Titans vs. Jags Odds
| Titans Odds | -4.5 |
| Jags Odds | +4.5 |
| Over/Under | 49 |
| Time | 1 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NFL odds here. | |
After a devastating loss to the New York Jets last week, the Tennessee Titans will look to turn things around on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, hopefully not giving another opponent its first win of the NFL season.
The Titans will get a big boost with the return of wide receiver A.J. Brown. Last week, we saw how anemic the Tennessee passing attack can be without both Brown and Julio Jones. The Titans may only be getting one of their dynamic duo back, but Brown should still pull some pressure off Derrick Henry and the run game.
After jumping out to a commanding first-half lead, the Jaguars completely busted against the Bengals on Thursday Night Football. Their 14-0 lead evaporated and quickly turned into them watching Cincinnati kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Making matters worse has been the antics of head coach Urban Meyer, who has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. We'll see if Jacksonville can bounce back from a crushing loss with all the drama now surrounding the organization.
Both teams enter this meeting with gloom looming from last week. Let’s take a deeper dive to see which team will turn things around.
Brown's Return Should Boost Titans Offense
Missing both Brown and Jones clearly hindered the Titans last week. They still managed 430 yards of total offense and completely controlled time of possession, but the receiving pair was missed the most on third downs and as Tennessee approached the end zone. The Titans converted just five of 19 third downs and were held to three field goals on their first three drives.
Tennessee's passing struggles last week dropped it to 29th in net yards per attempt, a category it ranked seventh last season. Fortunately, this is a part of the game that Jacksonville struggles, as it ranks last in net yards per attempt allowed.
Even without Jones, this could be a spot for the Titans’ passing attack to bounce back.
The Tennessee running game has been as strong as we expected entering into the year. Behind their talented offensive line and Henry in the backfield, it always seems to be a matter of time before the Titans take off each week on the ground. In their past three games, they have 189.7 yards rushing per game.
Defensively, the Titans haven't looked bad stopping opposing ground games. Tennessee currently allows the ninth-fewest yards per carry in the league. Unfortunately, the same success is not being had by its pass defense. The Titans currently rank 29th in net yards per attempt allowed.
Last season, the defense forced turnovers, which made up for it giving up tons of yards. This season, the Titans have struggled to even do that with just two forced turnovers through four games.
There is no better matchup to fix that than against the Jags, who have turned the ball over a league-high nine times.
Jaguars Defense Will Face Major Test
For the second week in a row, Jacksonville entered the second quarter with a two-possession lead.
On both occasions, the lead disappeared by the start of the fourth quarter.
Against Cincinnati, Jacksonville was clicking on both sides of the ball in the first half. The Jaguars had three drives go for more than 60 yards, and they came one yard from getting a third touchdown. Defensively, the Jaguars even stifled what had been an impressive Bengals offense.
However, the second half struck and Cincinnati woke up. Each of the Bengals' second-half drives went for 69 or more yards and ended with a score. The Jaguars offense had little chance to respond, as Cincinnati controlled the ball for more than 19 minutes in the second half.
One reason the Jaguars were able to get out to an early lead was the play of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. His 204 passing yards will not wow anyone, but it was his first game without an interception.
The Jacksonville offense has utilized the No. 1 overall pick's athleticism more often, as he ran eight times for 36 yards against the Bengals. If they keep the "run first" mentality, it should help Lawrence until he puts the offense on his arm.
Defensively, the Jags will face a major test this week. Jacksonville’s defense has done a good job stopping the run while struggling against the pass. It allows the fifth-fewest yards per carry at 3.5 but the most net yards per pass at 9.1 this season.
The Titans are built to play through the run, using that to set up the pass. If Jacksonville’s defensive front holds its own against Henry, it could put Tennessee in an uncomfortable position.
Titans-Jaguars Pick
We have seen two Tennessee teams each week, and sometimes even within the game. Against the Cardinals and Jets, as well as the first half of the Seahawks contest, we saw the bad. In contrast, we saw the good in the second half against Seattle and against the Colts.
It might be a risk here, but I'm going to trust the good to show up once again.
After a crushing loss to the Jets, head coach Mike Vrabel will make sure the Titans are to avoid another winless team earning its first victory against them.
Beyond the fear of humiliation, this is a divisional matchup, having already gotten ahead by beating the Colts. A loss against a weak AFC South opponent can haunt you come the end of the season in any tiebreaker scenario.
Above all else, though, this line seems like an overreaction to me. We saw Tennessee move the ball effectively against the Jets, even without its top-two receivers. It was the key moments when Brown and Jones were missed, though.
Against a weak Jaguars pass defense, Brown's return should be enough to punish Jacksonville even if Jones isn't able to play. Add in the fact the Jaguars are dealing with all the off-field distractions and potentially disrespecting their coach, and this one looks like the Titans game to lose.
Back Tennessee to care of business and take control of the AFC South.
Pick:Titans -4.5 | Play to -5.5
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