Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley called Sunday’s 42-39 loss to Tennessee Jacksonville’s most complete game of the season offensively. The stats support his enthusiasm.
Quarterback Blake Bortles was 24 of 36 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. A franchise-record 27 TD passes this season. He passed David Garrard who had 23 in 2010.
“I’d definitely rather win and break the franchise record for wins,” Bortles said following the loss to the Jaguars’ AFC South rival. Tennessee snapped an 11-game home losing streak by scoring twice in 44 seconds late in the final quarter.
With 7:46 to play in the game, a high snap over Bortles’ head was returned by linebacker Wesley Woodyard three yards for a score, giving the Titans a 42-32 advantage.
But Allen Robinson caught his third TD pass of the game from Bortles to cut the deficit to 42-39. Robinson made 10 catches for 153 yards. Robinson now has 11 TDs this season, and he is the Jaguars’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Jimmy Smith in 2005.
Rashad Greene and Julius Thomas each caught TD passes. Rookie running back T.J. Yeldon rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries with one TD and caught four passes for 79 yards.
The visitors sacked Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota four times and forced two turnovers they turned into 14 points. Mariota completed 20 of 29 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He rushed 112 yards and on nine carries including an 87-yard TD.
Mariota’s TD run put the Titans ahead to stay. He also became the first NFL player to throw for more than 250 yards, run for 100 yards or more and throw three TD passes in a game.
According to the sports statistical service STATS Jacksonville and Tennessee combined for six touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone, tying for the second-most TDs in a fourth quarter since 1940. Only Chicago and Detroit combined for more fourth-quarter TDs with seven in 2007.
TENNESSEE GAME NOTES – Jaguars cornerback Davon House set a career high with his third interception this season… Tennessee was nearing an NFL record of 14 straight home losses…the Titans’ last home win was 16-14 over Jacksonville in 2014… Jacksonville middle linebacker Paul Posluszny had a game-high 10 tackles… The Jaguars’ defense allowed 467 yards in total offense to the Titans… Tennessee outscored Jacksonville 21-20 in the fourth quarter… The Jaguars were ranked 30th in the NFL in red-zone success, but went six-for-six against Tennessee… A Jaguars’ win would have been a season sweep of Tennessee for the first time since 2005… Jaguars’ defensive end Tyson Alualu caught a 16-yard pass.
HURNS TO RETURN - Allen Hurns, the Jacksonville’s second-leading receiver has been cleared from the concussion protocol program. Hurns has caught 48 passes for 758 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Hurns sustained the injury against San Diego. The Jaguars have placed running back Toby Gerhart (groin) on injured reserve and promoted receiver Rashad Lawrence from the practice squad. Gerhart played in seven games this season, rushing 20 times for 44 yards and catching three passes for 23 yards. They also signed third-year linebacker Joplo Bartu and placed fourth-year running back Bernard Pierce on the reserve/injured list.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES – Jaguars kicker Jason Myers has missed two extra points on Sunday and three in the last two games for a total of six this season. The rookie out of Marist has converted 22 of 26 field goals this season, and except for a miss from 26 yards against Baltimore he has made all of his field-goal attempts since missing two game-winners at Indianapolis on Oct. 4.
UP NEXT - Jacksonville finishes its home schedule with games against Indianapolis and Atlanta during the next two weeks. The Jaguars (4-8) will play the Colts (6-6) at Everbank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
