Jaguars stunt on Titans in Week 11, still lead the AFC South: 3 takeaways

What a difference a week makes in the NFL. Following the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, there were talks about the Jacksonville Jaguars experiencing a midseason collapse. But instead of dwelling too much on the past, the Jags got to work and soundly defeated the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

The Jaguars got off to a hot start, scoring on their second offensive drive. By the end of their fourth possession, they had scored four times, two touchdowns, and two field goals. They kept putting points on the scoreboard while keeping the Titans at bay. It wasn't until the third quarter that Tennessee managed the reach the end zone, and that was largely possible due to a questionable penalty outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson had for roughing the passer.

In the end, the Titans' touchdown in the third quarter wasn't enough to tip the scale in their favor. In fact, they went on to turn the ball over on their next possession. And that's the thing, the Jaguars' defense also showed out, constantly pressuring Will Levis and keeping Derrick Henry under 50 rushing yards.

The Titans were able to score again but the Jaguars ultimately came on top 34-14. Here are three takeaways from their seventh win of the 230 season.

3. The Jacksonville Jaguars were healthy vs. the Titans and it showed

Although Trevor Lawrence hadn't missed any time, he was still dealing with pain from the knee injury he sustained against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Besides not being able to move freely, it narrowed down the plays the coaching staff could call. But against the Titans, Steezy Trev played without restrictions, often moving around the pocket and taking off when necessary. Also, he had two rushing touchdowns, his first and second of this season. He finished the game with a 75 percent completion rate for 262 yards with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and no picks.

Lawrence wasn't the only player at full strength, wide receiver Zay Jones returned to the lineup after sitting out the past four games. Even though Jones didn't put up big numbers against Tennessee, his presence prevented the defense from zeroing in on Calvin Ridley, who went on to have his best game donning the black and teal.

2. The Jaguars offense operated at full steam, Calvin Ridley was a huge factor

The Jaguars' offense is stacked with talent but they haven't been able to play up to their potential. At some point of the season, they ranked 10th in points scored but they consistently struggled to convert on third downs. To make matters worse, they had a penchant for not taking care of the ball and turning it over.

Last but not least, the Jaguars' coaching staff had struggled to make Calvin Ridley an important part of the game plan. All that changed against the Titans. Ridley exploded (not literally) with seven catches for 103 yards with two touchdowns. He also had a couple of key third-down conversions. Having Zay Jones draw coverage away from him helped, but Ridley showed what kind of playmaker he can be when given opportunities.

On a similar note, the Jaguars made the most of their opportunities, not wasting a chance to score early in the game. Sure, they punted on their first drive but once they had momentum, they didn't look back until they had built a robust lead.

It's also worth noting that the Jaguars didn't turn the ball over, the first time since Week 2 and only the second one this season. The defense, for their part, registered a takeaway one week after not getting one. Their third-down conversion could still use some work though, going 4-of-12 in such situations. Then again, Jacksonville was able to address most of the issues that held them back in previous weeks and that's commendable.

1. The Jaguars are still in control of the AFC South after beating the Titans in Week 11

In the upcoming days, you will hear chatter about the Jacksonville Jaguars being back but the truth is that they didn't go anywhere. They just hadn't played like the good team they are. Keep in mind, that they were 6-3 heading into Week 11 but it felt like they were close to going 0-17 if you took a look at social media.

Just a couple days ago, there were calls for offensive coordinator Press Taylor's job. They won't completely fade away but the noise will most definitely subside (at least for a week). Also, the Jaguars' defense rebounded nicely. As Mike Caldwell said, the team you saw going against the 49ers is not who they are.

The Jags showed in Week 11 that they're capable of winning games and could do big things if they can stop shooting themselves on the foot and execute. It helped that they played a Titans team that has hard to get anything going on offense in recent weeks but good teams take care of business. Jacksonville most certainly did Sunday, and find themselves at the top of the AFC South for one more week.

At the same time the Jaguars were disposing of the Titans, the Houston Texans were playing the Arizona Cardinals. Despite the fact that the Cards took things to the wire, the Texans got the win and are now 6-4 and No. 2 in the AFC South. Had the Jaguars lost, Houston would be in control of the division.

Now, these two foes will face each other in Week 12 for the No. 1 spots in Week 12. While there are a handful of tough matchups left on the Jaguars' schedule, it's not hyperbole to say that the Texans game could shape the rest of the 2023 season, at least when it comes to the AFC South but possibly in the AFC playoff seeding too.

Here are other recent Jaguars stories you may also enjoy: