Titans dominate Jags 20-0, get 1st home shutout since 2000

Updated Dec. 12, 2021 4:10 p.m. ET

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans were on the other side of a turnover-fest Sunday, getting four interceptions that helped them beat woeful Jacksonville 20-0 for their first home shutout in more than two decades.

Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown, Kristian Fulton and Buster Skrine picked off passes from rookie Trevor Lawrence, who hadn’t thrown multiple interceptions in a game since his NFL debut.

Tennessee dominated Jacksonville’s offensive line, sacking Lawrence three times and prompting four holding calls and a false start. All the interceptions were a direct result of pressure, but not blitzes.

The Titans (9-4) had been on the other end of turnover-filled games their previous two times out, losing to Houston and New England thanks mostly to a combined nine turnovers.

Jacksonville (2-11) provided the perfect remedy for a two-game skid. The Jaguars also extended a number of streaks of their own while failing to score in a game for the fourth time in franchise history and first time since 2009.

The Jaguars lost their fifth straight overall, eighth straight in Nashville, ninth consecutive in AFC South play and 15th in a row on the road.

This one comes after more reports that the organization is dealing with internal strife, with mounting angst brewing between embattled coach Urban Meyer and his staff.

The Titans, meanwhile, moved closer to clinching the AFC South for the second straight year. They have no one left on their schedule with a winning record. And, if they continue playing clean football, could be a factor in the AFC despite being without star running back Derrick Henry.

D’Onta Foreman, filling in for Henry, had his first rushing touchdown in four years. Ryan Tannehill, the main culprit of the team’s recent turnovers, didn’t commit one and ran for a score. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 191 yards.

Tannehill’s TD run showed some of Jacksonville’s issues. Defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi asked Meyer to call timeout because their defense looked lost. Meyer ran toward the line judge, but was hesitant to make the call. Tannehill then scrambled for a 5-yard TD run.

JONES RETURNS

Titans receiver Julio Jones retuned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month but didn’t do a whole lot. He didn’t need to, either.

Jones, who missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, was activated from injured reserve Saturday and caught four passes for 33 yards. He has missed six games this season because of injuries.

ROBINSON’S WORKLOAD

Jacksonville’s James Robinson was expected to get more carries after getting benched following early fumbles in consecutive weeks. His usage has become a weekly circus, with Meyer offering confusions answers every time he talks.

Robinson was a non-factor again. He finished with six carries for 4 yards.

KEY INJURIES

Jaguars running back Carlos Hyde was evaluated for a concussion late in the game. Titans guard Rodger Saffold left briefly in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and again in the third. Titans FB Tory Carter injured an ankle.

UP NEXT

Jaguars: Host Houston next Sunday. The Texans have won seven straight and 13 of 15 in the series.

Titans: Play at Pittsburgh next Sunday. The Steelers (6-6-1) have extra time to prepare after losing at Minnesota on Thursday night.

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Jayon Brown

James Robinson

Rashaan Evans

Rodger Saffold

Derrick Henry

Ryan Tannehill

Carlos Hyde

Julio Jones

Buster Skrine

Tory Carter

Tennessee Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars