, including 87 in the final two quarters. Starting running back DeMarco Murray spent much of the second half standing on the sideline and wearing a baseball cap backward, seemingly uninjured. There was no need to risk him in this one, the third consecutive lopsided score in the series. Marcus Mariota, returning to the place where he broke his right leg last December, completed 15 of 27 passes for 215 yards. He had a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith in the final quarter. Tennessee's performance surely eased some concerns about a 10-point home loss to Oakland in the opener. Jacksonville's home opener felt eerily similar to most of the team's performances the previous five years: Lackluster offense and mistakes all over the field. Blake Bortles threw two interceptions, including one on a ball tipped at the line, and fumbled once. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown to Allen Hurns in the closing minutes. Much of Bortles' yardage came in garbage time. Rookie Leonard Fournette scored for the second time in as many games, but this one came with the game out of reach. Tennessee led 30-3 before Fournette found the end zone. Fournette finished with 40 yards on 14 carries. The Jaguars (1-1) enjoyed a near-perfect opener at Houston. Fournette ran the ball with authority behind a surprisingly stout offensive line. Bortles played sack- and turnover-free football for just the second time in 45 career starts. And the defense allowed 203 yards, forced four turnovers and had 10 sacks. Jacksonville looked nothing like that against Tennessee. And coach Doug Marrone's smash-mouth style became a non-factor once the Titans went up by double digits. The team's biggest issues were turnovers (three) and penalties (10). Tennessee scored on its first five possessions of the second half - a field goal and four touchdowns. INJURIESTitans rookie receiver Corey Davis injured a hamstring. Fellow receiver Taywan Taylor injured his left ankle on punt coverage in the second quarter, but later returned. Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson left the game with a groin injury in the third quarter. Linebacker Lerentee McCray injured a knee in the third and did not return. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett left the game with a pectoral injury. CHIPPYJaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey got a little chippy after Walker's 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Ramsey pushed Walker after he was in the end zone and was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Several players exchanged words as Mariota grabbed Ramsey and whispered something into this ear. UP NEXTThe Titans host Seattle next Sunday. Tennessee has lost six of the past seven in the series. The Jaguars travel to London to play Baltimore. It will be Jacksonville's sixth consecutive season playing at Wembley Stadium, the most of any NFL team. The Jaguars have won the past two, both thanks to huge plays late from Hurns. ---For more NFL coverage: http://www. pro32. ap. org and http://www. twitter. com/-NFL)
Sep 13, 2017 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars went through a quarterback competition, broke in a rookie running back and reconfigured their offensive line during a turbulent preseason. But after a dominant victory in Week 1, concern about the offense has largely been replaced with optimism their defense could be ready to make a serious impact. Looking to earn a second division win in as many weeks, the Jaguars have no problem leaning on that group when they host the Tennessee Titans and their talented offense Sunday at EverBank Field. "Guys came in and went right back to work," Jacksonville linebacker Telvin Smith said. "We're truly ready to get out there and keep pushing each other and see how far we can take this thing. " The Jaguars had a hectic week due to the impact of Hurricane Irma, which swept through much of Florida on Sunday and into Monday. The team remained in Houston until Tuesday and worked out at an area YMCA to stay sharp while waiting to get back to their normal routine. Maybe the only part of the weekend that went according to plan was the three hours they spent beating up on Houston during a convincing 29-7 victory last week. More specifically, how veteran defensive end Calais Campbell led a ferocious unit. Campbell, who signed a four-year, $60 million deal in free agency, had four of a franchise-record 10 sacks against the Texans and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. As part of the overwhelming effort, the Jaguars forced four turnovers, including a fumble that was returned by defensive end Dante Fowler for a 53-yard touchdown -- a stunning performance considering only Chicago had fewer takeaways last season. "They played extremely well," Titans coach Mike Mularkey said after watching film of the Jaguars' defense. "(They were) relentless and very well-coordinated. Not a lot of guys out of place. It was very impressive. " Now the question: Can the Jaguars' defense keep it up? Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is one of the best young passers in the league, but he had an underwhelming opener during a 26-16 loss to Oakland and will be looking to bounce back. Mariota finished without a passing touchdown despite an offseason overhaul that included signing veteran receiver Eric Decker and selecting Corey Davis fifth overall to help ignite a struggling passing attack that includes receiver Rishard Matthews and tight end Delanie Walker. Mariota accounted for Tennessee's lone touchdown on a 10-yard scramble during the first quarter. From there, the Titans mustered just three field goals in the final three quarters. "We didn't do a good job (scoring touchdowns in the red zone) in Week 1," Walker said. "In Week 2, that's one thing we have to make sure we do a lot better. We have to put points on board, and I don't mean field goals. I mean touchdowns. " Although their defense looks to be excellent, the Jaguars still have question marks on offense. Quarterback Blake Bortles, who briefly lost his starting job to Chad Henne during the preseason, will be without his favorite receiver for the remainder of the season. Allen Robinson suffered a torn ACL on the Jaguars' first possession of the season and has been placed on injured reserve. Robinson had a disappointing season a year ago, but the fourth-year receiver caught 14 touchdowns and had 1,400 receiving yards in 2015 and was expected to get back to that level of play. "Allen is a special player -- everybody knows that," Bortles said. "The preseason, the camp he's had, what kind of talent he is. He's an unbelievable playmaker and a really good teammate. (A) great guy to have around, so it's going to hurt. " Without Robinson, rookie running back Leonard Fournette could be asked to shoulder an even heavier load. The fourth overall pick looked the part against the Texans, running for 100 yards on 26 carries and scoring his first touchdown on a powerful fourth-down run in the second quarter. The Titans will also be trying to get their ground game going to take pressure off of Mariota. Against the Raiders, starter DeMarco Murray was held to 44 yards on 12 carries and Derrick Henry gained 25 yards on six carries. Their task could be even more difficult against the Jaguars, who enter Week 2 first in the league in total defense.
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