Titans vs Jaguars: Preview, score prediction for Week 2

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans travel to EverBank Field to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC South battle. Jacksonville looked dominant in their 29-7 road victory over the Houston Texans. The Jaguars currently hold first place in the division as the Titans, Texans, and Indianapolis Colts all lost in Week 1.

The Titans struggled in their opening game against the Oakland Raiders, being limited to less than 100 yards rushing and only 16 points. The Titans are certainly hoping to get their offense rolling in their second game, yet that may be harder than expected.

Jacksonville’s defense looked unbelievable in Week 1, limiting the Texans offense to 203 yards and seven points. Jacksonville also recorded 10 sacks and forced five turnovers.

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Keys to Victory

The biggest thing the Titans can do is show that they are still able to stop the run. In 2016, the Titans ranked second in run defense. However, in Week 1 the Titans allowed the Raiders to rush for 109 yards as both Marshawn Lynch and Jalen Richard averaged over four yards per carry. Jacksonville looks like they have a star in rookie running back Leonard Fournette, who had 100 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Fournette is the best weapon on the Jaguars offense, so if the Titans can limit him that could be all it takes to win.

Tennessee also needs to put an emphasis on protecting the quarterback. The Titans did well in Week 1, only allowing a single sack to the Raiders. However, this Jacksonville pass rush looks like a different monster than Oakland’s. Not only did the Jaguars record ten sacks in Week 1, but five different defenders were in on those sacks. The Titans have a much better offensive line than the Texans, but quarterback Marcus Mariota is the centerpiece of the offense and his health needs to be the team’s top priority.

The Jaguars need to continue their Week 1 game plan. It seems the new strategy of the team is to rely on the run game and defense and limit what quarterback Blake Bortles has to do. Bortles only threw for 125 yards and completed just 52 percent of his passes. Bortles still dropped back 21 times and that is too much. Despite how great Jacksonville looked in Week 1, they also lost star wide receiver Allen Robinson for the season with an ACL injury.

Allen Hurns will likely be the one who steps up to into the starting wide receiver role, but there is a huge talent gap between him and Robinson. With the loss of Robinson as a weapon, Bortles will have even less options in the passing game. The Jaguars should limit Bortles even further and rely on Fournette to be the featured back of this offense.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Tennessee -2
Moneyline: Tennessee -130, Jacksonville +110
Over/Under: 43

All odds provided by BookMaker via The Sportsbook Review

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Score Prediction

It is difficult to tell how much of the Jaguar’s Week 1 performance was how good their defense is and how much was the lack of experience between both of the quarterbacks Houston played. If Jacksonville’s defense can play at the same level they did in Week 1, I can’t see a scenario in which the Titans win on the road. There is definitely a chance that the Jaguars defense could be exaggerated when not facing quarterbacks with actual NFL experience. However until proven otherwise, I have to assume Jacksonville is legit.

Final Score: Jacksonville Jaguars: 17, Tennessee Titans: 14