The Jacksonville Jaguars look nothing like the team from a year ago. On Sunday, Sept. 20, the Jags (1-0) travel to face the Tennessee Titans. The game will be live streamed on fuboTV.
The Jaguars showcased their revamped roster and rehabilitated culture with a 27-20 victory over Indianapolis in Week 1. They looked nothing like the 2019 team that surely would have pointed fingers after falling behind early, moaned and groaned on the sideline for three hours, and ended up losing by double digits.
It’s only one game, and it came against an AFC South rival that had lost its previous four trips to Jacksonville by a combined score of 125-46. But it’s no doubt progress for the Jaguars, a step in the right direction.
Tennessee insists it won’t overlook Jacksonville, which has more losses in Nashville (16) than any other road venue. Derrick Henry gashed the Jags the last three years. He had a 66-yard touchdown reception in 2017, a four-touchdown performance that included a record-tying, 99-yard run in 2018, and a 74-yard scoring run last year.
The game kicks at noon (1 p.m. ET) and will be live streamed by fuboTV, which is offering a 7-day free trial. CBS will televise.
Preview
WHAT’S WORKING: Just about everything. Undrafted rookie James Robinson made some quickly forget about Leonard Fournette. First-round draft pick CJ Henderson showed he’s an upgrade from Bouye and has the potential to be as good as Ramsey and with fewer headaches. Safety Josh Jones and defensive linemen Taven Bryan, Abry Jones and K’Lavon Chaisson also stood out.
WHAT NEEDS HELP: Despite the win, the offense managed just 241 yards. It was the fourth time in the team’s past six games in Jacksonville that it failed to gain more than 252 yards.
But the Jags were balanced on offense, played turnover-free football, converted 50% on third downs and were perfect in the red zone — all issues last season.
“I’m really proud of how we played, and I think we are just scratching the surface,” Minshew said.
STOCK UP: Second-round pick Laviska Shenault scored a touchdown in his NFL debut and helped set up another. The former Colorado receiver finished with three catches for 37 yards and a score to go along with two carries for 10 yards.
New offensive coordinator Jay Gruden designed a number of plays around Shenault, including putting him in the wildcat formation. On Minshew’s TD pass to DJ Chark in the second quarter, Shenault started in motion, stopped in the flat and drew two defenders as Minshew pump-faked in his direction. Chark ran by both and was wide open in the back of the end zone.
STOCK DOWN: Dede Westbrook was a healthy scratch for the first time in his four-year NFL career. The Jaguars went with a pair of rookies: Shenault and fifth-round pick Collin Johnson instead. Johnson had a 14-yard reception and did a backflip on the field after the final snap.
Westbrook, meanwhile, was inactive after catching 66 passes in each of the past two years. He has 159 receptions for 1,716 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons.
He appears to be the odd man out, starting the season behind Chark, veteran Chris Conley, Keelan Cole and two rookies.
INJURED: Safety Jarrod Wilson landed on injured reserve Monday with a left hamstring injury. He’s expected to miss at least a month. Fellow safety Josh Jones sustained a leg contusion but should be fine.
KEY NUMBER: 72 — combined points the Jaguars have allowed in their past two trips to Tennessee. They have lost six straight in Nashville, last winning there in 2013.
NEXT STEPS: Beating the Titans on the road would be another huge stride for a franchise intent on proving naysayers wrong in 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.