JACKSONVILLE – The next game is the biggest game.

That NFL cliché very much applies to the Jaguars Sunday – and then some. Because while their next game is against the struggling Tennessee Titans, it's more than just a big late-November game.

It's a very, very tricky one, too.

The Jaguars (7-4) enter Sunday’s game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. a game behind the division-leading Indianapolis Colts (8-3) in the AFC South. They have made up a game-and-a-half on the Colts in recent weeks, with the Colts scheduled to visit EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville next Sunday.

That could be a very big game – IF the Jaguars beat the Titans Sunday.

Beating the 1-10 Titans is tricky for many reasons. One is most NFL games are tricky, and the Jaguars this season have played far more tricky games than one-sided ones. The Titans are also a division rival with a very good defense – and an improving offense.

The game is in Nashville and the Titans are improving as the season continues, having played a very good Seattle Seahawks team very tough this past Sunday in a Seahawks victory.

So, forget the records on this one. This is a big, tricky game – the sort that contending teams must win to become postseason teams.

Here are 10 things the Jaguars must do to win Sunday:

1. Run. This has been No. 1 in "10 things" all season and it will remain there. The Jaguars aren't an explosive offense, but they have been increasingly reliable offensively because they have run increasingly steadily in recent weeks. When this team can run, it's a pretty good team.
2. Be physical. When the 2025 Jaguars are the more physical team, they usually win. That's the second week-to-week truism about this team – and it's just as important as No. 1.
3. Stop the run. This has been an overlooked reason for the Jaguars' success this season. They currently rank No. 1 in the NFL against the run, with tackle DaVon Hamilton a major reason. This is not a consistent defense against the pass. But stopping the run gives you opportunities to make disruptive plays against the pass – sacks, pressures and interceptions – and the Jaguars' run defense has given this team a chance most weeks.
4. Pressure Ward. The Jaguars' pass rush has registered eight sacks in its last two games, including a season-high six against the Cardinals this past Sunday. That's marked improvement for a unit that recently ranked last in the NFL. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has been getting consistent penetration, the group is rushing as a team and defensive tackle Arik Armstead continues to be disruptive. That's the formula against Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
5. Keep stepping up. Add cornerback Christian Braswell to a long list of once lesser-known, little-used players who have played critical roles for the Jaguars this season. The Jaguars are 7-4 because of players making such contributions. The roster is still a little beat up, so stepping up remains key.
6. Find explosiveness. The Jaguars have just three pass plays more than 40 yards this season, none over 50 yards. Their two longest plays are running plays, and they haven't had a 40-yard pass in nearly two months. If the Jaguars can create an easy – and explosive – play or two a game. this offense can go from consistent to dangerous.
7. Trust the trustees. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is developing trust in wide receivers Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers. He has implicit trust in tight end Brenton Strange. That trust showed up in big situations against the Cardinals. Lawrence must build that trust and have it be a driving positive for the offense.
8. Get Simmons blocked. Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons remains a dominant force. The Jaguars' interior has been good this season. It will have to be really good against Simmons to allow running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten to gain traction inside.
9. Be prepared. The Titans are 1-10 with an interim head coach – former Jaguars quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy. They also have lost six consecutive games, but they haven't come close to quitting, and have played three consecutive very good teams very tough in losses to the Los Angeles Chargers (27-20), Houston Texans (16-13) and Seahawks (30-24). This won't be a walkover.
10. Just win. Forget style points. Don't worry about outside expectations of a one-sided victory. The Titans are playing well and likely will make this a fourth-quarter game. The Jaguars have been resilient and mentally tough in one-score games this season. They likely will need to be those things again late Sunday.