NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Cam Ward Momentum
Titans quarterback Cam Ward threw for 304 yards with two touchdowns and a 104.6 rating his last time out, in the team's overtime loss to the Bengals. It was his first career 300-yard game, and it was his first two TD with no INT game since Week 17 of last season. Ward looked good in Cincinnati. On Sunday, coming off the bye weekend, Ward will return to action against a Jaguars team that is ranked 10th in total defense, allowing just 318.3 yards per game, and ranked second in scoring defense, allowing just 15.2 points per game. Can Ward continue his momentum as the team returns from the bye week? The Titans have scored 65.3% of their total points in the second half or OT, the second highest percentage in the league, so a complete effort is key. More on that coming up …
No More Lulls
The Titans jumped out to a 13-0 lead against the Bengals, one week after jumping out to a 14-0 lead at the start of the team's Week 7 matchup against the Browns. So, the team has done a nice job out of the starting gate of late. But the Titans have consistently struggled in the second quarter of games, when they've lost momentum, and paved the way for their eventual demise. Through eight games this season, the Titans have outscored their opponents 47-27 in first quarter, but the biggest problem has been what has transpired after that. In the second quarter of games this season, the Titans have been outscored by a whopping 86-3, which has helped negate the 70-47 edge the team has had in the fourth quarter of games. (The Titans have been outscored 32-24 in the third quarter of games, by the way). As Ward said himself recently, the Titans can't afford the lulls.
Can Tony Pollard Keep Rolling?
Titans running back Tony Pollard has recorded back-to-back 100-yard games with five touchdowns over the last two weeks, and he now has 595 yards and six scores on the season. The only other Titans to rush for at least five touchdowns over a two-game span in team history are Derrick Henry, Earl Campbell and LenDale White. Pollard's 292 scrimmage yards over the past two games are the third most in the NFL in that span behind Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. So, can Pollard keep it going? Well, it won't be easy against the Jaguars, who are ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 89.5 yards per game. And that was before the team acquired safety Jessie Bates (Falcons), DT Davin Godchaux (Saints) and DT Jordan Davis (Eagles) at the trade deadline.
Keep the Takeaways Coming
The Titans have nine takeaways and 10 sacks over the last three games, a sign the defense is starting to get more comfortable. They say these things come in bunches, and they have. But … two of the players responsible for creating some of those plays are no longer with the Titans (more in that later), which means others need to get theirs to keep this trend going. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has only thrown four interceptions (vs 18 touchdown passes) so far this season, and he's been sacked just 13 times in eight games. The Jaguars have a plus-9 turnover differential, so they haven't beaten themselves this season en route to their 6-2 record.
Who Else Steps Up on Offense?
Receiver Carnell Tate hasn't practiced all week after missing the Bengals game in Week 8 because of a shoulder injury. At this point, his status for this Sunday's game appears to be in doubt (We'll see if HC Robert Saleh gives an update later today). If Tate can't play, the Titans will need other players to fill the void left by the team's most productive receiver to this point. We saw that others are capable the last time out, when receiver Chimere Dike had five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in Cincinnati, and tight end Gunnar Helm had five catches for a career high 76 yards. It would be great to see those guys continue their momentum. But the Titans also need Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor and Wan'Dale Robinson rise to the occasion when they get opportunities as well.
Who Steps Up on Defense?
The Jaguars lead the NFL in scoring margin (+108), and they are the only team with a top five scoring offense (28.6 points per game), a top five scoring defense (15.1 points per game against). They are just the fourth team since 2000 to win four games by 23 or more points within their first eight games of the season. So, yeah, they are rolling. The Titans defense is now without Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker, which means others are going to have to rise to the occasion. Defensive end Jacob Martin is coming off a three-sack performance against the Bengals. Minus Hooker, safeties Kevin Winston Jr. and Tony Adams are now on the spot to make plays on the back end, but it's going to take a team effort to hold up against a Jaguars offense that has scored at least 25 points in 18 games since 2025, which is the most in the NFL.
