In a game that epitomized the grit and grind of AFC South football, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) edged out the Tennessee Titans (3-10) with a 10-6 victory Sunday. The win not only snapped Jacksonville’s five-game losing streak but also extinguished Tennessee’s slim playoff hopes, marking a significant shift in a rivalry where the Jaguars historically struggled in Nashville.
Running back Tank Bigsby provided the game’s decisive score with an 8-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. His touchdown, coming with 6:46 left, capped off a second-half resurgence for the Jaguars, who scored all their points in the final quarter. Cam Little’s 23-yard field goal early in the fourth began the comeback in what had been a defensive stalemate.
With franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence sidelined for the remainder of the season, backup Mac Jones stepped up to guide Jacksonville. Despite two interceptions, Jones threw for 220 yards and demonstrated resilience under pressure. His connection with rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars’ first-round pick out of LSU, proved pivotal. Thomas delivered career-best numbers with eight catches for 86 yards, showcasing his potential as a cornerstone for the team’s future.
The Titans, now 1-5 at home under first-year head coach Brian Callahan, had two late opportunities to reclaim the lead. However, quarterback Will Levis failed to capitalize, missing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on fourth-and-3 from the Jaguars’ 9-yard line and Tyler Boyd on a desperation fourth-and-15 from the Tennessee 35 with just 28 seconds left.
Levis, who endured a hard sack by Jaguars linebacker Josh Hines-Allen to end the first half, returned to finish with 168 passing yards but couldn’t solve Jacksonville’s defense in critical moments.
“We had our chances, and we didn’t execute,” Callahan said. “Two trips to the red zone and no touchdowns—it’s unacceptable.”
Tennessee’s defense, which had been embarrassed in last week’s loss to Washington, showed improvement with two interceptions. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, playing his first game since September, grabbed one of the picks after being activated off injured reserve. However, the Titans failed to convert either turnover into points against a Jaguars defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed.
Missing three defensive starters, Tennessee’s inability to stop Jacksonville’s fourth-quarter surge proved costly.
The victory was particularly sweet for Jacksonville, a team that had won only once in its previous 10 trips to Nashville. It was also their first win since October 20, marking a hard-fought end to a prolonged skid.
“We knew we had to come together and fight,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. “This group showed resilience, and I’m proud of how we finished.”
The Jaguars will look to build on this momentum as they host the New York Jets next week, while the Titans aim to regroup in the second leg of their homestand against the Cincinnati Bengals.
For Tennessee, the loss marks another disappointing chapter in a season that began with faint playoff hopes and ends with questions about the team’s future direction. Meanwhile, Jacksonville takes pride in playing spoiler while developing key players for the years ahead.
