NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Will Cam Finish on a High Note?
Cam Ward has looked like a different quarterback since the team's November 13 meeting against the Jaguars, when the Titans lost 25-3. Ward has thrown at least two touchdown passes in the four games since. As a team, the Titans have scored 24-plus points in each of those four games after doing so just once in the team's first 13 games, and they're 2-2 in their last four contests after starting 1-11. Ward's positive numbers actually date back to the last eight contests, as he's thrown 10 touchdown passes and just one interception. In 16 games this season, Ward has thrown for a franchise rookie record 3,117 pass yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Titans, and Ward, would love to end the season on a high note against the Jaguars after throwing for just 141 yards in the Week 13 meeting.
Gray's Tackle Numbers
Titans linebacker Cedric Gray has been a tackling machine, there is no questioning that fact. Whether Gray is on the verge of breaking the franchise's record for tackles in a season is up for some debate, however. Gray enters the game with 152 tackles in 2025. With 12 tackles this week, he'd move past Keith Bulluck (152 in 2004), Stephen Tulloch (160 in 2010) and Azeez Al-Shaair (163 in 2023) for the most tackles in a season by a Titans defender since GSIS tackle statistics were first recorded in 2000. However, Bulluck was credited with 180 tackles on coach film back in 2002, which opens up debate on the subject of most tackles in team history.
Can Simmons Pass Casey?
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has a career-high 10 sacks in 2025, what has been a monstrous season for the seventh-year pro. With one more sack, Simmons will break Jurrell Casey's mark (10.5 in 2013) for the most sacks in a season by a Titans defensive tackle in the franchise's "Titans era" (1999 to present). Also, with 16 tackles for loss in 2025, Simmons needs just one more to move past Jason Babin (16 in 2010) for the most by a Titans player in any season since 2008. Simmons had six tackles and a sack in the first meeting against the Jaguars.
Pollard's Strong Finish
Titans running back Tony Pollard has ended the season in grand fashion, and he'll look to reach some milestones on Sunday. With 1,034 rushing yards in 2025, Pollard has already recorded his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. Against the Jaguars, Pollard needs 46 rushing yards to set a new career high, breaking his mark of 1,079 rushing yards in 2024. Also, Pollard has 1,223 scrimmage yards in 2025. He needs 77 more for his fourth consecutive season to reach 1,300 scrimmage yards. Pollard and running back Derrick Henry would be the only NFL players to reach the mark over every season from 2022 to 2025.
Chimere Dike's Finale
No matter what happens Sunday, it's been a remarkable season for rookie Chimere Dike, who has already been named a Pro Bowler. And, how about all of these things at stake for Dike on Sunday?: Dike is averaging 17.7 yards per punt return. Among qualifiers, that would establish a new franchise record, eclipsing Billy "White Shoes" Johnson's mark of 15.4 yards per return in 1977. With a punt return average of 17.7 yards and a kickoff return average of 25.7 yards, Dike could become the NFL's first player since Detroit's Jack Christiansen in 1952 (21.5 punt return average and 25.6 kickoff return average) to qualify with an average 17.0+ yards per punt return and 25.0+ yards per kickoff return in a season. With a league-high 2,371 all-purpose yards in 2025, Dike ranks first all-time in the NFL among rookies. Dike needs 129 more yards to record the eighth season in NFL history with 2,500 all-purpose yards. Dike needs 139 more all-purpose yards to surpass Chris Johnson's 2,509 all-purpose yards in 2009 for second place in franchise history. Dike's total would reside behind only Derrick Mason's 2,690 all-purpose yards in 2000. With 1,568 kickoff return yards in 2025, he needs 10 more to move into third place in NFL history among rookies, in front of the New York Jets' Justin Miller (1,577 in 2005). With 117, Dike will pass Arizona's Josh Scobey (1,684 in 2003) for second place and would trail only the Raiders' Chris Carr (1,752 in 2005). Dike can join A.J. Brown (nine touchdowns in 2019), Chris Johnson (10 in 2008) and Vince Young (seven in 2006) as the only franchise rookies since the start of the 1999 season with at least seven total touchdowns. Dike has six touchdowns going into Week 18. Needs five receptions to join six prior Titans/Oilers players to reach the 50-catch mark in their rookie season.
Can the Titans Play Spoiler?
The Titans and Jaguars have history, of course. In the "Titans era" these teams have met 53 times, with the Titans holding a record of 31-22 in the series. On the way to Super Bowl XXXIV, the Titans beat the Jaguars three straight times, including in the AFC Championship Game in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are in a better place right now, with a 12-4 record, a guaranteed a playoff spot, and three straight wins in the series. Their turnaround has been impressive. So, can the Titans be a spoiler today? The answer is yes, at least to some degree. The Jaguars have the most possible seed scenarios of any NFL team entering Week 18, as they could still be the AFC's 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 7 seed based on the Week 18 outcomes. The Jaguars have a chance to clinch the AFC South with a win/tie vs the Titans or a Texans loss/tie vs Indy. The Jaguars can clinch the AFC's No.1 seed with a win vs the Titans and a Broncos loss vs the Chargers and a Patriots loss vs the Dolphins. The Titans, 12.5-point underdogs, at least have a chance to knock the Jaguars into a Wild Card spot.
