It almost happened two weeks in a row. The Tennessee Titans were holding on to a 16-7 lead late in the fourth quarter. Outside of an opening-drive score after a single big play, Jacksonville’s next eight possessions had gone for naught, with the only two deep drives ending in turnovers. Then with less than three minutes to play, prevent mode strikes. Suddenly finding time to throw, Blake Bortles located open receivers downfield. The only third down of the drive ended up as a Jaguars touchdown to cut it to 16-14 in the final minute. Then the onside kick goes off Quentin Groves, through Michael Griffin’s hands, and into the arms of a Jaguar. Two completions later, Josh Scobee was out from 55 yards to try to win the game. The arm of Sammie Hill ensured he did not do so.
For most of the first 57 minutes, Titans-Jaguars was more or less the game I expected, the better team outplaying consistently but not hugely the worse team. Both teams struggled to run the ball. Neither quarterback was outstandingly sharp. But Charlie Whitehurst had more time, and made more throws, than Bortles. A big pass to Delanie Walker helped set up the first score, throws to Walker, Nate Washington and Justin Hunter the Jackie Battle plunge that made it 10-7, a couple drive-extending penalties on third downs Succop’s second to make it 13-7, and then Blidi Wreh-Wilson’s interception and return plus Hunter helped make it 16-7 before the “not again” feelings began.
Standouts? Wreh-Wilson looked very good, in what was probably his best game as a Titan. He had the pick, two passes defensed, and 10 solo tackles. Also not a positive in prior games but big today was the pass rush. Bortles went down six times, including twice by Jurrell Casey and finally sacks from the outside linebackers, in this case Shaun Phillips and Kamerion Wimbley. The Jaguars turned heavily to the screen game in much of the second half after Bortles could barely find time to throw in the first half. We finally saw Dexter McCluster as a receiver, with six grabs on six targets for 52 yards. Justin Hunter started again and finished 3-77, plus one apparent tongue-lashing from Whitehurst. Bishop Sankey got the majority of the work at running back, including carries from under center, and finished with a CJ-esque 18-61, long 22. Jason McCourty matched Wreh-Wilson’s 10 solo tackles and also had a forced fumble.
Bottom line: a win is a win is a win. The Titans are now 2-4, the Jaguars 0-6, and another game that appears to be winnable, this one against Washington is on the horizon for next week.
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