5 Storylines to Watch For: Titans vs. Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars will have the opportunity to go 3-0 for the first time since 2004 as they face the Tennessee Titans in an AFC South showdown in Duval County. Fans of the Black and Teal should keep an eye out for these five storylines.
During Jacksonville’s coming-out party in 2017, the only team that proved to be a thorn in the Jaguars’ side was the Titans, as they swept the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"“Obviously we want to get our lick back in a sense,” Jaguars FS Tashaun Gipson told Jacksonville reporters on Thursday. “We feel like we’re the better team. We feel like it’s our time for us to go out and show it.”"
While the Jaguars have higher aspirations than winning their division, it starts there. A divisional win early in the year is vital for the Jaguars’ success for the remainder of the season, especially with a tough stretch coming in weeks five through eight. Here are the five things to watch in Jacksonville.
Blake Bortles Hot at Home
The polarizing QB had one of the best games of his career last Sunday against the New England Patriots, posting a stat line of 377 passing yards and four touchdowns.
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Blake Bortles has played stellar in his last four home games, going for 1280 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 122.8. Bortles threw a combined four interceptions in the last two meetings against the Titans, so seeing if he can keep up his hot streak at home will be a huge question mark.
Can Josh Wells Fill in for Cam Robinson?
The Jaguars’ win against the Patriots came with a huge loss as starting LT Cam Robinson tore his ACL and is now out for the remainder of the season. Josh Wells will now take over his spot protecting Bortles’ blind side.
The Dick LeBeau pass rush of the Titans will be a quick challenge for Wells and an offensive line that had C Brandon Linder, RG A.J. Cann, and RT Jermey Parnell all on the injury report throughout the week — Cann is the only offensive lineman on the final injury report.
Will Jaguars’ Studs Play?
Cann (Triceps), Leonard Fournette (Hamstring), D.J. Hayden (Toe), Jalen Ramsey (Ankle), and T.J. Yeldon (Ankle) were all listed on the Jaguars’ final injury report.
While it’s assumed that most will play, the potential results of some of Jacksonville’s headline players not performing will definitely show on the scoreboard.
If Fournette and Yeldon can’t go, RB responsibilities will fall on Corey Grant and Brandon Wilds.
Blaine Gabbert to Start Against Jaguars?
Around the NFL’s Kevin Patra reported that the Tennessee Titans will decide in the next day whether or not starting QB Marcus Mariota (elbow) will start Sunday.
If he can’t go, Blaine Gabbert will substitute. Gabbert led the Arizona Cardinals to a 27-24 victory over the Jaguars last season, throwing for 241 yards and two touchdowns.
Bad Blood
The Jaguars-Titans matchups can best be described with one word: physical. With back and forth banter across both teams, it will be intriguing to see how these teams act as they line up against each other.
"“They don’t respect us at all,” Jaguars DT Malik Jackson told Jacksonville reporters on Thursday. “It’s up to us to earn our respect… It’s a new season. It’s a new day. We’re going to run the AFC South — like we did last year.”"