Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans: Full Jacksonville Game Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) are looking to recover from last Sunday's 31-25 loss to the San Diego Chargers this weekend as they travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to take on the Tennessee Titans (2-9).
Losing to a struggling Chargers team really hindered the Jaguars' hopes for the playoffs, but they have to be ready to recover and take care of business this weekend. This is a must-win, and earning a victory can help recreate the confidence they had coming into last week.
It's never easy to travel on the road, but the Titans are a team with an interim head coach in Mike Mularkey and have dropped three straight, including that 19-13 loss on Thursday night to the Jaguars.
The Jaguars having beaten the Titans already should allow them to go into this game with confidence and familiarity. You can't underestimate Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and their talent, but this is a game the Jaguars should go into with a good mindset.
Considering the final four games of the season after this Sunday are against the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans, getting a win this weekend could be the spark this team needs to finish strong.
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS (Local)
Week 12 Results and Recap
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Sunday's 31-25 loss was, frankly, hard to watch. The Jaguars have had trouble when facing the Chargers and QB Philip Rivers in the past, and beating the Chargers, even if they were 2-8 coming in, would've been a major hurdle in their race for the AFC South title.
But instead, the team failed to execute in moments that mattered most. Red-zone errors and QB Blake Bortles' poorly timed interception put the Jaguars in a 21-9 hole going into halftime.
While the Jaguars did well to outscore the Chargers 16-10 in the second half, it simply wasn't enough to get the job done. There was plenty of positive plays from the offense and defense, but some major mistakes ended up dooming the Jaguars.
This game was almost familiar. Through the season's first half, the Jaguars consistently found ways to lose games, and the red-zone failures and struggles on Sunday were something the Jaguars have tried to improve all season, but they haven't made good progress.
That'll be the same concern against the Titans. They struggled to finish drives in their previous matchup and didn't do much to improve on it last week. If they can't finish in the red zone on Sunday, it'll make an important game drastically more difficult.
News and Notes
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Telvin Smith Leads the NFL in Solo Tackles
The Jaguars have seen a series of growth spurts, and one of the most exciting and notable ones has been linebacker Telvin Smith. He's been the most explosive player, he leads the team in total tackles and he leads the NFL in solo tackles.
The idea that a sophomore player, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft, would end up leading the NFL in solo tackles is pretty absurd. But Smith is a bit absurd himself. His speed and tenacity are unmatched, and as he's maturing, he's just getting better.
Smith is often praised for his ability to make big plays, but it's apparent he's an every-down quality player. He's always near the ball or chasing after it, and the Jaguars can and should have pride in having one of the NFL's top LBs.
Blake Bortles Has Passed His 2014 Passing Yards Total
It's easy to forget Bortles was not a starter at the beginning of the 2014 season. The progress he's made this season has helped most forget a really tough rookie season. A stat that helps that feeling is he's passed his 2014 yardage total.
Through 14 appearances, Bortles totaled 2,908 yards with 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. With 11 games played in 2015, Bortles has greatly surpassed that season with 2,952 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
His mistakes are still prevalent, but he's come a long way in terms of handling NFL defenses and making the throws he should. There's still work to do, but it's good to see Bortles pass numerous milestones this season.
Latest Injury News
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WR Allen Hurns
Wide receiver Allen Hurns suffered a serious concussion against the Chargers, and as John Oehser of Jaguars.com reported, his situation is something that won't have serious light shed on it until close to game time.
It was a scary injury, and the fact that he's alright is fantastic alone. Don't expect Hurns to see the field in Nashville. As sad as that is, it's a generally positive outcome considering the circumstances.
LB Dan Skuta
LB Dan Skuta missed last Sunday's game against the Chargers with a groin injury, but it seemed like he wasn't far from reaching the field. He didn't practice Wednesday, per the Jaguars' official injury report, but that doesn't mean he's out.
The injury has nagged Skuta for a while, so hopefully missing last Sunday and practicing in a light manner this week will allow him to return to his starting role against the Titans.
WR Bryan Walters
Not quite a name as big as Hurns, but any Jaguars fan knows how impressive Walters has been. He's been a go-to first-down converter, and his overall performance has been up-to-par or better throughout the season.
He missed practice, per the injury report, on Wednesday with a back injury. Back injuries are no joke, but hopefully it's only a minor tweak so that he can help make up for Hurns' likely absence.
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Key Matchups
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Defensive Pass Rush vs. Marcus Mariota
Mariota has been sensational in his rookie year, and although the Jaguars did a great job of shutting him down less than a couple of weeks ago, he certainly will remain a threat in this game.
Mariota has good mobility and will punish the Jaguars given holes and time, but if the pass rush can click on a few plays and get to him before he delivers or can at least bring him down after, then it'll make sitting in that pocket harder and more chaotic.
Mariota, as good as he's been, will still make mistakes when pressured. It should be of utmost importance that the Jaguars get to him on Sunday.
Offensive Line vs. Titans' Front Seven
One can only hope that offensive coordinator Greg Olson and company have learned their lesson after limiting the run game last Sunday, and while the Titans are much stronger than the Chargers at it, there are still holes to be cleared.
If the Jaguars want rookie running back T.J. Yeldon to be a force on Sunday, the offensive line will need to be on its game. It won't win every play, but when there is a favorable matchup or read, the offensive line has to execute to provide Yeldon that space.
It's going to be a physical matchup with the Titans, and whoever wins the battles on the line will likely come out the victor.
X-Factor: Marqise Lee
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WR Marqise Lee hasn't made too much of an impact in his first two years, primarily due to nagging injuries and a backseat role to fellow receivers Hurns and Allen Robinson.
However, with Hurns likely out this Sunday, it's the first major chance for Lee to prove his worth in a long time. He's got the talent and speed to excel; it's just a matter of getting on the same page with Bortles and the rest of the offense.
Lee has to perform in the areas of the field that play to his strength: finding space over the middle, using his quickness to create space and doing everything he can to make some type of play.
He will never be a receiver like Robinson or Hurns. He can't be a go-to option to get a first down or a guy who will beat out top corners in tight situations. However, what he can do is provide a layer of explosiveness to the offense.
Prediction: Jaguars 24, Titans 13
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The Jaguars may be facing a longer and more difficult road to the playoffs, thanks to the loss to the Chargers, but their hopes completely die if the Jaguars lose on Sunday. They've beaten the Titans already this season, and they have to go into this game with a do-or-die mindset.
This Sunday will be the Jaguars' best shot to start a streak to end the season. The remaining schedule only gets tougher, and going into those games with some type of confidence and validation would be a big boost.
It will be extremely important for the Jaguars to establish their offense early. They need to overcome the red-zone issues and prove to themselves that they can score in prime position.
On defense, it's important to pressure and limit Mariota. The Titans offense circulates around his success, and everything else should come relatively easy if the defense limits him to small gains on the ground and in the air.
This is a game the Jaguars should and must win. No excuses. The Jaguars are looking to show their progress and maturity, and beating the Titans for a second time this season would be a step toward that.
All stats provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.
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