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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a TItans vs. Jaguars game? It’s probably Derrick Henry running through them. Once again the King torched his home-state team, rushing for 130 yards, and three touchdowns, and leading Tennessee to a 37-19 win over Jacksonville.
Game Recap
The Jags got the ball to start the game, and on a 3rd-and-10, Trevor Lawerence dropped back, and threw a pass to tight end, Dan Arnold. Rookie cornerback, Elijah Molden tackled him, and forced the ball out. All-Pro safety Kenvin Byard scooped it up, and took the ball into the end zone. Randy Bullock made the PAT, and tied the game a 7-0. Then Jacksonville running back James Robinson took a handoff from Lawrence and ran 58-yards down to the Titans 12. He later scored from a 1-yard rush, but the kick from Matt Wright hit the upright, and was no good, to keep the score at 7-6. Both teams exchanged punts during the next two drives, then El Tractorcito showed up. Henry scored on a 1-yard run, on a drive that took 4:50 off the clock, and made the score 14-6.
Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press
Lawrence and the rest of the Jaguars offense marched down all the way to the TItans once, and had a 4th-and-goal, and decided to go for it. Trevor threw a pass to tight end Jacob Hollister, and the Titans lead was down to 1. The Tennessee offense came to life, as Ryan Tannehill threw a 14-yard TD pass to backup tight end MyCole Pruitt. Bullock made the extra point, making the lead 8, at 21-13. The Jacksonville offense got to the Titans 34, but Wright's 53-yard kick hit the crossbar, keeping the score at 21-13. Tannehill then led the Tennessee offense on a solid 2-minute drill, giving Randy Bullock a chance at a 34-yard field goal with 31 seconds, which he made to extend the lead to 24-13.
To start the second half the Titans drove down the field and let the King punch it in from 9-yards out, to make the score 31-13. After both teams punted, the Jags got a TD, on a 4-yard Lawrence run, but the 2-point conversion was incomplete, a pass from Trevor flew out of the back of the end zone.
Photo: Bob Self / Florida TImes-Union
The score stayed at 31-19. The next score was a Tennessee TD, with around 2 minutes left in the game, a 10 yard Henry run. Bullock missed the PAT, to keep the score at 37-19. With the game on ice, Lawrence threw a desperate pick to Byard to end the game. Final: Titans (3-2) 37, Jaguars (0-5) 19.
My Thoughts
Overall it was a good game. The defense came to play when they had to, like on third down, and the red zone. They got two takeaways, including one for a TD. Kevin Byard is heating up, which is always a good sign.
Tannehill was under pressure again, even though he was only sacked 3 times, the Jags were getting to him. That can’t happen vs. good teams.
AJ Brown was eased back in. Brown missed the last two games with a hamstring issue, and in his return, he tallied 3 catches for 38 yards, including a key 3rd down conversion, and a long of 22. Next week, he should have an expanded role in the offense.
The King dominated, once again. He had 29 carries for 130 yards, and 3 TDs, for a 4.5 average. If he keeps up this pace, he has a good shot at 2,000 yards again!
Top Fantasy Performer
The top fantasy performer of the week goes to drumroll, please……. Derrick Henry, with 31.00 Fantasy Points. Even though James Robinson had more rushing yards, Henry had 2 more TDs than him.
MVP, Improvement, Breakout, What’s Next
My MVP of the game goes to Derrick Henry. He had another big game, and put the team on his back after a heartbreaking loss to the Jets. Who needs to improve is the offensive line, in pass protection. They need to figure it out, otherwise, Tannehill isn’t playing all 17 games, and playoffs. Breakout for next game is AJ Brown, and Julio Jones. Both have had hamstring issues, with Jones sitting out this game. They should come back next week, and finally play together for what seems like years. The Titans next week, go back home to play the red hot Buffalo Bills on MNF, while the Jags travel to London, to try and snap their 20 game losing streak, vs. the Miami Dolphins.
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