NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (1-4) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) this week. Kickoff at LP Field (capactiy 69,143) is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, Oct. 12.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Andrew Catalon will handle play-by-play duties, while Steve Beuerleinand Steve Tasker will serve as analysts.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
TITANS LOOK TO GET BACK IN WIN COLUMN
Last week the Titans began a run of three home games in four weeks. It is a welcomed change from the first quarter of the season, when they opened with three out of four on the road versus playoff teams from 2013. After building optimism with a Week 1 victory at Kansas City, they dropped consecutive games to Dallas at LP Field and to Cincinnati and Indianapolis on the road.
Then against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, the Titans appeared to be on their way to ending their three-game skid. They built a 28-3 lead in the first half, only to see the Browns fight their way back and produce the go-ahead score with less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. A final drive by the Titans fell short, leaving them with a 29-28 defeat.
Titans quarterback Jake Locker was off to a good start against Cleveland, completing eight-of-11 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in addition to another rushing touchdown. However, late in the second quarter, he banged his right hand on a helmet and was forced to the sidelines.
Charlie Whitehurst entered the game in relief of Locker and found success early on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Wright — Wright's second touchdown catch of the day — and a 75-yarder to Justin Hunter before halftime. For the game, Whitehurst was 13-of-21 passing for 194 yards and two scores.
The Titans hope to turn the season around with two out of their remaining three October games at LP Field, where the team has a record of 72-50 in 16 seasons. After Jacksonville, the Titans will travel to meet the Washington Redskins and then play the Houston Texans in Nashville prior to their Week 9 bye.
*THE JAGUARS *
The Jaguars are in their second season under head coach Gus Bradley, who was named to his current post after four campaigns as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2013, he led the Jaguars to a 4-12 mark while the roster was reshaped with 31 newcomers, including 20 rookies or first-year players on the final 53-man roster. The Jaguars posted a 4-4 mark following the bye week with three of the wins on the road.
Last week the Jaguars hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers and endured their fifth setback of the season. Rookie Blake Bortles made his second career start at quarterback for the Jaguars, but the third-overall pick from Central Florida was unable to outduel the Steelers in an eventual 17-9 loss.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS GAME
This week's contest has been designated by the Titans as the Domestic Violence Awareness Game. The announcement was made at an Oct. 2 press conference, attended by dignitaries such as Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson. At the event, the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence were presented checks in the amount of $100,000 each from Titans president and chief executive officer Tommy Smith and co-chair Susie Adams Smith.
COAT DRIVE
Prior to the game, fans are encouraged to participate in the team's annual coat drive. New and used coats of all sizes can be dropped off at one of several collection sites around LP Field, where volunters will be stationed to collect the donations. The coats subsequently will be delivered to Middle Tennessee non-profit agencies.
