Jaguars cruise to victory in 34-14 bounce-back game vs. Titans. Here are our takeaways.
After looking completely out-matched last week against the San Francisco 49ers, it was the opposite against the Tennessee Titans (3-7) Sunday with the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) looking like the superior team from start to finish, winning 34-14.
Titans running back Derrick Henry was essentially a nonfactor for Tennessee. He carried the ball just 10 times for 38 yards in a blowout loss. It was his lowest rushing total against Jacksonville since his rookie year when he ran for 13 yards on four carries.
The Jaguars held the Titans to just 235 total total yards, including 92 rushing and 143 passing.
Postgame recap: Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley lead Jaguars in rout over Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville's offense finished with 389 yards, their third-best total this year. They did not turn the ball over and were called for only four penalties for 29 yards. It was a clean game all around for Jacksonville.
The Jaguars entered the game banged up with both starting cornerback Tyson Campbell and Pro Bowl return-specialist/wide receiver Jamal Agnew ruled out prior to the contest.
Agnew was placed on the team’s reserve/injured list Saturday, and rookie returner/WR Parker Washington took his place off the team’s reserve list.
Surprisingly, the Jaguars deemed defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton inactive against the Titans. Hamilton returned Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after being out the first seven weeks, and much of the end of training camp, due to a medical issue related to his back.
Sunday also marked the return of Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones, who has missed six games due to a knee injury. Prior to Sunday, Jones hadn’t suited up since Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.
Trevor Lawrence accounts for four touchdowns
After three turnovers last week, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence turned it around against Tennessee, rushing for two touchdowns and tossing two touchdowns.
It is the first time Lawrence has accomplished that feat in his career. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 262 yards. He ran five times for 17 yards.
Today’s game marked the third time this season Lawrence passed for two or more touchdowns. He entered the game having completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
Lawrence finished the game with a passer rating of 119.5, the fourth-best rating of his career.
Jaguars capitalize on early with fumble recovery
Jacksonville needed to get off to a fast start after last week's meltdown. The team opened the game with a punt, but the Jaguars' defense made up for it on their second drive of the game, recovering a fumble by Titans quarterback Will Levis after a high snap.
On Jacksonville’s ensuing possession, the team drove down the field 48 yards in eight plays. They scored on a three-yard touchdown pitch-and-catch from Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to wide receiver Calvin Ridley. It was Ridley’s first touchdown catch at EverBank Stadium as a member of the Jaguars.
Jacksonville led 13-0 at halftime.
Calvin Ridley finishes with two TD receptions
Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley finished with seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third 100-plus-yard receiving game as a Jaguar.
It was the second-most receiving yards he's had in a Jaguars uniform, only to the 122 yards he had against the Buffalo Bills in London. He had 101 against Indianapolis in Week 1.
Ridley also doubled his touchdown total from two to four on the season.
Titans points come off of questionable call, trick-play scores
The Titans struggled to get much of anything going throughout the day, so they had to go deep into the playbook to get some points.
Their first score came at the end of the third quarter. The Titans gained 15 yards on a questionable roughing the passer penalty. On the next play, Tennessee ran a double reverse pass to receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who scored from 43 yards out.
Hopkins finished the game with four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Tennessee's second score was also a trick play with quarterback Will Levis tossing the ball to defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons, who entered the game as an eligible receiver on the goal line.
Ezra Cleveland gets his feet wet, plays a drive in second game with team
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson insinuated earlier this week that recently acquired left guard Ezra Cleveland would get some snaps in place of Walker Little at some point during the contest.
The team was able to do just that, replacing Little with Cleveland on the third drive of the game. The Jaguars drove the ball 50 yards on 11 plays to kick a field goal, going up 10-0.
Little played most of the remainder of the contest, making it clear that Jacksonville wants to utilize him as the primary left guard with Cleveland having the ability to come off the bench if needed.
Cleveland played on the final drive when the Jaguars were clearly set to win the contest.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.
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