Titans-Jaguars Week 18 Postgame Notes

Jan 07, 2024 at 08:20 PM

TEAM NOTES

The Titans defeated the Jaguars by a final score of 28-20 to finish 6-11 on the season. They went 5-3 at Nissan Stadium in 2023.
The franchise completed their 25th season in its "Titans era," which began in 1999.
In pushing their all-time record at Nissan Stadium to 117-90, including the regular season and playoffs, the Titans have more total wins at Nissan Stadium than the franchise had at the Astrodome, where it went 116-105-2. It is the most at any venue in franchise history.
The Titans improved their all-time record against the Jaguars to 35-24.
The win improved Mike Vrabel's career record as a head coach to 56-48, including regular season and playoffs.
Since they became teammates in 2019, the Titans are 33-20 (.623) in the regular season with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry both in the starting lineup.
After finishing 6-11, the Titans own the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The New York Giants also finished 6-11 and have the sixth pick based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker. The two clubs will rotate positions each round, meaning the Titans will have the sixth pick in the second round (38th overall).
The Titans' opponents for the 2024 regular season are set under the NFL's 17-game scheduling formula. As always, the Titans have home and road games against each of the AFC South rival Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Based upon the NFL's schedule rotation, the Titans will face every team from the AFC East in 2024: home games against the New England Patriots and New York Jets and road dates with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Additionally, the Titans will square off against the NFC North: at home against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings and on the road versus the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Every team plays two intraconference games that are determined by order of finish within its division. By finishing fourth the AFC South in 2024, the Titans are slated for a 2024 home matchup with the AFC North's equivalent finisher, the fourth-place Cincinnati Bengals, and they will go on the road to meet the AFC West's fourth-place Los Angeles Chargers. Additionally, the Titans are scheduled to travel for a ninth road game, a trip to face the fourth-place finishers of the NFC East, the Washington Commanders.
The Titans had 12 players who participated in all 17 games in 2023: defensive lineman Denico Autry, long snapper Morgan Cox, wide receiver Chris Moore, running back Derrick Henry, outside linebacker Harold Landry III, center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, outside linebacker Arden Key, kicker Nick Folk, tight end Chig Okonkwo and running back Tyjae Spears.
Three players started all 17 games for the Titans in 2023: running back Derrick Henry, center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
With two interceptions by the defense and one interception for the offense, the Titans won the turnover battle for the third time in 2023.

TEAM NOTES – OFFENSE

The Titans scored a touchdown on their first offensive drive for the third time in 2023. They went 75 yards on seven plays against the Jaguars, culminating with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Tyjae Spears.
The Titans scored 21 points in the first half, which was their second-best total of the season. Their only other game in 2023 scoring that many points in the first half was Oct. 1 against Cincinnati, when they had 24 points within the first two quarters.
The Titans' 28 points tied for their highest total of the season. They reached the number in four total games in 2023.
The offense converted six of its 11 third-down attempts. The 54.5-percent conversion rate was their second-best mark of the season behind only their 61.5 percent (8-11) against Cincinnati on Oct. 1.
Tennessee's 175 rushing yards ranked second by the team for a game during the 2023 season. Their only game with more rushing yards was Dec.3 against Indianapolis, when they reached 177 yards in an overtime contest.

TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE

The Titans defense did not allow a conversion on three fourth-down attempts by the Jaguars. Their fourth-down stops included a goal-line situation with less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in which the Jaguars had two opportunities to score from the one-yard line. The stop helped preserve the Titans' victory.
The Titans defense allowed the Jaguars a total of 82 rushing yards, giving the Titans nine games in 2023 in which they did not allow 100 rushing yards.
The Titans defense allowed one touchdown in three red-zone opportunities for the Jaguars offense. The Titans finished the season leading the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing 23 touchdowns on 61 attempts by their opponents. Their defensive efficiency of 37.7 percent in the red zone was the best in the NFL since the 2017 Los Angeles Chargers allowed a 36.1 percent touchdown rate (13 of 36) in the red zone.

ILB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR

Led the team with 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Notched his eighth game of the season in which he led the team in tackles as well as his eighth performance in which he tallied at least 10 tackles.
Finished the season with starts in all 17 games, setting a career high.
Totaled a career-high 163 tackles in 2023. Using press box and NFL GSIS tackle statistics dating back to 1991, his 163 tackles were the most by a Titans/Oilers defender in a season, surpassing Stephen Tulloch's 160 tackles in 2010. Tackle statistics compiled by Titans coaches were published in the team's record books for many of those seasons and differed from press box/GSIS totals.

DL DENICO AUTRY

Led the Titans and set a career high with 11.5 sacks in 2023.
His 11.5 sacks in 2023 tied for the 10th-best total for the franchise since individual sacks became an official statistic in 1982. It tied for the sixth-best total for the franchise in its "Titans era," which began in 1999.
His 11.5 sacks tied for the NFL's 12th-ranked total through the afternoon games of Jan. 7.
Participated in 17 games in a season for the second time in his career.

DL QUINTON BOHANNA

Credited with a game-saving stop on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter. He helped stymie Trevor Lawrence's quarterback sneak from the one-yard line, preserving the lead and the eventual win for the Titans.

C AARON BREWER

Finished the season with starts in all 17 games. It was his second consecutive season to accomplish the feat.

S TERRELL EDMUNDS

Registered four tackles, one interception and one special teams tackle.
Recorded his first interception of the season and the sixth interception of his career in the second quarter, picking off a Trevor Lawrence The takeaway led to a Titans touchdown on the ensuing possession. It was his first interception since 2021 as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

K NICK FOLK

Made all four extra points against the Jaguars without attempting a field goal.
Finished the season with 29 field goals on 30 attempts. His career-best 96.7 percent accuracy on field goals led the NFL in 2023 and tied for the 14th-best single-season mark in NFL history.
His 96.7 percent accuracy on field goals also established a new franchise record for a single season. Al Del Greco set the previous Titans/Oilers benchmark in 1998 with 36 successful field goals on 39 attempts for a rate of 92.3 percent. In 2010, Rob Bironas matched Del Greco's percentage by making 24 of his 26 attempts.
At the conclusion of the season, he had an active all-time NFL-record streak of 78 consecutive field goals made on attempts from less than 40 yards.

RB DERRICK HENRY

Rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown on 19 attempts. His 8.1-yard rushing average ranked fifth in his career for a game in which he totaled at least 19 carries.
Finished the season with starts in all 17 games, marking his first time playing or starting in 17 games in a season.
Registered his 41st total 100-yard rushing game, including regular season (38) and playoffs (three). He surpassed Earl Campbell (40) for the most such games in franchise history. His 38th such regular-season game is one game behind Campbell (39) for the franchise record.
Notched his 13th career game with at least 150 rushing yards. His 13 such games rank ninth among all NFL players in the Super Bowl era (1966 to present) behind Barry Sanders (25), Walter Payton (20), Adrian Peterson (19), Eric Dickerson (18), Emmitt Smith (18), J. Simpson (16), LaDainian Tomlinson (16) and Earl Campbell (14).
It also was his 13th career game with at least 150 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, tied with Eric Dickerson (13 games), Emmitt Smith (13) and Adrian Peterson (13) for the fourth-most ever by a player in his first eight seasons. Only Jim Brown (18 games), LaDainian Tomlinson (16) and J. Simpson (15) had more.
Registered his seventh game of 2023 with 100 or more scrimmage yards and his 49th career game (regular season) with 100-plus scrimmage yards. In franchise history, only Eddie George (54) has more.
Scored on an 18-yard run in the second quarter. It was his 12th rushing touchdown of the season and the 90th rushing touchdown of his career. He tied Eric Dickerson (90) and Curtis Martin (90) for the 13th-highest rushing touchdown total in NFL history.
Became the fourth player in NFL history with at least 90 rushing touchdowns in his first eight career seasons, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (126), Emmitt Smith (112) and Shaun Alexander (100).
Rushed for a 69-yard gain in the third quarter, giving him his longest rushing attempt since a 76-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 18, 2021. It was his 10th career rushing attempt of at least 60 yards.
Finished the season with 280 carries for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns. He recorded his fourth career season with at least 1,100 rushing yards.
Tallied his fifth career season in which he scored at least 12 rushing touchdowns, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (seven), Emmitt Smith (six), Adrian Peterson (five), Shaun Alexander (five) and Jim Brown (five) as the only players in NFL history with five such seasons.
Became the fourth player in NFL history to record at least five career seasons in which he rushed for at least 1,000 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. LaDainian Tomlinson and Emmitt Smith each achieved the feat six times, and Shaun Alexander did so on five occasions.
Finished the season without fumbling on 280 carries. It was the first season of his career in which he was not credited with a single fumble. Henry became the fifth NFL player since 1995 to record at least 280 rushing attempts in a season and not fumble, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (2007), Ray Rice (2010), Le'Veon Bell (2014) and Najee Harris (2021).
Increased his career totals to 2,030 rushing attempts for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns. On the NFL's all-time career rushing list, his 9,502 yards moved him past Earl Campbell (9,407 career rushing yards) and Shaun Alexander (9,407) for 35th place. The next player in front of Henry on the all-time rushing list is Chris Johnson, who totaled 9,651 yards with the Titans, Jets and Cardinals. In passing Alexander, Henry became the all-time leading rusher among players who went to the NFL from the University of Alabama.
Ranks second behind Eddie George (10,009 rushing yards) on the Titans/Oilers franchise all-time rushing list.
Leads the NFL in rushing yards (9,502) and rushing touchdowns (90) since entering the NFL in 2016.

WR DeANDRE HOPKINS

Led the team with seven receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown.
Scored on a six-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill in the third quarter. It was his seventh touchdown catch of 2023 and the 78th touchdown catch of his career.
Extended his active streak to 162 consecutive games with a reception—every game he has played since he entered the NFL. He owns the third-longest such streak to begin a career in NFL history behind only Marvin Harrison (190 consecutive games) and Keyshawn Johnson (167).
Registered his 62nd career game with at least seven receptions. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, his 62 such games rank ninth among all players. Among active players, only Davante Adams (63) has more.
Appeared in all 17 games in 2023, marking the first time in his career doing so.
Led the team in 2023 with 75 receptions, 1,057 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. It was Hopkins' fifth career season in which he finished with at least 75 catches, 1,0000 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
Recorded the seventh season in franchise history in which a player recorded at least 75 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. The only other Titans/Oilers players to accomplish the feat were Charlie Hennigan (1961 and 1964), Haywood Jeffires (1991), Derrick Mason (2003 and 2004) and Drew Bennett (2004).
Produced the team's first 75-catch season since tight end Delanie Walker in 2015 (94).
Finished the 2023 season tied with Antonio Brown for 21st place in NFL history with 928 career receptions. His 12,355 career receiving yards rank 23rd all-time, and his 78 touchdown receptions rank 35th in history.

OLB HAROLD LANDRY III

Played in his 17th game of the season after missing the entire 2022 campaign due to injury.
Finished 2023 ranked second on the team with 10.5 sacks, producing his second-best career total (12 sacks in 2021). He became the NFL's third veteran player since 1982 to miss an entire NFL season and come back the next year to record at least 10 sacks. The only previous players to do so were a pair of New Orleans Saints: Joe Johnson in 2000 (12 sacks) and Charlie Clemons in 2001 (13.5 sacks).
His 9.5 sacks from Week 6 to Week 18 tied for the ninth-best total in the NFL, and his 13 tackles for loss over the same span tied for sixth-best total (through the afternoon games of Jan. 7).

CB ROGER McCREARY

Ranked second on the defense with nine tackles and added a pass defensed.

DB ELIJAH MOLDEN

Tallied six tackles and added a pass defensed.
Dropped Zay Jones for a four-yard gain on fourth-and-seven to end a Jacksonville drive in the third quarter.

WR CHRIS MOORE

Caught three passes for 30 yards.
Averaged 19.3 yards per reception in 2023, totaling 424 yards on 22 catches. His reception and yardage totals both ranked second for his career.
His 19.3-yard receiving average in 2023 led the NFL among all players with at least 20 receptions. The number was the 11th-best average in Titans/Oilers history among players with a minimum of 20 receptions.

CB SEAN MURPHY-BUNTING

Produced one interception, eight tackles and one tackle for loss.
Intercepted his second pass of the season, picking off Trevor Lawrence in the second quarter. His two interceptions in 2023 led the Titans defense.
Registered his second consecutive season with a pair of interceptions after accomplishing the feat in 2022 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

TE CHIG OKONKWO

Caught two passes for 36 yards, including a 21-yard gain on a screen pass in the first quarter.
Finished the 2023 season with 54 receptions for 528 yards and one touchdown. He ranked second on the team in receptions and receiving yards.

WR KYLE PHILIPS

Caught two passes for 15 yards. Both receptions occurred in the fourth quarter and both converted third downs.

LB OTIS REESE IV

Registered three tackles and also tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles.

RB TYJAE SPEARS

Totaled 66 scrimmage yards. He rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown on three attempts and added 41 yards and a score on three receptions.
Registered his first career game with two total touchdowns and his first career game with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown. He was the team's first player with a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game since Derrick Henry at the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3, 2019.
Took a pass from Ryan Tannehill and raced 28 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was the first touchdown reception of his rookie season.
Converted a third-and-two in the second quarter with a 22-yard run.
Rushed for a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was his second career rushing touchdown.
Finished the season with 838 scrimmage yards, including 453 rushing yards and 385 receiving yards. His 838 scrimmage yards ranked seventh in franchise history among rookie running backs.
His 838 scrimmage yards ranked fourth among rookie running backs in 2023 behind Atlanta's Bijan Robinson, Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs and Miami's De'Von Achane.
With 52 receptions in 2023, he became the franchise's first rookie running back with at least 50 receptions since Sid Blanks in 1964 (56).

P RYAN STONEHOUSE

Although he missed the final five games of the season on injured reserve, he averaged a league-high 53.06 yards per punt in 2023. His 53 attempts (2,812 yards) qualify him for the single-season charts, and as a result, he owns the top two single-season punting averages in NFL history: 53.10 yards in 2022 and 53.06 yards in 2023.
Became the first player in history to lead the NFL in gross punting average in each of his first two NFL seasons.

QB RYAN TANNEHILL

Completed 17 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Improved his career starting record in the regular season and playoffs to 83-73, including a 41-27 record with the Titans since joining the team in 2019 (39-24 regular season, 2-3 postseason).
Completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Tyjae Spears in the first quarter and a six-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins in the third quarter. He increased his 2023 total to four touchdown passes and improved his career total to 216 touchdown passes.
Delivered a 21-yard pass to Chig Okonkwo in the first quarter.
Among the franchise's all-time career passing leaders, he ranks first in passer rating (97.8), first in completion percentage (66.6), fifth in passing yards (14,447) and fifth in passing touchdowns (93).

S K'VON WALLACE