JACKSONVILLE – In a weekly feature for the 2026 season, NFL Media and Jaguars Media Analyst Bucky Brooks looks ahead to the Jaguars’ game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday and takes a final look at the Jaguars’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday

A LOOK AHEAD

The Jaguars head to Nashville to take on the Titans in a divisional battle that could give the team a stranglehold on the AFC South. Despite the Titans' disappointing record, this rivalry will bring out the best in the powder blue-clad squad, desperate to build momentum in Head Coach Robert Saleh's debut season. Second-year Titans quarterback Cam Ward is coming off one of the best performances of his career (completed 26 of 40 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns), connecting with a young cast of playmakers who are starting to flourish in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's system. Although the defense recently traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears, the unit's physicality and feistiness will challenge the Jaguars' mental and physical toughness.

OFFENSIVE MATCHUP VERSUS TITANS

The Jaguars' red-hot offense takes on a physical defense that is coming together under Saleh. Opting for a simplistic approach that relies on flawless execution over trickery, the Titans want to overwhelm their opponents with their collective speed, athleticism, and physicality. Although the Simmons trade reduced their talent base, the emergence of their young stars (Anthony Hill, Jr., Kevin Winston, and Alontae Taylor) should make it a competitive matchup that requires the Jaguars to bring their A game to leave Nashville with a win. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence should be up to the task, with a dynamic support cast around him that lets him carve up the Titans' matchup zone schemes with pinpoint passes between the hashes. If Jaguars running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. get going on the ground, the Jaguars could have an offensive explosion that leads to plenty of first downs and touchdowns on game day.

DEFENSIVE MATCHUP VERSUS TITANS

The Titans' resurgent offense has found its way with Ward throwing the ball around the yard and running back Tony Pollard gashing defenses on various off-tackle runs. The complementary run-pass action keeps defenders guessing, allowing the Titans to stay on schedule. The Jaguars must force the Titans into a one-dimensional attack that relies extensively on Ward's heroics from the pocket. Given the second-year pro's accuracy issues and questionable pocket judgment, the Jaguars can play the game on their terms by neutralizing Pollard on early downs and turning the young quarterback's miscues into turnovers that lead to more scoring opportunities. If Jaguars defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker can take advantage of the long-yardage situations created by the early stops, the Titans could have a turnover-fest on Sunday.

A LOOK BACK

The Jaguars dominated the Ravens – 33-10 – in a primetime matchup that showed the football world the explosive potential of a Top 5 offense and the disruptive production of a Top 5 defense. The Jaguars owned the Ravens from the opening snap to the final buzzer, relying on fanatical effort and physicality to tilt the game in their favor. Lawrence led the way with another efficient performance (completed 16 of 26 passes for 242 yards and a score), jumpstarting an offense that couldn't get things going on the ground. With eight different pass catchers touching the ball Thursday night, the Jaguars diversified the workload and challenged the Ravens' coverage discipline. As other opponents found out, the Jaguars' balanced approach led to another explosive output from a unit that consistently lights up scoreboards around the league.

WHAT BROOKS LIKES ABOUT THE JAGUARS RIGHT NOW

The new and improved Jaguars after the trade deadline are built to make a deep postseason run, with defensive tackle Jordan Davis, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and safety Jessie Bates III coming aboard to fortify a defense that throttles the run and takes the ball away at an elite level. Although the defense ranked as a Top 5 unit before the moves, it has a chance to go from good to great, with veteran leadership and playmaking enhancing a squad inching closer to a top seed in the tournament.

WHAT CONCERNS BROOKS ABOUT THE JAGUARS RIGHT NOW

The Jaguars have a well-constructed roster that matches up well against any of the AFC's heavyweights heading down the stretch. Despite that, the team must keep improving on the field heading into the postseason while continuing to develop backups and young players as emergency substitutes during the season's final quarter. Considering how important role players are in the "win-or-go-home" portion of the season, the Jaguars' developmental plans are pivotal to their success at season's end.