Titans (4-6) Return to Action Sunday at Jacksonville (1-9)

November 22, 2012 |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans (4-6), following their Week 11 bye, travel to Jacksonville this week to face the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9).  Kickoff at EverBank Field (capacity 67,246) is scheduled for noon CT on Sunday, Nov. 25.

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This week will mark the 36th all-time meeting between the Jaguars and Titans, with the Titans holding a 20-15 lead in the series.   They have split their last six meetings, including a win for each club in 2011.  The Jaguars prevailed 16-14 in the season opener in Jacksonville (Sept. 11), but the Titans bounced back to win 23-17 on Christmas Eve at LP Field.

THE BROADCAST

This week’s game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5.  Spero Dedes will handle play-by-play duties while Steve Beuerlein provides analysis.

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, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.

TWO WEEKS AGO

Prior to their bye, the Titans visited Miami and left with a convincing 37-3 victory.  The outcome tied for the 12th largest margin of victory in Titans/Oilers history and the biggest since a 40-point win against St. Louis on Dec. 13, 2009.  It was the Dolphins’ worst home loss since 1968.

In the victory, the Titans forced four turnovers, including an interception by each of their three starting linebackers—Colin McCarthy, Akeem Ayers and Zach Brown.  McCarthy returned his interception 49 yards for a touchdown.

Offensively, the Titans did not turn the ball over and were eight-of-17 on third down.  They scored touchdowns on three of their four trips inside the red zone, and they maintained possession for more than 33 minutes.

On the ground, Titans running back Chris Johnson rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries (5.5 avg.).  The team totaled 177 rushing yards to only 54 by the Dolphins.

Quarterback Jake Locker, making his first start in six weeks due to an injured left shoulder, completed nine of 21 passes for 122 yards and a pair of touchdown passes without throwing an interception (93.8 passer rating).  He added 36 rushing yards on four carries.

THE JAGUARS

The Jaguars are in their first season with new ownership and a new coaching staff.  In January, the sale of the franchise from Wayne Weaver to automotive parts magnate Shahid Khan was finalized.  A week later, Khan and general manager Gene Smith hired former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as the club’s new head coach.

Last week, the Jaguars battled the first-place Houston Texans into overtime but ultimately fell short by a final score of 43-37.  In the loss, veteran backup Chad Henne came off the bench to replace starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who left the game in the first quarter with an elbow injury.  Henne passed for 354 yards and four touchdowns, while 2012 first-round wide receiver Justin Blackmon recorded 236 yards (second-most in franchise history) on seven receptions, including an 81-yard touchdown.

Gabbert, who was selected two spots after Locker in the 2011 NFL Draft, started 14 games as a rookie.  This season, he has started all 10 games and has completed 162 of 278 passes for 1,662 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

Jaguars Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew has not played since suffering a foot injury on Oct. 21.  Prior to his injury, he rushed for 414 yards on 86 carries (4.8 average).

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