The Tennessee Titans put together a 28-point third quarter to to turn a close game with the Jacksonville Jaguars into a 42-20 rout. This was an important AFC South matchup, as the Titans and Jaguars were the bottom two teams in the division. The victor would set themselves up in decent position to secure a postseason bid in the near future, and the Titans clearly wanted it more.
Titans running back Derrick Henry rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns the last time the Jaguars visited Nashville, and he put on a performance that was deja vu-like. Henry rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard scamper that was reminiscent of his 99-yard touchdown against the Jaguars last year.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was outstanding as well. He threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 40 yards and two more touchdowns. If you had doubts that he was the answer for the Titans under center this year, doubt no longer. Rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown also had a career day, as he caught four passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. He showed his potential as a dynamic wideout, and was dangerous in open space.
Nick Foles completed 32 of 48 passing attempts for 272 yards. He played OK, but nowhere good enough to erase the 28-point third quarter lead the Titans had. Leonard Fournette had another good game, as he rushed for 97 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for 62 yards.
The Titans earned their first divisional victory and are officially over .500. The playoff race is on in the AFC South.
What we witnessed on Sunday was an offensive explosion. The Titans recorded 471 yards of total offense, Tannehill had four total touchdowns, Henry rushed for over 100 yards and Brown had over 100 yards receiving. The Titans had been inconsistent all season on the offensive side of the ball, but the insertion of Tannehill into the starting lineup has done wonders for this team. Wide receivers are more involved in the game plan, which in turn opens it up for Henry. Henry is going to win the MVP award for this game, but Tannehill really does deserve credit as well. He only missed four throws and was effective on the ground. He rushed for 20 yards on the Titans' first play of the game and also had a pretty impressive 21-yard rushing touchdown. It's something that he's been focusing on more over the past few weeks, and he's going to continue to scramble if defenses refuse to respect it. He had an 18-yard rush on the Titans' game-winning drive against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10, and also rushed for the successful two-point conversion. Everything is going right for the Titans on offense right now, and this success couldn't come at a better time.
The 28-point third quarter is probably the biggest reason the Jaguars found themselves in the loss column on Sunday, but I was also taken aback by the game plan. Everyone knew Fournette would serve as the workhorse for Jacksonville, but the Jaguars didn't take many shots downfield until it was too late. On the few passes Foles did throw downfield in the first half, he was accurate, but couldn't connect for one reason or another. After the Titans began their scoring barrage, there really was no sense of urgency from the Jaguars offense. Down 28-3, the Jaguars rushed Fournette twice and then threw to him on third down for no gain. They had a quick three and out instead of trying to move the ball downfield to try to cut the deficit. Desperation time came quickly for the Jaguars, and they didn't seem to realize that.
The Titans only held a four-point halftime lead, but it felt like they were dominating in every facet. That feeling became a reality early in the third quarter. The Titans traveled 64 yards on just four plays during their first possession of the second half, and Tannehill found offensive tackle Dennis Kelly for a one-yard score. After a Jacksonville went three and out, Henry pulled off his incredible 74-yard run. The Jaguars then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Henry scored on the very next play. It marked the first time a player had scored two touchdowns in fewer than 20 seconds in a game since LaDainian Tomlinson did so in 2006. After yet another Jaguars three and out, Tannehill found Brown for a 65-yard score three plays later. The route was on, and it didn't look very likely that the Jaguars would be able to come back.
Henry doesn't like revisiting the incredible 99-yard run he pulled off against the Jaguars last year. He tells reporters that he's ready to move on from that one play, but it's impossible to ignore how similar the 74-yard rush he had on Sunday looked compared to last year's run.
When he's in a rhythm, Henry is one of the best running backs in the league. The combination of size and speed he presents makes him special, and today's performance marks two games in a row he has passed the century mark on the ground.
The Titans travel to Indianapolis next week to take on the 6-5 Colts. Jacoby Brissett and Co. gave up the division lead to the Houston Texans on Thursday night. Tennessee can jump them in the standings with a win in Week 13. The Jaguars return home to take on the 4-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who defeated the red-hot Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Relive all the action in our blog below!
The Titans earn their first divisional win of the season and move to 6-5. The playoff race in the AFC South is on! Thanks for joining us! Keep it locked to CBSSports.com for more postgame reaction.
That sack should do it. Dominant win for Tennessee.
The Jaguars should have opened up the playbook with these downfield throws much earlier.
You have to wonder if Henry is done for the day. I would rest him for sure.
With that failed third-down conversion, it appears that this game is likely over. Jags get a field goal, but there's less than five minutes remaining.
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Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill have combined for four rushing touchdowns.
Tannehill has four total touchdowns on the day.
Titans don't have any interest in letting up. Tannehill records his second rushing touchdown.
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25 yards in two plays, that's the kind of ball JAX needs to play from here on out.
The Jags are lucky Henry landed on the helmet of a defender -- because that's when the ball dislodged.
Looks like Derrick Henry did indeed fumble. First play of the fourth quarter. No good.
That was a GREAT pass and catch for the two-point conversion. Chark could end up playing a large role in this game. Good downfield threat and Jacksonville needs to air it out from here on out.
Great drive by the Jaguars. 12 plays 74 yards and Fournette played well with his touches to. Game is not over, but Jaguars have to hurry when on offense.
