TITANS (8-6) VS. JAGUARS (2-12)
SATURDAY, 1 P.M. ET, EVERBANK FIELD, JACKSONVILLE uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 707
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
About the Titans: The dream lives on for the 2016 Titans. Tennessee won Sunday with a 53-yard field goal as time expired in a wild 19-17 victory at the Kansas City Chiefs. The Titans overcame a 14-0 deficit to keep pace with the Texans atop the AFC South standings. “This team won’t quit,” Titans coach
said. “Never does, never will.” Dealing with a minus-19-degree wind chill at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs tried to ice Tennessee K with a timeout. He missed the first one but made the second after the Kansas City timeout. A win this week in Jacksonville would give the franchise its first winning season in five years. It hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2008.
About the Jaguars: The era in Jacksonville ended after a 21-20 loss at the Houston Texans in Week 15. Bradley, who was notified while the team was still in Houston, finishes his time in Jacksonville with a 14-48 record since taking over in 2013. His .226 winning percentage is second worst in NFL history behind only Bert Bell of the pre-World War II era. Owner said general manager would be tasked with finding Bradley’s replacement, signaling that Caldwell’s job is safe for now. News reports suggested that Bradley’s loyalty to QB played a factor in the firing. For Bortles to save his own job, he’ll need to finish the season with better performances than 12-for-28 for 92 yards and an interception as he did in Houston. The Titans are hoping for another big game from wideout Rishard Matthews.
Murray managed 89 yards on 18 carries against a very good Kansas City rush defense, not to mention five receptions for 52 yards. For Murray to carry Tennessee to another victory in Jacksonville, he’d be wise to avoid Jackson, who was a force in the middle anytime Houston ran his way, picking up three tackles and 11⁄ tackles for loss.
Against the Chiefs, Matthews had
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
105 receiving yards, but he caught just four of his 10 targets from QB Matthews likely will receive plenty of attention from rookie CB Jalen Ramsey, who practically shut down Houston WR DeAndre Hopkins last week. Matthews has a touchdown or 100 yards receiving in six of his last seven games.
Number crunching: 72.7. The Titans have scored touchdowns on 72.7% of red-zone trips — only the 2013 Broncos and 2013 Bengals have topped that in the last five years.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Fourth-quarter leads: The Jaguars have led in the fourth quarter in four of their last five losses and have lost five times this season when leading in the fourth quarter, tied with the San Diego Chargers for most such instances in the NFL. Especially after last week’s theatrics in Kansas City, if the Titans trail late, never count them out.
2. Any means necessary: While the Jaguars have struggled to score touchdowns by any approach, the Titans have thrived. Mariota has won the last two weeks without passing for a touchdown after previously going 0-7 in games without a touchdown pass.
3. Second-half offense: Jacksonville managed 44 yards on six possessions in the second half of its loss to Houston. Meanwhile, the Titans had 216 yards on five possessions against Kansas City. If Tennessee can move the chains in the second half, the Titans shouldn’t have much trouble finishing off Jacksonville.
Jordan Godwin