Victory keeps Jacksonville in AFC South race
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have their first winning streak in more than two years.
This one has them squarely in the hunt in the muddled AFC South.
Rashad Greene returned a punt 63 yards, setting up Blake Bortles’ 5-yard touchdown pass to Julius Thomas with 3:30 remaining, and Jacksonville beat Tennessee 19-13 on Thursday night.
“We’ve been in these one- possession games all season. To see us do enough to get the win was great,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “Fortunately, we came out on the good end.”
Jacksonville (4-6) won consecutive games for the first time since December 2013 and gained ground in the division race. The Jags have won three of four.
The Titans (2-8) lost for the eighth time in nine games and spoiled interim coach Mike Mularkey’s return to Jacksonville. Mularkey was fired after one season with the Jaguars — a 2-14 campaign in 2012.
For much of the night, it looked as if Mularkey would celebrate a rare win at Jacksonville.
But Greene, a rookie who missed the last seven games while recovering
from a torn ligament in his left thumb, took a low kick and weaved his way down the near sideline before finally getting tackled at the 5.
Bortles hooked up with Thomas on the next play, putting the Jaguars ahead 16-13. It was an easy call for Bortles, who noticed linebacker Derrick Morgan lined up across from Thomas before the snap.
“One on one with really a defensive end,” Bortles said. “That’s kind of a mismatch.”
Tennessee tight end Phillip Supernaw fumbled on the ensuing possession, leading to Jason Myers’ fourth field goal of the night and a six-point lead with 2:19 remaining.
The Titans had one fi- nal chance and advanced to the 23 with five seconds remaining. But Andre Branch sacked Marcus Mariota on the final play.
Bortles, who left the sideline briefly to be treated for dehydration, completed 21 of 30 passes for 242 yards.
“I had to get some Gatorade, some fluids,” Bortles said.
The second-year pro extended his touchdown streak to 10 games, but he also had two turnovers that kept Jacksonville from getting ahead earlier in the game.
The Jaguars failed to score on their first three trips inside the 20. Bortles threw an interception at the 12, adding to the team’s woes in and near the red zone. But he made the play when it mattered.
Myers made kicks from 31, 32, 20 and 36 yards.
Both teams needed a win to stay in the mix in the AFC South. The Texans and Indianapolis are tied for the division lead at 4-5, but the division is up for grabs. And the Jaguars made a big move.