Titans vs. Jaguars: What's the Game Plan for Tennessee?

Two teams that have been in the AFC South cellar for quite a while will look to get an important win as the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars will meet for the first of two meetings this season.

The Titans are looking to eclipse their dismal two-win total from last season and show that they're at least making progress in terms of their record.

This isn't the same Jaguars team that used to be easily marked down as a win. They're much better than their record and have lost plenty of close games this season.

A narrow five-point loss to the New York Jets is the only thing keeping them from being on a current three-game winning streak.

With both teams on short preparation for a Thursday night game, fatigue could end up being a major factor. Controlling the time-of-possession battle will become critical for both teams in order avoid wearing down their defenses in the fourth quarter.

Here's how the Titans should game-plan on offense and defense to try to get win No. 3—and give themselves a sliver of hope in the division race.

Offensive Game Plan

Avoiding long third-down attempts is key for this offense. It's not built for being a vertical threat with so many young receivers. The ground game will have to be effective with Antonio Andrews.

This offense becomes very hard to predict when it's four yards or less for a first down. It opens up the possibility for Marcus Mariota to do a lot of different things.

Mariota has already shown he's not fazed by playing on the road. In three road games, Mariota has yet to throw an interception. If the offense is successful on first and second down, then long drives will be the result.

The Titans have to avoid putting all of the pressure on the passing game. With so many inexperienced receivers being thrown into the fray, it won't be a winning formula to lean on them to make catches. A lot of things can go wrong, with the biggest one usually being poor route running.

The one veteran who should get plenty of targets is Harry Douglas. He'll be the only veteran among the likes of Dorial Green-Beckham, Rico Richardson, Tre McBride and Andrew Turzilli.

McBride may end up getting some looks as a kick returner and is someone to keep an eye on to possibly make an impact for the remainder of the season. His blazing speed is something the Titans need to help them to at least pose some sort of deep threat to opposing defenses.

Once again, this means the Titans running game has to have positive yardage on early downs. Andrews should be in line to set a career high in carries for a game, and Dexter McCluster will continue to see work in a variety of different ways.

David Goldman/Associated Press/Associated Press

According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, rookie David Cobb will make his NFL debut, but his carries may be limited. The Titans can't just start feeding him the ball a ton if he doesn't have a full understanding of the offense just yet. He should see at least a few carries but nothing major in this first game for him.

If Cobb does have early success, then the Titans should certainly ride the hot hand. With Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter both out, the running game will have to break out of its funk somehow.  

This is the type of game where Andrews can really solidify his role as the primary running back for Tennessee. If he can put the team on his back for a big game, then the Titans can get this win.

The Titans obviously can't exclusively run the ball the entire game. The few veterans the Titans have on offense will need to show up. That means a strong outing from the offensive line and tight ends to protect Mariota. If he has the time, he should be able to muster up enough of a passing offense to weather the storm. 

Defensive Game Plan

Taking away the connection of Blake Bortles and Allen Hurns is key No. 1 to hampering this Jaguars offense. These two have connected for a touchdown in seven straight games.

Stopping the wide receivers for the Jaguars will be one of the things to watch for, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com.

Allen Robinson is another serviceable receiver for the Jaguars, and the athletic Julius Thomas lining up at tight end is a scary proposition for the Titans to contain.

It can't be forgotten that Bortles has the capability to run for first downs when needed. He's a load to tackle in the open field with his huge frame, and he's very difficult to stop on quarterback sneaks.

The aggressive approach that the Titans front seven has played with this season needs to continue. It's helped them be competitive in games they probably had no business being in. Putting a ton of pressure on Bortles from many different sources should force him into making mistakes.

Bortles has thrown at least one interception in five straight games and in seven of nine contests this season. This is where the Titans can create a short field for Mariota to drive and put some easy points on the scoreboard.

Look for plenty of blitzes to come from the linebacker spot. Brian Orakpo is really starting to have a solid first season in a Titans uniform, with Derrick Morgan always being a threat to get to the quarterback as well.

Wesley Woodyard and Avery Williamson have rounded out what's turned into the most balanced position on the team. They need to get to Bortles early and often to throw off his timing. 

The Jaguars don't have an intimidating running game, but rookie T.J. Yeldon has performed well at times in his rookie campaign. He's dealing with a foot injury that has limited his abilities, but he is expected to play, per Rapoport:

"

#Jaguars RB TJ Yeldon (foot), who is listed as questionable, is expected to play tonight, I’m told. Jax will work him out pregame to be sure

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 19, 2015"

The Titans have struggled to stop the run at times but should be much better against the Jaguars. It's the ability of Bortles to throw for 300-plus yards on any given day that the Titans should be prepping for.

Prediction

Division games are always hard to predict. This game features two teams that are desperately trying to climb out of the AFC South cellar they've been in for several years. 

The Jaguars are further along in climbing out of the hole, but they're still a team that makes plenty of mistakes that the Titans can feast off of. 

The aggressive approach the Titans will use will work to their benefit. Look for the linebacker spot to have a big day and for the defensive line to do well shutting down a banged-up Yeldon. It will be a lot of pressure on Bortles to win this game exclusively with his arm.

That same scenario may be true for Mariota, and he has less to work with at wide receiver. Despite that, the Titans will find ways to force some turnovers—and cash in on those turnovers for some easy points. 

Andrews will be the workhorse the team needs him to be and put in another positive day in terms of yards per rush. Breaking tackles is his calling card, and he'll do plenty of that to extend drives. 

A turnover-prone Jaguars team will give one up late to seal this game for the Titans and offer some hope that progress is being made for the long-term future. 

Prediction: Titans 27, Jaguars 21