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Final analysis: The experts on Titans-Jaguars

final-analysis

JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2022 season, Jaguars "experts" – Tony Boselli, Bucky Brooks, Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton and J.P. Shadrick – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Up this week:

Tony Boselli, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars left tackle

  • The Jaguars will win if:They start fast offensively and take Henry out of the game to make the Titans one-dimensional. The Jaguars will have to have a big day through the air against one of the best run defenses in the NFL. If they can get a two-possession lead in this game. that will limit the effectiveness of Henry and force the Titans to play a style of offense they are not equipped to play.
  • The Titans will win if: They can win the turnover margin and turn it into an ugly, physical close game. The Titans' only chance is to steal a couple possessions and lean heavily on Henry. They can not afford to play from behind and force Dobbs to win the game for them.
  • As Boselli sees it:This is a great opportunity for the Jaguars to establish the new King of the AFC South. They are the better team, and if they play their style of game they will walk away with this game. But it is the Titans, and it is always hard to win a division championship. It will be closer than it should be going into half time, but the Jaguars behind a huge day from Lawrence will pull away to win, 27-10

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

  • The Jaguars will win if: They contain Henry and make Dobbs beat them. The Titans obviously will want to lean on Henry. The Jaguars must protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence against a very good – and now healthy – pass rush. The Jaguars must not get too caught up in the moment; this is a big, big game with a big crowd. They must stay calm and keep doing what they have been doing.
  • The Titans will win if: They win first down with Henry and keep Dobbs from having to win the game by himself. He has barely played in the NFL, so Tennessee must stay ahead of the chains. They must harass Lawrence; if he has time in the pocket, it will be tough for Tennessee against the Jags' trio of outstanding receivers and star running back, Travis Etienne Jr.. The Titans must stay in the game early and try to take a crazy crowd out of it.
  • As Frangie sees it: The Jags have the better team. We haven't been able to say that often when the opponent is the Titans, but Jacksonville is better. But Tennessee knows how to play, is tough, is regaining some previously injured players, and will always be a tough out. They also have everything to play for. The Jags must take advantage of a raucous crowd, start well and keep the crowd in it. The Jags are better and are at home. That is a good combination.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end

  • The Jaguars will win if: Lawrence is on his game much like he was on his game in Tennessee. The Titans are formidable against the run and it would be great if running back Travis Etienne Jr. has a great night, but Lawrence will have to be in command. 
  • The Titans will win if: They can turn the game into a physical, low-scoring affair with Henry controlling the tempo. Henry doesn't have a cape but he's capable of superhuman things. 
  • As Lageman sees it: This is the biggest game in Jaguars history. A chance at a winning record, playoff berth, prime time, division rival and to be king of the south(AFC South) makes this a must see. Great opportunity for a team that has earned everything and it has been a pleasure watching this team under the leadership of Doug Pederson. 
    It will be an incredible night that will be remembered forever in Jaguars folklore!

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

  • The Jaguars will win if: They take care of the football and win first and second down on defense. That's it. Game over if they accomplish those two things. The Jaguars must put the Titans' offense in passing situations and playing from ahead will also neutralize Henry.
  • The Titans will win if: Henry has over 150 total yards and they win the turnover margin by two or more. The Titans are undermanned and just not playing good football right now. They still have one of the NFL's most dominant players in Henry. If he delivers another memorable performance against the Jaguars, Tennessee has a chance.
  • As Martineau sees it: I think people are thinking this will be a blowout and I don't agree. The Titans will bring their best performance of the last two months, but it won't be enough. The Jaguars are the better team right now and will win the AFC South 30-20 over Tennessee.

John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer

  • The Jaguars will win if: They stay in the moment and stop Henry. This is the biggest game of most of the Jaguars' NFL careers, and poise will be key. If the Jaguars stop Henry, that will put the Titans in bad down-and-distance situations. That will put undue pressure on quarterback Joshua Dobbs in his second career NFL start.
  • The Titans will win if: The get an early lead. The Jaguars are the better team right now and the better offense. The quicker they can get a lead, the more pressure they will put on Dobbs to make plays downfield. That scenario would give the Jaguars a major advantage. The Titans don't feel like a comeback team right now.
  • As Oehser sees it: This feels like a similar matchup to the Jaguars last two games, with the Jaguars having the superior quarterback. The Jaguars are the better team and should win if they stay mistake-free. The danger is playing too tight and not playing well because of the circumstances. These Jaguars don't feel like that sort of team.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

  • The Jaguars will win if: They score early and often. The Titans' offense is limited without injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill and departed wide receiver AJ Brown, now with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's the Derrick Henry Show – and while that's impressive, the veteran running back's not likely to be enough. They Titans are averaging 15 points over their current six-game losing streak; the Jaguars are averaging 28 points per game while going 5-1 over the same stretch.
  • The Titans will win if: The Jaguars turn the ball over. The Jaguars turned the ball over twice in a 31-3 victory over Houston Sunday, but the game was out of reach when those giveaways happened. If they give the Titans a short field or extra possession, they'll keep the game closer than necessary. The Titans would love a close, low-scoring affair. The Jaguars must not give it to them.
  • As Sexton sees it: The Jaguars will win – maybe big. They're playing well in all three phases at the right time of the year. The Titans are injured and limping into the final week of the season, and are missing key players on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars will take advantage of a huge crowd and bright lights and not just claim the AFC South title but slam the door on the Titans on their way out of TIAA Bank Field.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter

  • The Jaguars will win if: They get an early lead, take the ball out of the hands of Henry and force the Titans to throw through Dobbs. An early score or two would also ignite an already geared-up crowd.
  • The Titans will win if: They get two-to-three takeaways and run effectively. If this game is tight into the fourth quarter, that's the best Tennessee can hope for. The Jaguars have won a lot of games like this lately, but this would be a long, white-knuckle night for Jags fans.
  • As Shadrick sees it: These are two teams going opposite directions, but the Jaguars must finish the job to see this second-half run through. The Jaguars were 3-7 after the Week 11 bye and four games back in the division with plenty of questions, but Head Coach Doug Pederson's message remained consistent that all the team's goals were still attainable. Credit the players for not packing in and getting ready for a January Cancun trip in November; they battled in the second half, played better football and continued to believe. The Titans are on the brink of an all-time collapse from a 7-3 start to 7-9 after a six-game losing skid. This feels like the Jaguars' time to turn the corner and run the AFC South for the foreseeable future – but let's just start with this season.

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