In a match that was widely billed as unwatchable, Jacksonville provided most of the highlights in a 21-13 win over Tennessee in Thursday’s game between two NFL also-rans.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles revived a stagnant offense, completing 13 of 26 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, a 4-yard pass to Marcedes Lewis that got Jacksonville going late in the second quarter after a poor start.
Jordan Todman’s 62-yard run then put the Jaguars ahead for good.
He juked one defender and stiff-armed another in his first carry of the night, and his first score of the season.
However, Sen’Derrick Marks’ sack was the most rewarding.
With the Titans driving, Marks sacked Charlie Whitehurst on the final play.
It gave him 8 1/2 sacks for the season, triggering a US$600,000 bonus in his contract.
He stood up and rubbed his fingers together before getting mobbed by teammates near midfield.
The Jaguars (3-12) won for the second time in four weeks, providing a late fillip to a disappointing season and encouragement for next year.
Tennessee (2-13) lost its ninth consecutive game and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 draft pick.
The Titans were led by third-string quarterback Whitehurst, who completed all six of his passes and capped an 84-yard drive on the Titans’ first possession with an 8-yard scoring pass to Leon Washington.
The Titans picked up more points midway through the second quarter.
On third-and-18, Whitehurst found Kendall Wright in soft coverage over the middle for a 13-yard gain that enabled Ryan Succop to kick a 50-yard field goal.
At that point, the Titans had a 179-16 advantage in yards, but the contest soon turned around.
Bortles led the hosts on an 80-yard drive at the end of the first half, ending it with a 1-yard pass to tight end Lewis in the left corner of the end zone.
Jacksonville got the ball to start the second half, and Bortles found Marquise Lee on a 34-yard catch-and-run on third-and 7.
After two more completions, Jacksonville went to some trickery with a backward to Cecil Shorts III, who then threw across the field to Todman to the 9.
It looked as if the Jaguars would have to settle for a tying field goal when Bortles scrambled down the sideline to the 2 on third-and-goal.
However, Titans linebacker Avery Williamson was called for holding, giving the Jaguars another chance and Toby Gerhart ran in from the 1 on the next play.
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