NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Colts and Texans are sitting at the top of the AFC South, both at 4-5.
The Jaguars (3-6) and Titans (2-7) are in catch-up mode, in need of a win.
On Thursday night, the two teams will meet in Jacksonville at EverBank Field.
This week I caught up with Ryan O'Halloran, Jaguars beat writer for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @ryanohalloran.
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Wyatt:** Hey Ryan. Appreciate your time. Despite a rough start, the Titans still feel like they have a chance to win the division. The Colts and Texans have the same thing in mind I'm certain. What's the mindset in Jacksonville coming off a big win over the Ravens on Sunday?
O'Halloran: *This is this biggest game of the Gus Bradley era. They won in miraculous fashion against Baltimore. They look at the standings every day and see Tennessee at home, a San Diego team that's struggling at home, and then at Tennessee before Indianapolis at home, and they're struggling. They realize what's in front of them, but they also realize they have to play a lot better on offense and in some parts of their defense than they have the last couple of weeks in order to get a winning streak going. *
Wyatt: You've watched Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles every step of the way. How has he been in Year 2, and is he progressing like the Jaguars hoped he would?
O'Halloran: I think he has made substantial progress. He still has some of those speed bumps – 11 interceptions in nine games – and he has taken some sacks he shouldn't have taken because he's held on to the ball too long at times. The maturation process continues with Blake. But with 19 touchdowns, he's on track to shatter the team record, and his two receivers (Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson) are on track for over 1,000 yards. I think the best thing this team does right now is throw the football. But Blake is probably coming off one of his worst games against Baltimore. Blake has to be better on Thursday night.
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TitansOnline.com looks back at the all-time series against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) celebrates after making a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates with teammates after Byard intercepted a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stop their final drive in the last seconds of the fourth quarter in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 15-10. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Philadelphia Eagles line up against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Philadelphia Eagles lines up against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) celebrates after making a catch for a first down in the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 15-10. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
The Tennessee Titans line up against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) celebrates after recovering a fumble by Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Keelan Cole in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, file photo, Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates with Wesley Woodyard (59) and Ben Jones (60) after intercepting a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stop their final drive in the last seconds of the fourth quarter in an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. Bayard heads into his first playoff game Saturday in Kansas City leading the NFL in takeaways with 10 and tied for the league-lead with eight interceptions. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Marcus Mariota, quarterback de los Titans de Tennessee, trata de escaparse de Myles Jack, de los Jaguars de Jacksonville, durante el partido del domingo 31 de diciembre de 2017 (AP Foto/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) pressures Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stop their final drive in the last seconds of the fourth quarter in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 15-10. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) scores a touchdown on a 66-yard pass play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) celebrates with offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) and center Ben Jones (60) after Henry scored a touchdown on a 66-yard pass play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) scores a touchdown on a 66-yard pass play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler (56) tackles Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) rushes for yardage as offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, right, blocks Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith (50) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Titans won 9-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Tennessee Titans prepare to snap the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans tight end Luke Stocker (88) breaks away from Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith (50) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Titans won 9-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) sheds Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) on a first quarter run in an NFL game Sunday, September 23, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fl. (Rick Wilson via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook (12) is stopped by Tennessee Titans defensive backs Kenny Vaccaro, left, and Logan Ryan after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Josh Wells (72) sets up to block against Tennessee Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) runs in front of Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, rear, and defensive back A.J. Bouye (21) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Titans won 9-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans, left, line up for a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans won 30-9. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) greets fans after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans won 30-9. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
The NFL broadcasters work as Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (77) are interviewed after an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans won 30-9. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Fox broadcaster Erin Andrews speaks with Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans won 30-9. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, file photo, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown past Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. Unthinkable at the start of December, Henry has piled up a franchise-record 408 yards over his past two games to put the Titans running back 118 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard rushing season. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs past Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Leon Jacobs (48) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Henry scored a touchdown on the 99-yard run. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry speaks to fans at the NFL broadcast booth after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans won 30-9. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
El running back de los Titans de Tennessee, Derrick Henry (22), corre y desplaza con un brazo al safety de los Jaguars de Jacksonville, Tashaun Gipson (39), durante la segunda mitad de un juego de la NFL, el jueves 6 de diciembre de 2018, en Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs past Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Leon Jacobs (48) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Henry scored a touchdown on the 99-yard run. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Telvin Smith (50) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Wyatt:** Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey served as head coach of the Jaguars in 2012, when the team went 2-14. Then the organization made some sweeping changes, and Mularkey was out after one season. How is he remembered in Jacksonville?
O'Halloran: Well, in the locker room it is not a major storyline just because there's not a lot of guys left from that 2012 roster. Chad Henne, Marcedes Lewis, Paul Posluszny, Tyson Alualu, Andre Branch, Bryan Anger, I think those are the only guys left. I talked to Chad Henne and said he enjoyed that season, probably because he was able to start a lot of games. Paul Posluszny said Mike came in as an old-school coach, very disciplined, and Paul said he feels he's an old school player so he embraced that, but maybe a lot of other players on the team didn't respond to that. When fans look at that 2012 season, they remember overtime losses to Minnesota, Oakland, and Houston. And basically general manager Gene Smith didn't build a great team. I don't think it was all Mike's fault, I just think they kind of spun out of control at the end and they didn't have enough good players. It would be a bigger storyline, let's say, if he was the Jaguars coach in 2013 or 2014. But I think time has kind of moved on because so much of the locker room is different.
Wyatt: One thing Mularkey said this week was he didn't get to build a culture there in one season. Gus Bradley is now in his third season with the Jaguars (10-31 over that time). How has he changed things in Jacksonville and what's the overall feeling about Gus in Jacksonville?
O'Halloran: To be honest, there is no time to wait a year to build a culture, you have to do it right away, and you have to set a standard. Gus is all about positivity and everybody gets a juice box and an orange slice if they play well, or even if they play average. I think there's pluses and minuses to that as well. But clearly there's a completely different coaching style between Mike Mularkey and Gus Bradley.
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Wyatt:** Starting in 1999, and during the early 2000s, the Titans and Jaguars had a heck of a rivalry. Do the Jaguars still consider the Titans as one of their biggest rivals?
O'Halloran: It's interesting, because I got here in 2012 and when I asked that out of curiosity, sure it was the Titans back then, but it was mostly Jeff Fisher. Because Fisher would needle the Jaguars and talk about Alltel Stadium being their home away from home, which was obviously great stuff for the media. But in terms of the rivalry and now, the fans just want a win over anybody. They see the Colts as a rival because they are at the top of the division, but there's not a lot of extra buzz about the Titans coming to town, just like I don't think there would be a lot of buzz if the Thursday night game was in Nashville.
Wyatt: OK Ryan, last thing here. If the Jaguars are going to take off and win the division, what's going to have to happen down the stretch?
O'Halloran: It is amazing that you are asking that question, (with the record), but that's the state of the division. They're going to have to do a couple of things. One, they have to start capitalizing on their takeaways. This is a defense that doesn't create lot of turnovers – they only have five interceptions. But last week they got four takeaways, and the Jags scored nine points. So they have to capitalize on those chances. Bortles has to play better – he is only completing 55 percent of his passes, and has a rating of 81.0. He has to take the next step in order for this team to get on a winning streak. And the last thing is the running game, it has not done a lot. T.J. Yeldon has busted off a couple of big runs and as a 4.0-yard average, but there's been too many blocking breakdowns and missed assignments. So you look at it – take advantage of the takeaways, have Blake Bortles take his game to another level, and get a little more production out of the running game.
