Overview
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This one was wild and weird. Really wild and really weird.
Mostly and unfortunately for the Jaguars, a day of memorable offense couldn't overcome a defense that couldn't stop drive after long drive.
Quarterback Blake Bortles threw a career-high five touchdown passes, including three to wide receiver Allen Robinson, but the Jaguars allowed 467 total yards in a 42-39 loss to the Tennessee Titans in front of 57.355 at Nissan Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes, and his 87-yard touchdown run was a key play in a back-and-forth second half. That run gave the Titans a 35-32 lead with 8:30 remaining.
Linebacker Wesley Woodard recovered a fumble of a snap over Bortles' head on the ensuing series. He returned it three yards for a touchdown and a 42-32 lead.
Bortles' third touchdown pass of the game to Robinson – a seven-yarder – capped a quick drive on the ensuing series and cut the lead to 42-39 with 6:28 remaining.
The Jaguars, after trailing 21-12 at halftime, cut into the lead with Bortles' one-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter. The play gave Bortles 24 touchdown for the season, breaking the franchise record set by David Garrard in 2007.
Robinson went over 1,000 yards receiving earlier on the drive, the first Jaguars player to do so since Jimmy Smith in 2005.
Mariota threw his third touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, with rookie wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham's 47-yard touchdown pushing the lead to 28-19.
The Jaguars rallied with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Robinson from Bortles, who then threw nine yards to tight end Julius Thomas for a 32-28 lead. Thomas' touchdown came one play after Ryan Davis recovered a fumble by Mariota that was caused by a sack by Telvin Smith.
Mariota's 87-yard scramble on the next series made it 35-32, Titans, with 8:30 remaining.
Bortles completed 24 of 36 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions while Robinson caught 10 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Mariota completed 20 of 29 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
The Titans took the lead in a difficult half for the Jaguars' defense.
Unable to pressure Mariota, the Jaguars continued a season-long trend of allowing third-down conversions and red-zone points.
Mariota's 10-yard touchdown pass to wide open tight end Craig Stevens capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive on the Titans' second possession. That gave Tennessee a 7-0 lead with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter.
The Jaguars pulled to within a point with Bortles passing two yards to Rashad Greene on the ensuing possession. Jason Myers' fifth missed extra point of the season allowed the Titans to maintain a 7-6 lead with 14:56 remaining in the second quarter. He later missed another extra point.
Mariota passed seven yards to tight end Delanie Walker on the Titans' ensuing possession for a 14-6 Tennessee led with 8:45 remaining in the second quarter.
The Jaguars cut the Titans' lead to 14-12 when T.J. Yeldon scored on a 1-yard run with 1:52 remaining in the half to cap an eight-play 66-yard drive.
The Titans closed the half with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Antonio Andrews' one-yard run up the middle with :02 remaining in the second quarter.
Player of the game
Allen Robinson, wide receiver.The second-year veteran not only went over 1,000 yards receiving Sunday, his three touchdowns kept the Jaguars in the game in the second half. His one-yard third-quarter touchdown cut the Titans lead to 21-19 and his eight-yard fourth-quarter touchdown made it a three-point game. He has had big games this season, but perhaps none bigger than this.
Offensively
The Jaguars turned in a memorable second half for one of their biggest offensive days of the season, finishing with 383 yards. The Jaguars were efficient at times in the first half, scoring two touchdowns and finishing with 149 yards.
Defensively
The defense allowed 467 yards and five touchdowns. The Jaguars allowed three first-half touchdowns – all in the red zone – and 253 total yards.
Specially
Kicker Jason Myers' inconsistencies continued as he missed his fifth and sixth extra points, his second and third in as many weeks. He has missed six extra points this season.
Injury updates
*Jaguars wide receiver Rashad Greene left with a shoulder injury at halftime and did not return. The rookie two passes for 15 yards in the first half.
*Wide receiver Bryan Walters was active but played sparingly because of a back injury. He had been a game-time decision.
*Dwayne Gratz started at corner in place of Aaron Colvin, who had a sore ankle entering the game. Colvin played in the nickel with his ankle heavily taped.
*Wide receiver Allen Hurns as expected did not play because of a concussion sustained against San Diego last week. Others Jaguars inactives Sunday: wide receiver Rashad Lawrence, defensive end Chris Smith, offensive lineman Luke Bowanko, linebacker Dan Skuta (groin), running back Bernard Pierce (calf) and cornerback Nick Marshall.
Standing out
*Yeldon rushed for 57 yards and a first-half touchdown on 15 carries. He also finished with 79 yards on four receptions.
*Wide receiver Marqise Lee, starting for Hurns, caught one pass for 17 yards. The play set up Yeldon's touchdown run.
*Tight end Julius Thomas caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown.
