They had the opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. But the Jaguars made more mistakes against the Titans. They are eliminated.
Jaguars (9-8) – Titans (6-11): 20-28
Mistakes, always mistakes for the Jaguars. The Jacksonville franchise has just seen its ticket to the playoffs pass under its nose. While the victory looked easy against a weak Titans team, Trevor Lawrence (29/43, 280 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) and his team multiplied the blunders.
Starting with the two interceptions by the quarterback, avoidable. Very crumbly, the Jacksonville defense did little better. Authors of a very good match, the two runners from Tennessee, Derrick Henry (19 races, 153 yards, 1 TD) and Tyjae Spears (3 races, 25 yards, 3 receptions, 41 yards, 2 TD) continued to bully their opponents. And it is logically the Titans who win in the end.
Victory was mandatory for the Jaguars. Without her, Doug Pederson's men can go on vacation, bitter. And the Texans are rubbing their fingers: they are qualified and, in the process, win their division.
Explosive Titans from the start
The AFC South is far from getting used to big shows this season. But from the start of the match, both teams played out. Entrance field goal for Jacksonville before a solid response from the Titans with a superb run after reception of 28 yards from Tyjan Spears (RB, Titans).
After a few exchanges of punts between the two offensive squads, Lawrence released a 59-yard bomb to Calvin Ridley (WR, Jaguars). 10-7, the Jaguars are back in front.
LAWRENCE TO RIDLEY FOR THE 59-YARD TD
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But that was without counting the King. Derrick Henry (RB, Titans) responds. After a few regular leg breaks, he delivered six additional points to his team. That's 10-14.
Back on the field, Lawrence is struggling. He throws an interception on Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Titans) following a missed reception from Engram. Behind, Tennesse restarts near the end zone and takes the opportunity to drive the point home: another touchdown from Tyjan Spears on a short run.
Two minutes before the break, the quarterback of the felines continues to sink. He was intercepted again on a completely missed pass. But Tennessee is going to get a little scare. On punt, the ball slips from the hands of Tyler Zentner. He covers it and gets tackled 30 yards from his own endzone. The Jags come back slightly thanks to a field goal. 13-21 at halftime.
The Jags remain hopeful… for nothing
Returning from the locker room, the Titans did not stop there. Derrick Henry quickly escapes on a 69-yard run. Two steps from the touchdown, Ryan Tannehill concludes with a pass to Deandre Hopkins (WR, Titans). With the Titans already at 28 points, things smell bad for the Jaguars
Nothing is going well for Jacksonville. The defense remains crumbly while the attack collapses. The 3rd quarter remains blank for the Florida franchise.
After the short break, Lawrence still believes it. 14-yard pass for a touchdown from Engram. There are only 8 points difference between the two teams. And Andre Cisco (S, Jaguars) will keep hope alive. He intercepts Tannehill and gives his team a very good position.
Unfortunately, the attack does not succeed. Jacksonville fails a few centimeters from the end zone on its fourth attempt. Tennessee just needs to buy time by burning through the remaining minutes. Jacksonville's playoff hopes are dashed.
