Nov 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars kick returner Rashad Greene (13) returns a 66 yard punt to the 6 yard line during the second half of a football game against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. The Jaguars won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars used a 63-yard punt return by Rashad Greene followed by a short touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to Julius Thomas to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 19-13 win over the Tennessee Titans Thursday night.
Greene, playing in his first game since returning from injured reserve, returned a Tennessee punt to the Titans 5-yard line with 3:34 left in the game. On the first play, Bortles connected with Thomas from five yards out. Jason Myers, who kicked four field goals in the game, added the extra point to give the Jaguars a 16-13 lead.
On Tennessee’s next play, Phillip Supernaw fumbled after making a catch and the Davon House recovered for the Jaguars at the 29-yard line.
The Jaguars couldn’t move the ball and Myers added his fourth field goal.
Tennessee had one final opportunity with quarterback Marcus Mariota moving the team from his 20 to the Jaguars’ 23-yard line with five seconds left. But on the last play of the game, Jaguars defensive end Andre Branch sacked Mariota.
The first half was a battle of field goals as neither team could reach the end zone in the first 30 minutes.
Tennessee got on the scoreboard first, taking its opening drive to the Jaguars’ 29-yard line, where it stalled. Ryan Succop converted on a 47-yard field goal to give the Titans the early lead.
After going three-and-out on their opening series, the Jaguars put together a 73-yard drive to the Tennessee 13-yard line, but a third-down pass was thrown away by Bortles.
Myers then hit on a 31-yard field goal.
Tennessee answered by marching to the Jaguars’ 32, but a third-down pass by Mariota was incomplete. Succop then converted on his second field goal of the half, this one from 49 yards out to make it a 6-3 Titans lead.
Jacksonville’s best chance to reach the end zone came late in the half. A 38-yard pass to wide receiver Allen Robinson gave the Jaguars a first down on the 13-yard line. Two running plays netted 7 yards to the 6-yard line, but Bortles was sacked by linebacker Brian Orakpo for a 9-yard loss. Myers then tied the game at 6-all with a 32-yard field goal.
It was more of the same in the third quarter. For the third time in the game, the Jaguars drove into the red zone but had to settle for a field goal. They took the opening drive of the half from the 20 to the 7-yard line. But three consecutive runs by running back Denard Robinson gained just 5 yards, and the Jaguars had to settle for another Myers field goal. It gave Jacksonville its first lead of the game at 9-6.
Tennessee then became the first team to make it to the end zone. The Titans put together an 81-yard march, including two pass-interference penalties against the Jaguars for 48 yards, in five plays. Mariota surprised the Jaguars by keeping on a run around left end from 23 yards out for the touchdown, giving the Titans a 13-9 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
NOTES: Entering Thursday, the Jaguars had just two pass interceptions from their secondary this year, both by Davon House in last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. … The Jaguars wore gold uniforms for the first time ever, although many were calling then mustard instead of gold. … The game marked the first return to Jacksonville for Tennessee interim head coach Mike Mularkey who was head coach of the Jaguars for one season in 2012 when he compiled a 2-14 record. … Jacksonville has one touchdown and one field goal in 10 opening drives this season. … The Titans and Jaguars will meet again in a rematch in 17 days in Nashville.
