Titans tab Dobbs for divisional showdown
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs will make a second straight start Saturday night in Jacksonville with the Titans’ playoff hopes on the line despite being signed Dec. 21 off Detroit’s practice squad.
“Josh will be our quarterback,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Monday. “I’ve talked to both quarterbacks and let them know that Josh will be our quarterback for this week, and then Malik [Willis] has to continue to prepare like a starter.”
The Titans (7-9) can win their third straight AFC South title with a victory Saturday night. That would give them a home playoff game along with snapping a six-game skid that has seen Dobbs as the third different quarterback to start since Tennessee's previous win Nov. 17 at Green Bay.
Tennessee started Dobbs, who just made his first NFL start in a 27-13 loss to Dallas last Thursday night hours after putting 11-year veteran Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve. Willis was the Titans’ third-round draft pick by general manager Jon Robinson, who was fired Dec. 6.
The six-year veteran had more yards passing by halftime of his Titans' debut than Willis managed in any of his three starts and eight appearances. He finished with 232.
The Jaguars (8-8) won the first game between these teams Dec. 11 thanks to four turnovers leading to 20 points in a 36-22 victory in Nashville with Tannehill starting. The Titans rested Derrick Henry along with six other starters against Dallas. Vrabel said that will only help depending on how the Titans play.
“Hopefully we’ve taken advantage of the time,” Vrabel said.
Lions ready for spotlight
Dan Campbell drew a lot of chuckles after he was hired to coach the Detroit Lions nearly two years ago and got fired up talking about his players being so tough and resilient that they would bite off kneecaps. Campbell was the butt of some jokes when Detroit won just three games last year, and started 1-6 this season.
No one is laughing at him, or the Lions, anymore.
The 46-year-old former NFL tight end has led the Lions to seven wins in nine games to surge into contention for the playoffs with one game left in the regular season. Detroit will play at Green Bay on Sunday night in a matchp of 8-8 teams with much at stake for at least one of the NFC North teams.
To earn a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2016, the Lions must win at Lambeau Field and have the good fortune of the Baker Mayfield-led Los Angeles Rams beating or tying Seattle on the road earlier in the day.
When Campbell addresses players this week, he’s not going to tell them this is just another game or to ignore the ramifications.
“We tell them the magnitude,” he said Monday. “This is big, and it’s going to be fun, and let’s go. I mean the intensity is up now.
“This is a playoff game, and they’re going to know that.”
No Foles in Colts’ finale
Nick Foles will miss the Indianapolis Colts season finale against Houston because of injured ribs and will be replaced by second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger. “Nick’s really sore, the whole side of his body,” interim coach Jeff Saturday said. “Obviously, he took a massive shot there. Landed on the ball, lot of pain and he’ll be down this week.” Foles was injured on a sack by rookie linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux late in the first half of Sunday’s 38-10 loss at the Giants . . . Ron Rivera did not commit to a starting quarterback for Washington in its season finale against Dallas. Rookie Sam Howell could make his NFL debut with the organization eyeing the future, though Rivera said the Commanders are “playing to win” despite being eliminated from postseason contention with their loss Sunday, Carson Wentz throwing three interceptions after getting the nod over Taylor Heinicke ... Atlanta released receiver Cameron Batson from the practice squad two days after an altercation with police early Sunday led to his arrest . . . Art McNally, who became the first onfield official inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer, has died. He was 97. After a nine-year career on the field, McNally took over as supervisor of officials in 1968 and remained involved until retiring in 2015.