and rightfully so. He hasn’t played to his contract extension this season and will need to flip the switch quick as he’s played so poorly to the point where many have been wondering if he needs to change positions.

Jack likely understands he’s fallen short of expectations more than anyone and could play with his hair on fire against the Titans. With Derrick Henry expected to lead their offense, he’ll receive ample carries and Jack could make a statement Sunday by holding him in check and acquiring double-digit tackles on the day.