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TITANS 30, JAGUARS 13
by VITO STELLINO , Florida Times-Union
The Titans ran for 305 yards, including 228 yards by
Both the 305 total yards and Johnson's 228-yard effort were records against the Jaguars .
The Titans came in with a 0-6 record and had lost to the Jaguars 37-17 on Oct. 4, but the oddsmakers who installed the Titans as favorites turned out to have an accurate reading on the two teams.
The Jaguars wasted 80- and 79-yard touchdown runs by running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Del Rio said there was no trickery involved and the Titans didn't do anything surprising.
Instead, in Del Rio's words, the Jaguars allowed the Titans to "cram it down our throats.''
Del Rio questioned the effort of the team, calling it "very disappointing,'' and for the first time this year at a postgame news conference, he took the blame for a loss.
"The responsibility to have this Football team prepared to play well falls on me. I take full responsibility,'' he said.
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 3-4 and they've been blown out in three of those losses, including 31-17 to Arizona and, 41-0 to Seattle.
Del Rio was at a loss to explain the blowouts.
"I don't really know how to answer that," he said.
Del Rio said the team worked hard this week, but the players didn't bring the same energy they showed in practice to the game.
As it turned out, the much-hyped return of Vince Young wasn't a major factor. He threw for only 125 yards against the Jaguars' 31st-ranked pass defense and ran for only 30 yards on 12 carries, but didn't throw an interception.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who reportedly was ordered to play Young over veteran Kerry Collins by owner Bud Adams, called Young "efficient'' and said, "He managed the game well."
Del Rio said, "I don't recall Vince making any blocks or breaking any tackles, maybe a tackle or two he slipped out, but give him credit; he's the winning quarterback."
A year ago, the Jaguars were 3-3 at the bye week and lost to a 2-4 Cleveland team. They wound up losing eight of their last 10 games.
Quarterback David Garrard, who had five interceptions in those two previous losses to the Titans, threw two more and had a 35.9 passer rating against a Titans pass defense that entered the game ranked last in the league.
"I needed to be better,'' Garrard said.
Del Rio, though, blamed the defense.
"We didn't get off the field defensively and give the Football back to our offense,'' Del Rio said.
The Jaguars offense had the ball for only 20 minutes, 17 seconds and ran 49 offensive plays. The Titans had it for 39:43 and ran 67 plays.
The Jaguars came out passing the same way they did in the first game, but it was ineffective this time. Garrard completed 5- and 4-yard passes to Mike Sims-Walker on the first play of his first two drives.
But he couldn't complete another one that counted (two completions were wiped out by penalties) and they punted both times.
On the third series, he threw an interception on a third-and-3 play when Torry Holt was hindered by the official.
Jones-Drew then ran 80 yards for a touchdown on his first carry on the first play of the fourth series. He did it again with a 79-yard run on the first play of the second half to give the Jaguars a 13-13 tie after Josh Scobee's extra point attempt was blocked.
But the Jaguars were blanked the rest of the way and Tennessee scored the final 17 points.
First, Young scrambled on a third-and-6 play at the Tennessee 41 and hit Kenny Brit on a 7-yard pass for a first down. Johnson went 52 yards for a touchdown on the next play.
After Rob Bironas kicked a 45-yard field goal midway in the third quarter, Johnson went 89 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter and the Jaguars' chances were over.
Young never threw another pass as the Titans milked the clock the rest of the way.
"This was a real tough one for us,'' said Jaguars linebacker Justin Durant. "They came out and they did everything they wanted to whenever they wanted to. They came out and basically smash-mouthed us and we didn't have an answer for it."
vito.stellino@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4279
RUNNING OVER THE JAGS
Year Player Team Yards Carries Jaguars' result
2009
2005
2007 Chris Brown Titans 175 19 Lost 13-10
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Nov. 8 Kansas City 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 at N.Y. Jets 1 p.m.
Nov. 22 Buffalo 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 at San Fran. 4:05 p.m.
Dec. 6 Houston 1 p.m.
Dec. 13 Miami 1 p.m.
Dec. 17 Indianapolis 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 27 at New England 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Cleveland 1 p.m.
INTERACT
Read Michael C. Wright's Jaguars blog and view a complete photo gallery from Sunday's game at Tennessee.
ultimatejaguars.com
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