The Jacksonville Jaguars were in need of a bounce-back game in Week 11 after an embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers. They got exactly what they needed in a 34-14 demolition of the Tennessee Titans.
It was all Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Stadium with the offense clicking for most of the day and the defense dominating for about three quarters before allowing a couple touchdowns late.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished with 262 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. Jacksonville avoided turning the ball over for just the second time this season and recorded two takeaways.
With the win, the Jaguars are now 7-3 and still safely atop the AFC South although a Week 12 road game against the Houston Texans now looms large.
Here’s how the Jaguars’ one-sided victory at a home against their division rival Titans went down:
Jaguars MVP of the game: WR Calvin Ridley
Lawrence and Ridley for 6 x 2
📺: #TENvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/nDhj8CZhrX— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
These were the kinds of days the Jaguars had in mind when they acquired Ridley. He hauled in seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Ridley even added 18 rushing yards on a reverse that saw him get a head of steam and fly up field. Maybe the return of Zay Jones helped. Whatever it was, Sunday was a stellar day for Ridley.
Titans MVP of the game: WR DeAndre Hopkins
The trickery leads to a DeAndre Hopkins TD!
📺: #TENvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/JtfOHJOhYG— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
The Jaguars were pitching a shutout until the final play of the third quarter Sunday. Immediately after a Titans drive was extended by a very questionable roughing the passer penalty, Will Levis hurled it deep to DeAndre Hopkins for a 43-yard touchdown. It was one of four receptions on the day for Hopkins, who finished with a team-leading 59 receiving yards.
Jaguars play of the game: Calvin Ridley's first touchdown
Lawrence to Ridley is a thing of beauty
📺: #TENvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/1fc5GE7y1i— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
The Titans are not built to come from behind with a rookie quarterback and a beat up offensive line. So striking first was important and the Jaguars got it with a beautiful ball from Trevor Lawrence that was floated to the back of the end zone and caught by Ridley, who did just enough to get two feet in bounds.
It was over when ... Trevor Lawrence scored his second rushing touchdown
Trevor Lawrence has been on an absolute tear today! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xXh9buhgxK
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) November 19, 2023
A Titans comeback looked incredibly unlikely after the Jaguars pushed the lead to 20 points early in the second half, but a deep touchdown followed by a defensive stop threatened to give Tennessee life. That ended when Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik forced and recovered a fumble on a punt and Jacksonville cashed in with Lawrence’s second rushing touchdown of the day.
Stat that says it all: 12 first downs for the Titans
Tennessee had a few big plays, but the story of the game was that one team was able to sustain drives and the other couldn’t. While the Jaguars recorded 24 first downs with multiple, lengthy ball-control drives, the Titans couldn’t do the same. They scored two touchdowns when Levis was able to uncork deep balls in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
What's next?
The Jaguars will travel to play the Houston Texans in a Week 12 game with big stakes. After a 37-17 loss to the Texans in Week 3, the Jaguars’ spot at the top of the AFC South standings will be on the line after Houston improved to 6-4 with a 21-16 win against the Arizona Cardinals.
