Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans: Jaguars Grades, Notes and Quotes

Thursday night's AFC South battle between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans was almost unbearable to watch. And considering the situation the Jaguars were facing late in the fourth quarter, it was almost capped with a disgusting loss.

But then, as the Jaguars had done against the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, they started to make explosive plays. A ridiculous 63-yard punt return from Rashad Greene, the ensuing touchdown catch from tight end Julius Thomas as well a forced fumble recovery and the Jaguars led 19-13.

Getting a final stop deep in their own territory, through a sack from defensive end Andre Branch no less, ended the Titans' chances and gave the Jaguars their first back-to-back wins in two years.

It wasn't a pretty win, but the Jaguars earned it and are now 4-6, a half game back of the AFC South lead. In the race for division titles, no one cares how you win. It's just a matter of doing it.

Positional Grades

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Quarterback: B

It was a relatively positive day, but it almost ended in disaster. After throwing a gorgeous ball to wide receiver Allen Robinson, Blake Bortles proceeded to throw a bad pick and gave the Titans the ball back after another productive drive.

But Bortles was accurate today, completing 21 of 30 passes and making relatively smart decisions throughout the game. Besides that pick, he really didn't make too many awful errors.

He distributed the ball all over the field, almost to a fault. He has to grow past Thomas, no matter how bad the Jaguars want to include him. Bortles is still stubborn, and he obviously still has to work to do.

Running Backs: B-

While the three consecutive handoffs to running back Denard Robinson were unbelievable, that's less on the backs and more on the play-calling. RB T.J. Yeldon and Robinson both averaged 3.9 yards a carry and helped balance the offense.

Yeldon is really starting to come into himself, and his patience and footwork are beyond his years. As he continues to adapt to NFL defenses, the package could come together into a really complete and lethal running back.

Wide Receivers: B

Bortles looked more to his tight ends than ever before, and it took what felt like an eternity to include WRs Allen Hurns and Robinson into the game. But by the end of the game, they had also gotten involved in the passing onslaught.

WR Bryan Walters made the first big play of the game for the offense but was somewhat quiet after that. Overall, you can't complain about their performance. When it mattered, they delivered, and Robinson proved why he is as good, or better than Hurns.

Tight End: C+

Bortles seemed to be determined to include Thomas in the game, and he did. Thomas wasn't fantastic, but he made some vital plays, most obviously the touchdown. TE Marcedes Lewis, on the other hand, didn't quite come through, getting no catches on two targets.

Involving the tight ends is a good game plan, especially with the Jaguars' two options, but the bread and butter has been Hurns and Robinson. Going forward, the offense has to be more fluid with all its receiving options.

Offensive Line: C+

The offensive line had another mixed day, with the biggest issue being the constant pressure on Bortles. Luckily, Bortles was poised to endure a tough night, and the consistent pressure on him was somewhat masked by his play.

The line did do a good job of creating holes for Yeldon and Robinson, and it was one of the few games all year in which you saw consistent push. Opening up that space for the RBs is crucial, and the line definitely deserves credit.

Defensive Line: B-

The defensive pass rush was able to total four sacks on the day, with three coming from the defensive line. The line also proved again how stout it is against the run, and its cooperation and execution with the linebackers is proving to be a great combo.

It wasn't always consistent, but making plays when it mattered and continuing to dominate against the run is fantastic to see. Titans RB Antonio Andrews ended up going for 78, but their were numerous plays for loss and moments where he couldn't escalate to the second level. 

The Titans actually adapted and started running toward the edge and tried to get blocks on the defensive backs, which worked. Going forward, the Jaguars will also have to learn to combat that style of running.

Linebackers: B

The linebacker group has been an electric area for the Jaguars defense, and it continued to make plays, especially through LB Paul Posluszny and LB Telvin Smith.

While the season has seen explosive play from both, Sunday was a consistent performance that lacked the overall flash we've seen. Smith provided the pop on a few occasions, but overall, "solid" is a good way to describe their play.

Defensive Backs: C+

The secondary has been a concern over the first nine games, but it had an easier job with the Titans' depleted receiving options. Titans QB Marcus Mariota was able to make some great throws throughout the day, but the secondary did a good job overall.

Corner Aaron Colvin had another important performance, earning his fourth sack on the season and adding two passes defended on top. CB Davon House also added another PD, and they were assisted well by safety Johnathan Cyprien.

There are still some holes in this secondary (ahem, Dwayne Gratz), but there are a few really solid players making up the defensive backs. Add a few more this offseason, and we could be looking at a top-to-bottom complete secondary.

Coaching: D+

It was conservative throughout the night, and to a fault at certain points. The Jaguars handed it off to Robinson three times within the 6-yard line, and they probably should've just gone for it on the 4th-and-inches to end the game.

However, they earned another win. It wasn't a great day for the offensive play-calling, but offensive coordinator Greg Olson was able to move the ball between the 20s. However, the red-zone struggles are inexcusable and must be fixed.

Special Teams: A

What can be said about kicker Jason Myers and punter Bryan Anger? They were both on fire tonight, with each executing for four quarters. 

Top that with Greene's punt return, and it was a near-perfect day for the special teams. It's struggled all season, but it clicked on Thursday night.

Jaguars Defense Stands Tall Against Mariota and Balanced Tennessee Offense

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Other than the Titans' sole touchdown drive, which was propelled by some questionable pass interference calls, the Jaguars held the Titans to six total points. Considering how well Mariota plays on the road, there can be real no complaints.

The offense's inability to execute in the red zone became even more frustrating considering how well the defense played, but it didn't let down. This defense is not the most talented, but it hasn't quit at any point this season.

Forcing the critical fumble, which was credited to no one, and giving the offense the ball with little time and the chance to thwart the Titans' chance to tie with a field goal was huge. It's just another moment the defense has come up big in recent weeks.

While it won't be the unit's best statistical night, the Jaguars defense had a lot of positives on Thursday. The core is there, and it seems to be growing into a more and more competent and explosive team with each week.

Four sacks, a turnover and 13 points allowed isn't the flashiest day, but it can't be minimized how big all of that was. 

Jason Myers Ends Up Being the Difference-Maker

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Myers' kicking has been so erratic over the length of this season that every kick, whether it's a 60-yard attempt or an extra point, is met with nail-biting anxiety and groans of butterflies in the collective stomach of the fanbase.

But today, Myers was sharp. More than sharp, he was perfect. He had four relatively short attempts, knocked them down, and his 12 points ended up being a big part of the win.

Myers' kickoffs were also spectacular; he typically hit booming shots out the back of the end zone and made sure the Titans returners had no chance to make plays. The special teams executed Sunday night, and Myers was a major highlight of that.

With the game-winner from last week and the four made FGs this week, Myers' confidence is likely building, which is good for everyone involved. He's got the leg and talent to kick in this league, and it seems like he's maturing to enhance that.

Gus Bradley Talks Late-Game Decision

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With literal inches to go deep in Titans territory on fourth down, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley elected to kick a field goal and take a 19-13 lead, putting faith in the defense to handle the Titans' final chance at a win.

He was rewarded with an important stop, and he can be satisfied with that decision. After the game, Bradley talked with CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson on the broadcast about the decision and the play of the defense. "We came out the second half, and we gave up that touchdown," Bradley said. "But I thought we did a nice job. We felt like, in that situation, [the Titans] chance to score a touchdown with the way we were playing defensively gave us our best chance for a win."

Branch's game-ending sack delivered on that hope, and you can't especially blame Bradley for relying on the defense. In that particular situation, the Jaguars probably should've gone for it, but Bradley's decision resulted in a win, and that's all that matters.

Blake Bortles Discusses Positives and Negatives

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While Bortles' play wasn't the deciding factor on Thursday night, it was an important one. Despite having two turnovers, Bortles actually performed pretty well. He completed a high percentage of passes and made a lot of important throws.

The offensive struggles in the red zone were the biggest eyesore, and it was partly Bortles' fault. His interception as well as a struggle to deliver hurt the Jaguars. He acknowledged in his postgame press conference, as seen on Jaguars.com.

"It's a continuing process," Bortles said. "We've done a good job the past couple weeks. We were able to run the ball good tonight... From the twenty to the twenty I thought we were unbelievable... From the 20-in, we gotta continue to work."

One of the most appealing aspects of Bortles is how he doesn't deny when he makes mistakes and seems to be constantly working to get better. Even tonight, where the majority of his play was positive, he's still looking to reach the next level.

When will that happen? Who knows. But for the time being, watching him continue to show promise and make big plays will suffice.