Titans-Jaguars Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Titans-Jaguars

SCOUTING REPORT

Titans-Jaguars: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Titans-Jaguars matchup. 1. To take pressure off Kerry Collins, the Titans must get the run going effectively: Collins can effectively manage a team with a controlled passing game as long as the ground game is successful. He is a good play-action passer but when teams don't respect the Titans' ground game -- and thus devote extra defenders into coverage -- he can struggle. Tennessee will want to pass the ball at their convenience, not when down and distance dictate.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
TEN	4-6	209	272	2-2	2-4	2-3	3-6
JAC	6-4	199	235	4-1	2-3	2-2	5-2
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Collin... 54.8 1071 5 8 Young 65.7 507 2 2

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 61.8 2303 8 6 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 170 1091 6.4 8 White 59 204 3.5 1

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 194 926 4.8 13 Garrar... 50 218 4.4 2

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 22 351 16.0 0 Gage 22 302 13.7 1

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 47 694 14.8 6 Holt 38 516 13.6 0

Full Player Stats: Tennessee | Jacksonville

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	TEN	332.0
	JAC	354.0
Yards Passing	TEN	170.2
	JAC	217.7
Yards Rushing	TEN	161.8
	JAC	136.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	TEN	379.8
	JAC	356.1
Pass Yds Allowed	TEN	270.4
	JAC	244.0
Rush Yds Allowed	TEN	109.3
	JAC	112.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Tennessee leads 11-7
Nov 16, 2008	TEN 24, JAC 14
Sep 7, 2008	TEN 17, @JAC 10
Nov 11, 2007	TEN 13, @JAC 28
Sep 9, 2007	TEN 13, JAC 10
Dec 17, 2006	TEN 24, @JAC 17
Nov 5, 2006	TEN 7, JAC 37
Jan 1, 2006	TEN 13, JAC 40
Nov 20, 2005	TEN 28, @JAC 31
Nov 21, 2004	TEN 18, JAC 15
Sep 26, 2004	TEN 12, @JAC 15
Nov 16, 2003	TEN 10, @JAC 3
Oct 26, 2003	TEN 30, JAC 17
Dec 22, 2002	TEN 28, JAC 10
Oct 13, 2002	TEN 23, @JAC 14
Nov 4, 2001	TEN 28, @JAC 24
Sep 23, 2001	TEN 6, JAC 13

It took 11 games last season for the Tennessee Titans to lose. Three weeks into this season, that's all they've done.

Having already matched their regular-season loss total from 2008, the Titans again try to snap out of the early funk Sunday when they visit the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tennessee won its first 10 games last year en route to a league-best and franchise record-tying 13-3 finish before a disheartening loss to Baltimore in the divisional round of the playoffs.

To even have a chance to make a deeper run in the postseason this winter, Tennessee (0-3) will need to overcome a very slow start. After a promising performance in the opener ended with a 13-10 overtime loss at defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, the Titans have dropped their last two by a combined 10 points.

Tennessee fell 24-17 on the road against the New York Jets last Sunday for its sixth loss in its last nine regular-season games. The Titans committed four turnovers and had their last two potential game-tying drives end with an interception and a turnover on downs.

Kerry Collins' final 13 pass attempts were incomplete as he finished 15 of 37 for 170 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His four picks match the same number he had during Tennessee's 10-0 start last season, but Collins said he'll do everything in his power to keep the team together through the early adversity.

"That's the only thing we can do," Collins said. "It's certainly frustrating, I think everybody's frustrated, but we have to come back to work. We can't be fazed by it. We have to come back and try to get a win next week. That's the situation we're in, and we have to deal with that and move on."

While the season started with expectations of a third consecutive trip to the postseason, coach Jeff Fisher says he isn't thinking beyond Jacksonville (1-2).

"It's not the division, it's not playoffs," Fisher said. "It's just win a game, win a game."

Fisher's club has had some success doing that against the Jaguars lately. The Titans have won four of five in the series, including the last two meetings in Jacksonville. They swept the series in 2008, outgaining the Jaguars by an average of 103.5 yards per game.

Jacksonville is looking to end its struggles against Tennessee by riding the momentum of its first win of 2009 and first in five games against AFC South rivals.

Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a season-high 119 yards and matched a career high with three touchdowns as Jacksonville compiled 185 yards on the ground in a 31-24 victory at Houston last Sunday. The Jaguars gave up three leads in the first half before outscoring the Texans 14-3 in the second.

"Each play we got better," Jones-Drew said. "Each time we got to the sideline we got better. We just kept believing in each other and that was the best thing about it ... they jumped out on us real quick. We just kept fighting back, fighting back. No one blinked."

Jones-Drew praised the new-look offensive line for the team's success moving the ball. Battered in last season's 5-11 campaign, the Jaguars are encouraged after holding an opponent without a sack for the first time in 15 games.

"It's the extra effort," said Jones-Drew, describing the performance of a unit that includes rookie tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, veteran guards Maurice Williams and Vince Manuwai, and center Brad Meester.

"Guys down field blocking, doing whatever they can to get two and three blocks and doing the little things."

Jones-Drew, though, faces a much stiffer challenge in Tennessee's defense. While the Texans are giving up the most rushing yards per game in the NFL, the Titans have the second-stingiest unit in the league, allowing 60.7 yards on the ground per game.

Jones-Drew ran for two touchdowns against Tennessee last season, but the Titans held him to 79 yards on 22 carries.

Tennessee's defense has forced 16 three-and-out drives, most in the NFL.

Titans win 4th straight when Brown's kick wide

Rob Bironas kicked a 53-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining and the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans 20-17 for their fourth straight victory after an 0-6 start.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Jags stay hot, win despite T.O.'s huge game

David Garrard's second game-winning drive in as many weeks gave the Jacksonville Jaguars their first three-game winning streak in nearly two years.

Titans owner wishes Bills luck in newspaper ad

Seeking closure, Titans owner Bud Adams bought a prime piece of Buffalo real estate -- Sunday's back page of The Buffalo News' sports section.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

Jaguars coach blasts Henderson for leaving workout because of 'minor' shoulder injury

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionJaguars defensive tackle John Henderson grabs his left shoulder during an organized team activity session Monday at the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars

DON BURK/The Times-UnionMarlon McCree , with San Diego in this 2007 photo, is set to return to the Jaguars.

After lost season, Jags seek how to put 'train' back on track

Among the league's most disappointing teams last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars never came close to meeting expectations as a chic preseason Super Bowl pick.

NewFull-speed ahead for Jaguars safety Nelson

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco during the Jaguars' 21-19 loss in Cincinnati on Nov.

Ex-Jaguar pleads not guilty to drug charges

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday including possession of cocaine and marijuana.