NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two struggling teams will go head to head Sunday in Florida when the Tennessee Titans (3-12) visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12).
The Jaguars just beat the Titans 10-6 three weeks ago in a game that helped lead to the demise of quarterback Will Levis. The Titans failed to score a touchdown in that game against one of the worst defenses in the NFL and Levis failed to identify a couple of wide open targets in the end zone. Levis followed that up with a three interception performance against the Cincinnati Bengals and was benched in favor of Mason Rudolph, who started last week in the Titans’ loss to the Colts in Indianapolis.
At this point, the season has been a disaster for both teams, leaving everyone searching for the motivation to finish strong.
“Football is football, and we all love the game,” said Rudolph. “We all want to win and have a celebration in in the locker room after the game and have a happy plane ride home. And that’s what motivates us right now is ‘Two to go, let’s get a W and let’s enjoy doing it.'”
Rudolph has struggled with turnovers almost as much as Levis has with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Projected over a 17-game season, Rudolph would throw a whopping 22 interceptions. If the Titans are going to win either of their last two games, they have to stop giving them away. They led the NFL with 32 turnovers this season.
NFL Turnover Leaders:
1. Tennessee Titans – 32
2. Cleveland Browns – 30
3. Las Vegas Raiders – 28
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – 24
Despite the turnovers, one thing Rudolph has done better is get the ball out of his hand. He has only taken seven sacks this season in contrast to Levis’ 40.
Rudolph knows Head Coach Brian Callahan despises sacks on first down that put the team behind schedule: “I think, yeah, first and second down negative plays, right? Sacks, negative inefficient runs.”
Callahan appreciates Rudolph’s experience and ability to limit those situations: “He’s got the ability to avoid the negative play when it comes to sacks. He gets the ball out, he knows where to go it quickly. He’s not taken many sacks this year. When you look at what sacks do to drives over the course of a season and the scoring percentages, when you take a sack in a drive, it really does have an impact. And that’s one of the things that he does well.”
It is safe to say the Titans offense was humbled after failing to score a TD three weeks ago and they face a Jaguar defense that has not improved much since then still ranking last in the NFL in yards allowed.
NFL Defense Rankings:
32. Jacksonville Jaguars – 390 yards per game
31. Carolina Panthers – 385 yards per game
30. New Orleans Saints – 378 yards per game
3. Tennessee Titans – 308 yards per game
The Titans will lean heavily on second year running back Tyjae Spears after Tony Pollard was ruled out Saturday with an ankle injury. Spears has four touchdowns over the last two games.
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It could also be a big day for former Jaguar receiver Calvin Ridley, who will enter the game just 143 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. Ridley and Rudolph have had a solid connection and everyone has acknowledged the importance of getting Ridley over the milestone for the second straight season.
The Titans have also seen a surge in production for tight end Chig Okonkwo with Rudolph on the field the last couple of weeks. Rudolph is much more content to check down to the tight end and Okonkwo has been rewarded with 17 receptions for 140 yards over the last two games.
Neither team is playing for “draft position” right now, but this game will have a major impact on who picks where in the top five of next year’s draft. If the draft were held this weekend, the Jaguars and Titans would pick third and fourth. Whichever team wins will see their position plummet.
Jacksonville will enter the game a one point favorite to complete the season sweep.