The Jaguars (4-12) completed a season-long sweep of their AFC South rival Titans (3-13) on Sunday, winning 20-13 and securing at least a .500 divisional record in what has otherwise been a disastrous campaign in Jacksonville.
It marks the fourth time in franchise history that the Jaguars have swept the Titans in the regular season. They most recently did so in 2022.
The Jaguars enjoyed their best first-half of the year, scoring on their opening drive via a 48-yard field goal by rookie kicker Cam Little before adding 10 points in the second quarter, including an acrobatic two-yard touchdown grab by wide receiver Parker Washington.
Washington’s score was set up by Jacksonville’s first takeaway since Week 10 against Minnesota. Jaguars rookie defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson tipped a pass by Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph up into the air, which linebacker Devin Lloyd snatched at Tennessee’s 43-yard line.
The Titans only managed a field goal in the first 30 minutes, as time expired at the end of the half.
Tennessee found life offensively in the second half with a pair of extended scoring drives, a combined 25 plays for 145 yards with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Rudolph to tight end Nick Vannett in the third quarter and a 28-yard fourth-quarter field goal by former Jaguars kicker Matthew Wright, who signed with the Titans this week.
But Jaguars rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. answered the call when Jacksonville found itself up only three over Tennessee in the middle of the fourth quarter.
An 11-yard, domineering end-zone grab by Thomas reinstituted Jacksonville’s two-possession lead with just over seven minutes left in the game.
Mac Jones 🎯 BTJ
📺: #TENvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/JmrSVGrNRt— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
The catch-and-score allowed Thomas to tie Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss for the most games with 60 receiving yards and a touchdown as a rookie in NFL history, with eight.
Wright’s field goal at the 2:05 mark and a Jaguars’ three-and-out gave the Titans a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Rudolph opened the drive with three completions for 43 yards, and the Titans converted a key third down via an offsides penalty by the Jaguars. But Tennessee stalled over four consecutive incompletions following the flag and turned the ball over on downs with nine seconds remaining.
The Jaguars’ regular season finale will be in Indianapolis against their AFC South rival Colts on Jan. 5. A kickoff time has yet to be determined.
