Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen turned in one of his stronger games of the season, and the Jaguars’ defense held off a late Titans rally.
“We put the last couple of seconds on our back; it feels great,” Hines-Allen said after the Jaguars’ second victory in nine games.
A 28-yard field goal by Titans kicker Matthew Wright cut the Jaguars’ lead to 20-13 with 2:02 remaining, with the Titans driving to the Jaguars 26 on their final possession. Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson knocked down Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph’s pass to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at the goal line on fourth-and-10 from there with :09 remaining.
The Jaguars won giveaway-takeaway 1-0 Sunday, with Jones going a second consecutive game without an interception after throwing seven in the previous three games.
“It has been a minute since we’ve done that – really in all three phases,” Pederson said. “Even down to the two-minute situations at the end of the half and game. Our players did a great job of execution. It’s exciting for all those guys.”
The Jaguars are now 3-9 this season in games decided by seven points or less.
“I don’t live in the what-ifs,” Etienne said. “We didn’t make those plays earlier in the year. I’m just happy we’re making them now. Hopefully that gives us the confidence to make them next year. We just have to find ways to continue to win games.”
Jones, making his sixth start in the last seven games for injured starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, completed 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Jones, who attended the Bolles School locally, won a start for the first time at ‘the Bank.
Thomas, the Jaguars’ standout rookie wide receiver and the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, registered his third consecutive 90-plus-yard receiving game with seven receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown.
The victory gave the Jaguars (4-12) – who were eliminated from the AFC South chase with five regular-season games remaining this season – a season sweep over the Titans (3-13) for a second time in three seasons. The Jaguars are 5-1 against their AFC South rivals in Head Coach Doug Pederson’s three seasons as head coach.
“To sweep a divisional team is huge,” Hines-Allen said.
First appeared on www.jaguars.com