The Tennessee Titans were shorthanded entering Week 10, playing without Carnell Tate and Peter Skoronski against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Many expected a blowout loss. Instead, the Titans fought pretty valiantly, losing 40-23 in a contest that wasn't nearly as lopsided as that score indicates.
Quarterback Cam Ward played well for a third consecutive outing. The former No. 1 overall selection completed 28-of-39 passing attempts for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Ward is starting to string performances together.
We've identified nine instant reactions from the Titans' Week 10 defeat to the Jaguars.
9 immediate reactions from Titans' hard-fought Week 10 loss to Jaguars
Special teams continues to be awful
The Titans entered Sunday having committed a league-leading 18 special teams penalties. They committed a 19th before the clock officially started. Joey Slye failed to place the opening kickoff within the landing zone, gifting the Jaguars' offense the ball at the 40. Trevor Lawrence took advantage of a short field to lead a touchdown drive.
Cedric Gray capitalizes on his opportunity
The Titans are dealing with numerous injuries at off-ball linebacker. Coach Saleh said Cedric Gray, who has been competing for snaps with Cody Barton all campaign long, would receive an opportunity to play the entire game as a result. It didn't take Gray long to capitalize. On the Jaguars' second possession, a Trevor Lawrence tipped pass was deflected into his waiting arms for an interception.
Debate over Cam Ward's interception
The Titans failed to capitalize on Gray's interception because Ward threw one of his own on the ensuing possession. Facing a 3rd-and-8 from makeable field-goal range, Ward tried throwing a crossbody play to Elic Ayomanor. It was the type of off-script throw he's become known to make. Travis Hunter made an incredibly athletic interception. Some will see it as an ill-advised attempt, but Ayomanor also could have made a more aggressive effort.
Cam Ward - Elic Ayomanor connection makes up for early miscue
Whether you blamed Ward or Ayomanor for the interception, their connection made up for it on Tennessee's next offensive drive. Ayomanor dusted Hunter off the line of scrimmage and Ward hit him in stride for a massive 50-yard gain. The franchise quarterback then hit Daniel Bellinger for a short play-action touchdown on a fantastic Brian Daboll play call that saw Tony Pollard come in motion and create some misdirection the other way.
Joey Slye: BIG KICKER
After Slye converted his second kick from 50+ yards, his upper-body strength made an eye-popping appearance on the ensuing kickoff. Slye absolutely popped Jaguars kick returner Josh Cameron, with the big hit forcing a fumble. The Jaguars were very fortunate to recover the loose football in a 16-13 game.
John Franklin-Myers' controversial roughing call changes the game
Lawrence and Jakobi Meyers missed a surefire TD on a 3rd-and-4 from field goal range. The referees called an incredibly soft roughing the passer penalty on John Franklin-Myers that gifted the Jaguars a first down. Later on 4th-and-goal after the defense responded nicely, the Jaguars appeared to get away with an illegal pick play on a Brenton Strange touchdown that blew open their lead to 23-13.
Back-breaking third down defense
Early in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars' offense had a 3rd-and-long outside of Cam Little's range while leading 23-16. Lawrence exploited a hole and scrambled for a backbreaking first down. Mere plays later, Lawrence threw an explosive touchdown to Josh Cameron to extend the lead to 30-16.
Cam Ward, Offense keeps fighting
Despite trailing 30-16, Ward and the Titans offense kept fighting. They continued carrying the momentum from their impressive showings versus the Browns and Bengals. Losing by two scores, Ward marched the offense right down the field via a four-play, 65-yard scoring drive that concluded with a 32-yard TD pass to Tony Pollard. They've found something on offense.
The Titans couldn't get defensive stops when it mattered
The Titans' offense kept fighting, but the defense couldn't get critical stops. The game effectively ended after a Jaguars drive concluded with a fourth-quarter field goal, extending their lead to 33-23. The offense committed a turnover on downs, ending Tennessee's valiant effort.
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