Tennessee (3-12) will face off against Jacksonville (3-12) this Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS. According to BetMGM, the Jaguars are favored by 1 point in this matchup. The Titans have struggled against the spread with a 2-13 record, while the Jaguars sit at 7-7-1. Historically, the Titans maintain a lead in the series, with a record of 35-25. Their last encounter ended with the Jaguars narrowly defeating the Titans 10-6 in Nashville on December 8.
In their previous outings, Tennessee succumbed to a 38-30 defeat against Indianapolis, while Jacksonville faced a 19-14 loss at Las Vegas. Analyzing the teams’ statistics, Tennessee’s offense ranks poorly in most categories: 27th overall, 21st in rushing, 26th in passing, and tied for 25th in scoring. Contrarily, their defense shines in comparison, ranking 5th overall, 23rd against the run, 1st against the pass, and 31st in scoring. Jacksonville’s offensive performance is also disappointing, as they rank 26th overall, 26th in rushing, 21st in passing, and 28th in scoring, but their defense struggles even more, sitting at 32nd in most categories.
Both teams share an identical turnover differential of minus-15. For Tennessee, QB Mason Rudolph remains under scrutiny. Even though he threw three interceptions last week, the coaching staff is committed to his development as they conclude Brian Callahan’s first season. Rudolph showcased potential by leading the Titans to score 23 consecutive points against the Colts, marking the second consecutive game in which he has sparked a scoring run.
Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as a breakout star for Jacksonville. This rookie receiver has set all franchise records for first-year players and is remaining productive despite the absence of primary receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis. With 73 receptions for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns, Thomas has become a crucial target, drawing 49 passes over the last four games.
A significant aspect of the matchup lies in the Titans’ defense, particularly their run defense, which faltered last week by conceding 335 rushing yards to the Colts—the highest amount this NFL season and the worst for the franchise since 1961. In their last match against the Jaguars, however, they managed to limit them to just 26 rushing yards.
In terms of injuries, the Titans will be missing key players, including RB Tony Pollard (ankle/illness) and S Amani Hooker (shoulder), both ruled out prior to the game. Additionally, LB Kenneth Murray Jr. has been placed on injured reserve, and K Nick Folk remains sidelined with an abdominal injury. New starter Matthew Wright has been added to kick in Folk’s absence. Starting RG Dillon Radunz will also miss the game with shoulder issues, leading to Daniel Brunskill replacing him. Fortunately for the Titans, they welcome back LB Luke Gifford after he cleared the concussion protocol.
The Jaguars are also facing tough injury challenges, with LT Walker Little out for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury, putting Cole Van Lanen in a starting role. Safety Darnell Savage is still in concussion protocol, which prompts Andrew Wingard to step up in the starting lineup alongside LB Ventrell Miller, who is also ruled out. Jacksonville has listed LB Yasir Abdullah as questionable with an illness.
This matchup represents the second meeting between these two teams within a month, with Jacksonville seeking to sweep the season series. They look to build upon their recent victories, having won four of their last five matchups against Tennessee. Interestingly, the Titans managed a win in the last regular-season game of 2023 in what turned out to be Mike Vrabel’s final game as head coach.
Statistically, the Titans have a chance to finish with a 500 record within the AFC South if they can snag victories in their remaining two games. Notably, they have scored touchdowns on their last seven red-zone visits over the past two games. The Titans have also managed to secure at least one interception in their last five contests. Several players are on the brink of franchise milestones: Thomas is close to joining the elite 80 catches club, while DE Josh Hines-Allen needs just 3.5 sacks to break the franchise record held by Tony Brackens.
Fantasy managers might want to keep an eye on Titans WR Calvin Ridley, who makes a return to Jacksonville after a stint with the team last year, having logged seven catches for 59 yards during their last face-off.
This game promises to bring intense competition as both teams aim to finish the season strong despite their struggles throughout.
