NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Consider this a solid, methodical professional victory.
Just what the Jaguars needed.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns and an improving defense turned in a suffocating performance as the surging Jaguars pulled away for a 25-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans in front of 54,098 at Nissan Stadium on a cold late-November Sunday afternoon.
"One week at a time – 1-0 for the rest of the way," Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said, with Lawrence adding, "We're happy we won. No doubt about that."
"We came here to win," Lawrence said. "They haven't won a lot of games, but anybody can beat you."
The Jaguars (8-4), winners of three consecutive games and four of their last five, are now tied with the Indianapolis Colts (8-4) for first place in the AFC South. The Colts lost to the Houston Texans, 20-16, in Indianapolis Sunday.
"We need everybody," Coen said. "We need the city to show up and support us because we want to make them proud."
Added punter Logan Cooke, "It is what it is. We know what it is. We know what games mean. At this point, every game matters. We just try to win our games and see what happens after Week 18."
The Jaguars have won 6 of the last 7 meetings with the Titans (1-11), losers of seven consecutive games. The Titans had lost their last three games by a combined 16 points entering Sunday.
"That was the big part, that no one was focused on next week," Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard said. "You know you have a big one next week, but we have to play this one. That was the biggest part. That's where we took a step today as a team."
Lawrence threw first-half touchdown passes to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brenton Strange, with kicker Cam Little connecting on the final play of the second quarter to give the Jaguars an 18-3 halftime lead.
"They have talent," Lawrence said of the Titans. "We have to improve and play better moving forward. We knew it was going to be a challenge and we just came out and executed."
Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten's third-quarter touchdown pushed the lead to the final margin in a game the Jaguars dominated to that point.
Lawrence completed 16 of 27 passes for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns with 0 interceptions, with Meyers leading the Jaguars with 6 receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought he played pretty well," Coen said of Lawrence.
Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 24 of 38 passes for 141 yards and 0 touchdowns with 0 interceptions.
The Jaguars held a second opponent under 200 yards offense in the last three games, having held the Los Angeles Chargers to 135 yards in a 35-6 Week 11 victory in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars outgained the Titans, 272-188, and had 20 first downs to 11 for Tennessee.
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen registered two sacks Sunday, and defensive tackle Austin Johnson registered one – with rookie running back LeQuint Allen Jr. setting up a second-quarter touchdown by forcing and recovering a fumble on a first-quarter kickoff return.
Rookie safety Rayuan Lane III recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter for a second Jaguars takeaway. The Jaguars entered Sunday tied for 25th in the NFL with 21 sacks and fifth in the NFL with 18 takeaways.
"We're giving ourselves an opportunity to play meaningful games in November and December, and that's ultimately all you can ask for in this league," Coen said. "The rest of the way, you've got competitive, meaningful football games.
"That an important thing for us to go through as a team in Year 1, to have the opportunity to do those things and, and to earn that, I think is important for us to be able to continue to move forward as a team."
2025 Week 13, Step by step:
- Kicker Joey Slye's 28-yard field goal capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive on the Titans' first possession for a 3-0 Tennessee lead with 5:06 remaining; the Titans rushed five times for 39 yards on the drive, effectively working the middle of the defense. Lawrence's 3-yard pass to Meyers capped a 7-play, 84-yard drive on the ensuing possession to give the Jaguars a 7-3 lead with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter; back-to-back passes from Lawrence to wide receiver Parker Washington (26 yards) and Meyers (50 yards) keyed the drive.
- Strange's 21-yard reception from Lawrence on the first play of the second quarter gave the Jaguars a 15-3 lead after Lawrence ran for the two-point conversion; Allen forced and recovered a fumble on the kickoff at the Titans 35 following Meyers' first-quarter touchdown to set up the drive. Little's 45-yard field goal on the final play of the half capped a four-play, 52-yard drive.
- Tuten's 2-yard run capped a 15-play, 71-yard drive and gave the Jaguars a 25-3 lead with 6:45 remaining in the third quarter.
Notable: Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, the team's sacks leader this season with 5.5, missed Sunday's game with a hand injury after being announced as questionable Saturday night. The Jaguars' other seven inactive players Sunday: Wide receiver Dyami Brown, tight end Hunter Long (knee), starting defensive end Travon Walker (knee), starting right guard Patrick Mekari (concussion), running back Cody Schrader, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga (calf) and linebacker Yasir Abdullah (finger).
Jaguars injury report: Long snapper Ross Matiscik sustained a back injury in the first quarter and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton snapped in his place until halftime. Washington sustained a hip injury in the second quarter and did not return. Left tackle Walker Little sustained a concussion in the second quarter and did not return.
