The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars meet in an AFC South divisional game this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first of two meetings between the teams at the end of the 2024 season.
The Jaguars are having a difficult season with a 2-10 record and may have lost quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the remainder of the season last week.
Even if he makes it through the concussion protocol, the Jags could decide to keep Lawrence off the field to prevent further injuries. Given how the season is going, that's not a bad choice. Mac Jones is a decent backup.
The Titans had high hopes early in the season, but by the time they got a bye in Week 5, everyone was ready to count them out. Then Will Levis returned and looked like a different player on the field, and that hasn't gone away. His play has sparked some hope in this team despite the continued defeats.
As Week 14 division play begins, let's look at three reasons for concern for the Titans.
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Current questionable game strategy
Last week against the Commanders, Brian Callahan's game strategy was a colossal failure. If you're facing a team that has obvious weaknesses in run defense, it makes sense to use your run to get the ball back rather than attacking the strong-willed second team.
But Callahan didn't do that.
The Titans passed the ball 11 times and only handed it to Tony Pollard eight times. If Callahan thought he could outwit the commander's secondary, he was sorely mistaken. It was a major faux pas and something that can't happen again. Don't try to play around your opponent's strengths unless they give you a window. Attack their weaknesses.
This week the strategy against the Jaguars will be different. The Jags are a different team than the Commanders and their defense is near the bottom of the league in almost every way.
As long as the Titans don't turn the ball over, it shouldn't be hard to win. However, this completely depends on the game strategy and whether adjustments are made during the game.
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The Titans' defensive problems
The Titans' defense has been solid for most of the season and is still considered the best pass defense in the league. However, last week their run defense suffered a setback as the Commanders recorded 267 yards on the ground. It was an unexpected blow.
The secondary also suffered its own setback on Tuesday when the NFL made the announcement suspended safety Julius Wood for six games without pay for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He didn't have much of an impact, but it left the Titans in the lurch.
As it stands, the Titans defense is tired. The bye week came early this year, their entire unit is plagued by injuries leaving a limited number of players available each week, and they spent a lot of time on the field last week.
The Titans' defense isn't usually a problem, but their effectiveness is declining, and the Titans can't win games that way, no matter who their opponent is.
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Special teams
There is no real context here; Everything about the special forces unit is worrying. Blocking. Tackle. Ball security.
Two things aren't a problem: Nick Folks' ability to make a field goal and land kickoffs in touchback territory, and Ryan Stonehouse's ability to shoot the ball inside the five-yard line.
Everything else is a huge mess, there's chaos on plays, Jha'Quan Jackson fumbling the ball and leading the Titans to utilize Julius Chestnut more.
It sounds like a broken record, but special teams can literally make or break a team. Right now, special teams are breaking the Titans. Field position is important. It is important to stop an opponent from returning. It's important to make sure the Titans guys can return past the 30 yard line. If special teams continue to look like this no matter who they play, they will struggle.
