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Titans cancel the Jags in prime time stomping

Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

In the most embarrassing performance since the last time the team met the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on a Thursday night, the Jaguars erased all goodwill left within the fan base after a shut out the prior Sunday against the Colts, dropping their only national prime time game to the Titans, 30-9.

After a four week period in which the Jaguars defense seemed to regain it’s swagger and the dominance from the 2017 season, Todd Wash’s unit absolutely collapsed in the most absurd of fashion, allowing running back Derrick Henry to run like Earl Campbell as he accumulated over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns in less than three full quarters of play. That included perhaps the most atrocious defensive play in the franchise’s 24 year history, when following a Jags turnover on downs at the Titans’ 1 yard line, the defense allowed Henry to cut off left tackle and abuse AJ Bouye and Leon Jacobs on his way to a 99-yard touchdown run. The play tied for the longest touchdown run in NFL history, and signaled the imminent end of the road for the Jags on the evening.

The performance of the defense, that included multiple failed tackle attempts from the likes of Telvin Smith, DJ Hayen, Bouye, and really anyone on the field tonight, was so abhorent, that it could jeopardize the employment of the aforementioned Wash and perhaps Doug Marrone as well.

On offense, Leonard Fournette’s return was less a return and more of a cameo, as the running back could get nothing going all night and frankly looked plodding and lacking of the energy we saw in Buffalo before his altercation. Quarterback Cody Kessler looked OK in his second start as a Jaguar, and appeared to find a rhythm at times with receiver Dede Westbrook. However, the points allowed by the defense were simply too much for an offense whose lack of any premier playmaker and true threat at the quarterback spot, were once again on display.

The Jaguars loss marks the second consecutive season of being swept by the Titans, and brings them to 4-9 on the season with three games remaining and a long resting period before they face the Washington Redskins in the home finale’ on December 16th. It will also be a long period for some big questions to begin to be demanding of answers, with regards to the direction Shad Khan is going to want to go with his front office and coaching staff in 2019.