JACKSONVILLE – All defense all the time.
And a touch of the running game, too.
That was the Jaguars' formula for the second consecutive week. But with an ineffective passing offense and three turnovers, the formula wasn't close to enough in a 37-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon in front of 61,709 at EverBank Field in the 2017 regular-season home opener.
The loss left the Jaguars in a tie with the Houston Texans and the Titans for first place in the AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts' game with Arizona was undecided as of this writing.
The Jaguars allowed the Titans 390 total yards offense, and finished with 310 total yards. The Jaguars' offense also committed three turnovers, and the Titans scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives over the third and fourth quarters.
Jaguars rookie running back Leonard Fournette was the early offensive focal point for a second consecutive week. He rushed for 33 yards on 13 first-half carries, but just seven yards after that.
The Jaguars also committed their first three turnovers of the season, with quarterback Blake Bortles losing a second-quarter fumble and throwing a second-quarter interception off a deflected pass. He also was intercepted off a deflected pass on the first drive of the second half.
A staunch Jaguars defense kept the game close at halftime, with a field goal on the final play of the half giving the Titans a 6-3 lead. The Titans pushed the lead to six midway through the third quarter, then pushed the lead to 23-3 with a pair of late third-quarter touchdowns.
The Jaguars, after registering a franchise-record 10 sacks in the regular-season opener against Houston last week, registered one sack on Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Mariota completed 15 of 27 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Bortles completed 20 of 34 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
Step by step:
*The Jaguars' defense forced a three-and-out on the game's first possession, with the offense driving 51 yards for a 43-yard field goal by kicker Jason Myers and a 3-0 lead on the ensuing possession. A 40-yard field goal by Tennessee kicker Ryan Succop made it 3-3 with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter.
*The teams exchanged takeaways in a key second-quarter stretch, with Titans defensive end Brian Orakpo beating left tackle Cam Robinson for a strip/sack that linebacker Erik Walden recovered at the Jaguars 39. Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith intercepted Mariota at the Jaguars 14 on the ensuing possession. The Jaguars drove to the Tennessee 27 before safety Curtis Riley intercepted a deflected pass by Bortles to end the drive. Succop's 41-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 6-3, Titans.
*Bortles was intercepted on the first drive of the second half, and the Jaguars' defense again held the Titans to a field goal – this one a 26-yarder by Succop. The offense at that point had turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions with the defense allowing just six points on the three series. After a 46-yard punt return later in the quarter, Titans running back Derrick Henry's 17-yard run pushed the Titans lead to 16-3. Tight end Delanie Walker's 1-yard run late in the third quarter made it 23-3, Tennessee.
*The Titans pushed the lead to 30-3 with a 32-yard pass from Mariota to tight end Jonnu Smith early in the fourth quarter before Fournette's 1-yard run with 7:12 remaining cut the lead to 30-9. Titans fullback Jalston Fowler's three-yard run with 4:14 remaining made it 37-9, Titans.
Notable:With wide receiver Allen Robinson out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns started at wide receiver for the Jaguars. Hurns moved into the slot early in the game when the Jaguars went to three wide receivers; rookie Keelan Cole and Lee were the outside receivers in that situation. … When Bortles lost a fumble in the second quarter, it marked his 12th such play in the last three seasons. … When the Jaguars forced a three-and-out on the Titans' first possession, it marked the second consecutive week the defense had done so. … Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey started and played Sunday after not practicing this past week because of an ankle injury. …
Injury report:Jaguars linebacker Lerentee McCray sustained a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return; Jaguars defensive takle Malik Jackson sustained a groin injury late in the third quarter. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett (pectoral) left in the fourth quarter and did not return. … Jaguars inactives Sunday: Running back T.J. Yeldon, cornerback Jalen Myrick, safety Calvin Pryor, linebacker Blair Brown, offensive lineman Josh Walker, offensive lineman William Poehls and defensive tackle Sheldon Day; Pryor had been ruled out Friday with an ankle injury and Yeldon practiced full all week with a hamstring injury.
What's next: The Jaguars are scheduled to play host to the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London Sunday at 1 p.m.
