Tennessee Titans Coach Mike Mularkey does not believe in cushions after seeing too many of them disappear during his NFL career, but his side built an impressive one in a 36-22 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.
The Titans (4-4) scored on their last five possessions of the first half to take a 27-0 lead into the break.
“When we came out at the half, it was the full game plan. Nothing was going to change because I’ve been around long enough to know: Don’t get comfortable,” Mularkey said.
Photo: AFP
Marcus Mariota, who completed 18 of 22 passes with two touchdowns, looked comfortable, passing for 270 yards, and DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards.
“I think today was probably the first time all three phases played a complete game, and you know what, that’s all you can really ask for,” Mariota said.
Tennessee moved a half-game behind the Houston Texans (4-3) in the AFC South.
The loss puts more pressure on Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who fell to 14-41 in his fourth season. The Jaguars (2-5) began the season with high expectations due to an improved roster.
Bradley downplayed the scrutiny on his job status.
“No, I worry about this team and why did we perform like that in the first half and figuring out, ‘OK, how can we get it right?’” Bradley said. “There’s always solutions.”
It was a rare home win for Mariota, who improved to 3-8 at Nissan Stadium.
Murray rushed for one touchdown on 21 carries.
Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles completed 33 of 54 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two