Visiting Music Metropolis has been nothing however distress and agony for the Jacksonville Jaguars for too a few years.
On Sunday, the Jaguars made certain the Tennessee Titans felt that ache whereas holding their AFC South hopes alive with 4 video games remaining.
Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 368 yards and three touchdowns and likewise ran for a rating and the Jaguars routed the division-leading Titans 36-22 Sunday for his or her first victory in Nashville since 2013.
The Jaguars (5-8) snapped a five-game skid in opposition to their oldest division rival with simply their second victory on this sequence in 11 video games. Doug Pederson additionally grew to become the primary Jacksonville coach to win in Nashville since Gus Bradley on Nov. 10, 2013, one thing the first-year Jags coach made certain his group knew about.
“Clearly on the highway, in opposition to a fantastic soccer group right here in Nashville the place we clearly haven’t performed properly means lots,” Pederson stated. “Means lots to myself, to the group, to the Khans to have the ability to try this after which for the gamers to essentially play properly.”
Jacksonville had 4 sacks and turned 4 turnovers into 20 factors — three for 17 factors within the first half. The Jaguars scored 29 straight factors in successful two of their previous three.
Pederson known as these early turnovers a tone-setter.
“The offense was in a position to capitalize off of that and put factors on the board, and you already know, it’s simply big,” Pederson stated.
Lawrence had a giant sport regardless of training solely in a restricted style Friday with an injured massive left toe. The No. 1 total choose within the 2021 draft waved bye at Titans followers earlier than high-fiving Jaguars followers as he left the sector.
“It’s been some time since we received right here, and that ended in the present day so it’s thrilling,” Lawrence stated. “Simply the beginning of what we hope to do to complete this season out and what we’re going to have to offer ourselves a shot to make a run within the playoffs.”
Jaguars tight finish Evan Engram had a profession day with 15 targets and 162 yards receiving on 11 catches with two TD receptions.
The Titans (7-6) misplaced their third straight to match their longest skid since coach Mike Vrabel’s opening season in 2018.
Their rally was too little and too late. Ryan Tannehill threw a TD go to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and changing a 2-point conversion go to Chig Okonkwo that he pinned with one hand in opposition to his face masks with 7:15 to drag inside 36-22.
The Titans turned it over on downs with 1:59 left, permitting the Jaguars to expire the clock.
“Nothing was ok in the present day,” Vrabel stated.
This loss follows Titans proprietor Amy Adams Strunk firing normal supervisor Jon Robinson over roster points and accidents that had Tennessee enjoying 77 gamers after setting an NFL report with 91 completely different gamers final season. The Titans had been with out three defensive starters for this sport.
Tennessee misplaced regardless of Derrick Henry shaking off some frustration by working for extra yards within the first quarter than he had in any of the Titans’ previous 4 video games. Henry had 96 yards, together with a 50-yarder, within the first quarter. He had 119 yards by halftime solely to complete with 121.
The Titans led 7-0 when Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker, the No. 1 choose total, sacked Tannehill and stripped him of the ball on Tennessee’s second possession. Dawuane Smoot recovered, and Lawrence discovered Engram for a 12-yard TD go tying it at 7.
Jaguars security Andrew Wingard, who damage a shoulder on the opening drive, picked off Tannehill’s go supposed for Westbrook-Ikhine with the Titans receiver blocking and never on the lookout for the ball. That arrange the primary of Riley Patterson’s three subject objectives.
Jacksonville linebacker Shaquille Quarterman hit Henry on the finish of a 16-yard catch-and-run, popping the ball proper into teammate Josh Allen’s arms on the Jacksonville 22.
Lawrence capped a 78-yard drive by hitting Zay Jones on a 20-yard TD go, and the receiver obtained his toes in on the proper fringe of the top zone that went by way of Titans rookie cornerback Roger McCreary’s arms with 11 seconds left within the first half giving Jacksonville its first lead of the sport.
“The entire first half, simply shot ourselves within the foot with turnovers,” Tannehill stated.
The Jaguars put the sport away with a dominating third quarter. They held the ball for greater than 10 minutes and outgained Tennessee 146 to minus-8. Lawrence ran for a 1-yard TD and later hit Engram with a 21-yard TD go.
The Titans went three-and-out on each of their possessions within the third quarter, and followers booed closely. It obtained worse because the Titans tried a wildcat snap within the opening minute of the fourth. The snap to Henry was low with Tannehill faking on the play, and Arden Key recovered for the Jaguars for Patterson’s third subject aim.
Titans working again and particular groups participant Dontrell Hilliard was carted off with a neck harm within the second quarter and didn’t return. Titans security Amani Hooker went into the medical tent on the finish of the third however returned.
Tennessee will go to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.