THE JAGUARS close out the regular season with a lackluster loss to the Titans, and now must turn their attention to their surprise playoff opponent: the Bills.
Tennessee holds on to join Jags as playoff club
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marcus Mariota threw a touchdown and used his legs to help the Tennessee Titans end an eightseason playoff drought by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 15-10 Sunday to clinch the AFC's first wild-card berth.
The Titans (9-7) snapped a three-game skid in a game they needed to win or get some help with losses elsewhere to advance.
When Cincinnati beat Baltimore 31-27, that locked up the No. 5 seed for Tennessee and a wildcard game Saturday at Kansas City.
The AFC South champion Jaguars, who lost last week at San Francisco, nonetheless will host wild-card Buffalo in a playoff game on Sunday.
Mariota ran a season-high 10 times for 60 yards, the biggest a 13-yard scramble on third-and-5 at the 2:00 mark.
Mariota also threw for 134 yards.
Derrick Henry took a screen pass from Mariota 66 yards for a
touchdown in the second quarter, and Ryan Succop kicked three field goals.
The Titans also sacked Blake Bortles twice and forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Kevin Byard.
The Jaguars (10-6) clinched their first AFC South title a week ago when Tennessee lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Coach Doug Marrone promised that the Jaguars headed to Tennessee intending to win.
Only left tackle Cam Robinson and wide receiver Marqise Lee were scratched — both were on the injury report this week.
Yet they head into the postseason having lost two straight.
The Jaguars had a chance to win after Mariota lost his first fumble this season in the fourth quarter.
Henry collided with Mariota on a handoff, popping the ball in the air.
Yannick Ngakoue picked it up and ran 67 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Jaguars within 15-10 with 10:48 left.
But Byard got his second pick with 10 seconds remaining to seal the win.
The Titans led 6-3 when they forced two turnovers 42 seconds apart just before halftime.
Jaguars returner Jaydon Mickens signaled for a fair catch before trying to block Taywan Taylor of the Titans as the ball arrived, and Phillip Supernaw recovered the bobble for Tennessee.
On the next drive, Titans rookie cornerback Adoree Jackson punched the ball loose from Keelan Cole and Jayon Brown recovered.
Succop capped each drive with a field goal, his second a 39-yarder as time expired for a 12-3 halftime lead.
The Jaguars’ offense started punt-punt-punt but cut the lead to 6-3 on Josh Lambo’s 41-yard field goal with 10:14 left in the first half.
The key plays were an 18-yard catch by Allen Hurns (on third-and-7) and a 23-yard screen catch by Leonard Fournette.
Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, got his fourth start and first this season with DeMarco Murray scratched with an injured right knee.
Henry struggled in the first quarter and was tackled for too many losses.
But Henry gave the Titans their lone touchdown when he took the screen on the second play of the second quarter for a 6-0 lead.
It was Henry's first TD catch of his career.
It was his third touchdown of 60 yards or longer this season, second in the NFL to Kansas City's Tyreek Hill who has five.