The good, the bad, and the ugly from the Titans' 33-30 win over the Jaguars
The Tennessee Titans are 2-0 for the first time in 12 years!
After kicking the winning field goal on Monday night in Denver, Stephan Gostkowski did it again in Week 2, this time from 49 yards out to give the Titans a 33-30 win over division rivals Jacksonville.
The Titans - even if the Houston Texans win - will head into week three atop the AFC South. My thoughts, reactions, and musings after Vrabel and the boys held off Uncle Rico (Gardner Minshew) and the Jags.
The Good
- QB Ryan Tannehill was, in a word, stunning Sunday afternoon. He was 18 of 24 for 239 yards, and four touchdowns. Although Ryan wasn't great last week, he didn't have to be to win the game.
This week with Derrick Henry slowed by the Jags for the first time in recent memory (25 carries for 84 yards), Tannehill linked up with Jonnu Smith, Corey Davis, and Adam Humphries all game. Jonnu got it started with a couple of long catches and a couple of touchdowns while Humphries played the role of closer scoring on a great pass and catch from 18 yards out.
- As I mentioned above, Jonnu Smith had a career outing. He had two catches, 76 yards, and a touchdown on the opening drive and ended the game four catches for 84 and two TD's.
He lined up at running back with Darrynton Evans still on the mend and ran the halfback screen pass route expertly on a couple of occasions. Smith is filling the tight end position that Delanie Walker vacated with ease at the moment.
- It wasn't perfect the second week after a terrible first week, but kicker Stephan Gostkowski deserves tons of credit for helping Tennessee win this game. His missed extra point gave Jacksonville a path back into the contest, but the 51-yard kick he hit and the game-winner from 49-yards were clutch and made with ease.
We will over look the shanked extra point since Josh Lambo did the same for the Jags, so, it was a confidence building performance for Gostkowski. It was very much-needed!
The Bad
- Flat out, the Titans defense was miserable. If this team thinks they are ready to make a run at the Super Bowl giving up 30 points and over 300 yards passing to Gardner Minshew, they are dead wrong.
The Jags looked confident with the ball all game and the most telling stat of that I think is that they went 10 of 14 on third down. Minshew, along with rookie running back James Robinson exposed some weak points in the Titan defense that need to addressed this week.
- The offensive didn't commit many penalties, but struggles to create holes. King Henry reached 4,000 career yards today, but Henry has had tremendous success against the team from Florida since he was a rookie.
Today, the O-line just couldn't get any leverage. Henry finished with 25 carries for 84 yards. That's for a total of 56 attempts and 200 yards.
The Ugly
- This is a game the Titans should be closing out and winning by double digits. Easily. After Humphries caught the touchdown pass to put the Titans up 30-17 late in the third quester, the offense became far too conservative in the fourth and seemed to be content running the clock out.
Take the shots and try to get more points! Show some at least a little faith in your defense (even if they weren't that great today).
In Conclusion
The Titans are 2-0 for the first time since 2008 and have now beaten the Jaguars at home for seven consecutive seasons. 33 points and the start from the offense is encouraging, but let's make it 3-0!
The Titans travel north to face the Vikings next week and Minnesota was soundly beaten by Indianapolis today 28-11 and are now 0-2. If the Titans can start the season with a third win, the city of Nashville will not know what to do!
