NASHVILLE – The Titans got back on track on Sunday.
And, with a 20-0 win over the Jaguars, the Titans accomplished the following:
-Improved to 9-4, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process.
-Decreased their "magic number" to win the AFC South to 2 (Titans wins or Colts losses). The Titans remain the No.2 seed in the AFC.
-Beat the Jaguars for the fifth time in a row, and for the 9th time in the last 10 games.
-Pitched a shutout on defense for the first time since 2018, when the Titans beat the Giants 17-0. It was the franchise's first shutout at Nissan Stadium since the final game of the 2000 season (against the Cowboys).
-Earned the franchise's sixth straight winning season.
"Guys kind of came in refreshed, reenergized," Titans safety Kevin Byard said. "Guys just wanted to have fun today, and that was the main thing. Go out there, have fun. Let's not worry about all the talk that's been going on throughout the week with this team, that team. Let's worry about us, let's go out here and play our brand of football, and I think we did that today."
The Titans did it with a swarming defense, and with an offense that was good enough to build a lead on a day when they were never truly threatened.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill ran for a touchdown in the contest, and he guided several long scoring drives as the Titans dominated the Jaguars before 67,808 fans at Nissan Stadium.
The Titans forced four turnovers in the contest, and they sacked Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence three times. The Jaguars managed just nine first downs and 192 yards of total offense, including just eight yards on the ground.
"Guys came out hungry," Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said of the team's performance. "Guys came out ready to compete. We talked about it. We're going to have to create turnovers, we have to get to the quarterback, had to affect the quarterback, and the No. 1 thing was stop the run. We heard something from (Mike) Vrabel that they was able to push the power, when the O-line was able to push the power and run the football on us the last game, which they did, 180 some yards, but today they did a hell of a job. I think they had like eight rushing yards. That's a hell of a defense. That's the way we come, and that's our identity, stop the run and earn the right to rush, and that's what we did today."
Tannehill completed 20-of-31 passes for 191 yards in the game, and running back D'Onta Foreman led the team with 47 rushing yards and a touchdown, on just 13 attempts.
"I think we've kind of got back to our brand of football a little bit," Tannehill said. "Defense did a great job of making plays on the ball, and obviously shutout, they did everything good. Offensively we did some good things. Obviously have some things to clean up, but excited to get a win and get rolling in that right direction."
The Titans opened the game with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off with a five-yard touchdown drive by Foreman.
The Titans added three more points on a 44-yard field goal by Randy Bullock late in the second quarter, and they led 10-0 at the half.
In building their 10-point lead, the Titans had outgained the Jaguars 158-33 in total yards while tallying 14 first downs to just 2.
The domination continued in the second half, as Tannehill capped off an 11-play, 69-yard drive with five-yard touchdown run to make it 17-0 with 2:51 left in the third quarter.
Rashaan Evans, back in action for the first time since October 24, and fellow Titans linebacker Jayon Brown both intercepted Lawrence, and defensive backs Kristian Fulton and Buster Skrine also recorded interceptions in the second half.
"It was great," Brown said. "Coach Vrabel challenged us to get the ball out. I had told you earlier this week that turnovers would come in bunches, and we got bunches today. It was a great week of practice. Great execution on our side of the ball today. When the plays came, guys made them. It was good and it helped out our offense a lot, and we got the win."
Bullock made it 20-0 on a 29-yard field goal with 2:20 left in the contest.
The Titans got a number of injured players back for the game, including receiver Julio Jones, who finished the game with four catches for 33 yards.
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
"We have to move on from this week and get ready to focus on that opponent," Titans tight end Anthony Firkser said. "It's a tough place to play and they are always a good team and good organization, so it's going to be a tough game."
