Tag: NFL regular season week 12

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.

Jaguars vs. Titans: Week 12 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

After a terrible showing in their last two games, many aren’t high on the Jags chances to beat the titans — and rightfully so.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will head to Tennessee to take on the Titans for the last time this regular season, and just as they were in Week 3’s meeting, both teams are desperate for a win.

With a 5-5 record, the Titans will be trying to avoid falling too far behind in the playoff race, while the 4-5 Jags will be looking to do the same and avoid a three game skid. That said, both fanbases are likely viewing Sunday’s game as the most important of the season — and that very well could be accurate.

Here are our predictions on how things could go between the two longtime rivals Sunday:

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Titans 17, Jaguars 14

The Jags haven’t shown the ability to beat any teams with a .500 record or better aside from the Titans Week 3. However, the Jags’ defense was playing much better then. With Derrick Henry fresh off the bye week he’ll, unfortunately, have a solid day, though I’m not sure it will lead to a lot of scoring. Still, it will be enough in a close battle that goes down to the wire.

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Titans 16, Jaguars 13

In a game that will garner very little interest from anyone outside of the two respective fanbases, this one may be a slog to watch. Both squads are not where they wanted to be and find themselves in tough spots. Do you tank the remainder of the season to improve draft stock? Or reel off a few wins to build momentum going into the offseason? For Jaguar fans, it might be best for the team to lose this one too (for the sake of a new front office) and exactly what will happen in Nashville.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Jaguars 17, Titans 13

After last week’s embarrassing effort against their longtime rivals in the Colts, the Jags are headed to Nashville to face the Titans. The Jags beat the Titans after a strong defensive day where the racked up nine sacks earlier in the season. However, both teams are nothing like they were when they met earlier. Both teams are meddling in no man’s land where they can either sneak into the playoffs or miss them but end up picking in the middle of the first round. The Jags should come out with a point to prove after last week’s effort and somehow survive.

Daniel Griffis (@GriffisNFL): Titans 29, Jaguars 16

The Titans are playing some of their best ball in recent memory. Ryan Tannehill has re-energized the team and brought them back into the playoff hunt. The Jaguars haven’t had such luck as of late. Until Jacksonville shows they can stop the run, I think they will struggle mightily, especially against a Derrick Henry led team.

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Jaguars 19, Titans 17

The Jaguars will have to stop the bleeding eventually and this is the game to do it. Titans running back Derrick Henry will likely have a monster game but the Jaguars will win in a low-scoring game.

Will Frost (@willfrost_): Titans 25, Jaguars 18

Last week’s loss to Indianapolis showed that the Jags’ run defense has been far below average this season. That said, Jags fans should expect another big game for Derrick Henry as we’ve seen in the past. This might be ugly, and a loss could very well cement the Jaguars at the foot of the AFC South.

3 bold predictions for Jags vs. Titans

The Jags will need some players to step up after two straight losses and Dede Westbrook is one to watch against the Titans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached the point where their playoff aspirations are on life support as they will be taking on the Tennessee Titans, who are almost in the same situation. One thing the Jags will at least have in their favor is the fact that they beat the Titans earlier this year and fans are hoping history repeats itself.

When considering their last two performances, the Jags clearly will need several players to play out of their minds and here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s game:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Dede Westbrook will exit the game with over 130 yards, a receiving touchdown, and special teams touchdown

While it’s Leonard Fournette who most Jags fans want to see more involved, it’s possible struggle against the Titans, who have the No. 13 ranked rushing defense. Additionally, he’s struggled to find success against the Titans and will enter Sunday’s game with just 211 rushing yards throughout four games against them.

However, when looking at their defensive statistics, they’ve struggled mightily against the pass and rank 22nd in the category. When looking at their last three games, they’ve allowed two receivers to accumulate over 157 yards against them (Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill), while Carolina Panthers receiver DJ Moore accumulated 101 yards against them. That said, I think they may focus so heavily on DJ Chark Jr. to the point where Dede Westbrook has a breakout game against them and racks up over 130 yards against them with a touchdown. Don’t be shocked to also see him contribute on special teams against Tennessee, too, as he’s due for a punt return touchdown.

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Jaguars final injury report vs. Titans: TE Seth DeValve to miss his second consecutive week

Seth DeValve will miss his second consecutive week with an oblique injury he sustained last week.

For the second consecutive week the Jacksonville Jaguars only had one player on their final injury report as tight end Seth DeValve is still recovering from the oblique injury he sustained last Thursday.

The Jags haven’t had the best luck at the tight end position and last Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts left them in worse shape at the position. With DeValve out, they only entered the game with Josh Oliver and Ben Koyack at the position but Oliver had to be placed on injured reserve afterward as a result of sustaining multiple back fractures.

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The Jags signed veteran tight end Nick O’Leary out of free-agency Monday and promoted Charles Jones from their practice squad. Both will now join Koyack giving the Jags three tight ends to travel to Tennessee with.

3 things to know for Jaguars vs. Titans

The Jags should expect a scrappy Titans team Week 12 after they will be coming off their bye with momentum from their win against the Chiefs.

While their fanbase is still recovering from Sunday’s deflating loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars must now let it be nothing more than a moment in the past. Up next for them is a team who may be even more desperate than the Colts were in the Tennessee Titans, who look to be a better team than they were Week 3 when the Jags beat them on “Thursday Night Football.”

All of that said, here are three things to know as the Jags and Titans gear up for their second meeting of 2019:

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Titans have a lot to play for with the No. 9 seed in the AFC

The Titans will come into Sunday’s game with plenty to play for — and quite frankly — more than the Jags. As of Tuesday, they have the ninth seed in the AFC playoff picture with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills in their way for a wild-card slot.

Per For the Win, the Titans have a 17.9% chance to make the playoffs. The Jags, on the other hand, have a 6.5% chance after previously having an 18.9% chance previously. A win for the Titans could push them closer to the 20% range if not higher as they are currently favorites over the Jags by 3.5-points, per BetMGM.

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