Jaguars avoid an 0-3 start
Minshew looks sharp and defense applies heavy pressure on Mariota and Titans.
JACKSONVILLE 20
TENNESSEE 7
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gardner Minshew threw two touchdown passes and should have had a third, Calais Campbell spearheaded another defensive gem and the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-7 in sloppy conditions Thursday night.
Jacksonville (1-2) ended a four-game losing streak in the AFC South series and avoided the franchise’s second 0-3 start in four years.
With all eyes on star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who might have played his final game for Jacksonville, Minshew and a second consecutive stellar defensive outing captured the spotlight.
“This felt good,” defensive tackle Abry Jones said. “We needed this.”
A sixth-round draft pick starting his second consecutive game in place of injured Nick Foles (broken collarbone), Minshew completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards. He found James O’Shaughnessy wide open for a sevenyard score, which came one play after Adoree’ Jackson’s muffed punt. Minshew was more precise with a 22-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark, who was blanketed by Malcolm Butler.
Jacksonville sacked Marcus Mariota nine times, including three by Campbell.
One of his came on a highly questionable fourthdown attempt. Titans coach Mike Vrabel, with his team trailing 14-0 early in the third, passed on a short field goal and went for it on fourth and six at the 11. Campbell was all over backup guard Jamil Douglas, and Mariota had no time to get rid of the ball.
The Titans (1-2) finally got on the scoreboard with Derrick Henry’s one-yard plunge in the fourth. Henry finished with 44 yards in 17 carries, a far cry from his last game against Jacksonville. Henry ran for a franchiserecord 238 yards and four touchdowns.
The officiating was ripped, particularly on social media. New England’s Tom Brady tweeted, “Too many penalties. Just let us play !!!! ” He followed that a few minutes later, saying, “I’m turning off this game I can’t watch these ridiculous penalties anymore.”