Titans vs. Jaguars: Score and Twitter Reaction from Thursday Night Football

In a matchup between a pair of two-win teams, there was very little separation between the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. 

Ultimately, though, the Jags did just enough to eke out a 21-13 win at EverBank Field. 

The Jaguars ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense recorded four sacks and allowed just six points after the first quarter to secure the victory.

Of course, the loss really means a win for the Tennessee fanbase. Now 2-13, the Titans remain in strong position to grab the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft. The Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers also have two wins.

As the National Football Post's Dave Miller noted, a certain Heisman winner is likely in the cross-hairs for general manager Ruston Webster and the Titans:

Earning the top choice is likely an unattainable goal now for the 3-12 Jaguars, but they showed glimpses of a bright future—particularly on the defensive line—and are still almost assuredly looking at a top-five selection.

The game unexpectedly started with a methodical drive led by Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who was filling in for the injured Zach Mettenberger and Jake Locker. On the opening drive, the third-string QB completed all six of his throws for 71 yards, marching the Titans down the field and finding Leon Washington for an eight-yard touchdown.

The surprising drive made Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo and Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke joke:

Whitehurst looked good on the night, finishing 24-of-35 for 287 yards, one touchdown and zero turnovers. 

Things slowed down after the opening score, though, with seven consecutive punts before Ryan Succop booted a 50-yard field goal to extend Tennessee's lead to 10-0.

Then Blake Bortles woke up, orchestrating long drives for Jacksonville on either side of halftime. Just before intermission, he lobbed a perfect back-shoulder fade to Marcedes Lewis, who did a nice job to go up and snatch it out of the air in the back of the end zone for a four-yard score.

Hays Carlyon of The Florida Times-Union summed up the drive, noting the array of contributors:

Bortles' final numbers weren't special—115 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and a touchdown—but he made timely plays with his legs and arm on the Jags' scoring drives. Gus Bradley praised the rookie after the game, via The Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran:

Jacksonville put together another touchdown drive right after halftime, with Toby Gerhart finishing the 11-play, 72-yard march with a goal-line plunge.

On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars continued to play suffocating defense. They held Tennessee to a pair of punts and a turnover on downs to open the half, and Jordan Todman delivered the knockout blow partway through the fourth quarter with a 62-yard touchdown run through the heart of the Titans defense. 

ESPN's NFL Twitter feed put the game-sealing play into perspective:

After Tennessee managed a field goal to cut the lead to eight points, Jacksonville responded with a time-eating drive, not giving the ball back to the Titans until there was just over a minute remaining. Whitehurst moved the ball quickly down the field, but Sen'Derrick Marks—as part of a three-man rush—shut the door with a game-winning sack as time expired.

It was a very rewarding play for the 27-year-old, as ESPN noted:

Finishing up the season next week, the Titans will host Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, while the Jaguars travel to Houston to battle J.J. Watt and the Texans.

In other words, both teams should have little trouble cementing their status in the top five of next year's draft.