So much for building off an impressive road win. Make it four straight setbacks (and counting) for Brian Callahan’s Tennessee Titans since that upset of the Texans at Houston in Week 12. The Titans have been outscored a combined 127-82 in those losses, and allowed 37 or more points in three of those defeats. The only team the Tennessee defense wasn’t torched by was a 10-6 home loss to the Jaguars, a game in which the Titans failed to score a touchdown.
It's a battle of 3-12 clubs at Jacksonville, and the Titans will be looking to avoid being swept in this longtime AFC South rivalry for the second time in three years.
The Last Time
The clubs will be squaring off for the second time in four weeks. Earlier this month, the Titans shut out the Jaguars for three quarters, then gave up the final 10 points of the game in a 10-6 loss at Nashville. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones threw for 220 yards and was picked off twice, and Tennessee couldn’t capitalize on those two mistakes. Titans’ running back Tony Pollard rushed for 102 yards in the frustrating loss.
Quarterbacks: Tale of the Tape
Despite a performance that included three interceptions, Mason Rudolph will make his fifth start of the season for Callahan’s club. In last week’s loss at Indianapolis, the seven-year pro threw for 252 yards and two scores but was picked off three times. In seven games this season, the former Steelers’ signal-caller has thrown just as many TD passes (8) as interceptions, lost one fumble, and been sacked seven times.
Jones will be starting for the sixth time in seven games for Doug Pederson’s team. He’s taken the field for each of the club’s last six contests, and has appeared in eight of Jacksonville’s 15 outings. He’s thrown five touchdown passes, and also run for one score. However, he’s thrown seven interceptions, serving up two or more picks in three of his last six contests. All told, Jones has a total of nine turnovers.
Defensive Analysis
Due to their recent issues, Dennard Wilson’s unit has now slipped to fifth overall in the league. The Titans have still allowed the fewest passing yards in the league, but the club is now 23rd in the NFL vs. the run. That’s because Wilson’s defenders have allowed an average of 193.5 yards per game rushing during their current four-game losing streak—the vast majority in the losses to the Commanders (267) and Colts (335).
When you allow the most total yards and most passing yards in the league, and give up the fourth-most points in the NFL, you have to dig deep to find some positives. A year ago, during the club’s 9-8 season, Pederson’s squad allowed 371 points. With two games to go this season, Jacksonville has already given up 396 points. Pederson’s squad has surrendered 45 offensive TDs in 15 outings this season. What a disaster.
Keys to the Game
Titans: It is still somewhat hard to believe that Callahan’s club could only manage a pair of field goals against Pederson’s team in the first meeting this season. In this year’s first meeting, Will Levis was Tennessee’s starting quarterback. This time around, look for the game plan to be a little more aggressive. In eight of their first 15 contests this season, Jacksonville defenders have allowed at least two TD passes.
Jaguars: Given the way that the Tennessee defense has performed in recent weeks, Jones and the Jaguars’ offense should go into this game with some confidence. It will be interesting to see who Wilson lines up on Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. He leads the team in catches (73), receiving yards (1,088), and touchdown grabs (9), and combined for 19 receptions, 237 yards, and three TDs the last two weeks.
Titans Player to Watch
It has not been a huge season for one-time Jaguars’ wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who leads the club in catches (56) and receiving yards (857). However, his four scoring receptions is a distant second on the team behind fellow wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (9), and Ridley has more than twice as many grabs than his unheralded teammate (25). In last week’s loss at Indianapolis, he snared three passes for 78 yards and a score. In fact, his 38-yard scoring grab opened the game vs. the Colts.
In this year’s first meeting with Jacksonville, Ridley was targeted 12 times and caught seven passes for only 59 yards. It’s hard to believe he won’t have a better performance in this rematch with his former employer. The Jaguars have allowed the most passing yards in the league and have surrendered 27 aerial scores.