The Jacksonville Jaguars will face yet another division foe this weekend: the Tennessee Titans. After getting beaten handily in back-to-back weeks, the Jaguars are hoping they can right the ship and get back on track.
The Titans team the Jags will face this Sunday is a completely different team than the one they faced Week 3 as they’re playing better football and currently have a 5-5 record. Does that mean the results will be the same though?
Here are three keys to victory against Tennessee:
Give Fournette the ball
Through the first nine games of the season, the Jaguars heavily leaned on running back Leonard Fournette. At one point and time, Fournette was the AFC’s leading rusher and scrimmage leader. The past two games, however, the team has seemingly forgotten how much of an impact Fournette has on this offense.
In his most recent games against the Texans and Colts, Fournette has been given just 19 carries and has only accumulated 63 yards and no touchdowns. The team has curiously gone away from their bread and butter: a strong run game. Coincidence or not, the Jaguars have also struggled mightily in those games. If the Jaguars wish to return to winning, they need to go back to their identity.
It all starts with Fournette.
Stop Derrick Henry
No single player has been more of a thorn in the side of the Jaguars Titans running back Derrick Henry. Henry has bullied the Jaguars for much of his young NFL career and I don’t think any fan will ever forget his embarrassing 99-yard touchdown run against them. Henry is having his best season yet, rushing for 832 yards and eight touchdowns.
If the Jaguars want to win Sunday, they will need to stop Henry. New quarterback, Ryan Tannehill has been noticeably better than Marcus Mariota this season but this offense, much like Jacksonville’s, revolves around a powerful running attack. If the Jags stop Henry, they should have a good shot at coming back home victorious against their AFC division rivals.
Create pressure on Tannehill
When the Jaguars last faced off against Tennessee Week 3 under the lights at TIAA Bank Field, the defense exploded out of the gates in an impressive nine sack performance. The Titans looked overwhelmed and Calais Campbell was simply unblockable all night. Fast forward to Week 12, and both teams boast new quarterbacks in hopes of sparking their respective offenses.
If Jacksonville is to win this game, they will need to be just as disruptive. Aside from the return of Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan, the Jaguars will face the same offensive line they did at the beginning of the season. The team will need the defensive line to step up in general, but I think the key player could be Taven Bryan in this game. If Bryan can create pressure up the middle, look for another big day from the young and talented defensive front of Jacksonville.
