Big Cat Country
The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Nissan Stadium to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Here are three key matchups to keep an eye on:
Let’s start with a cheeky little tight end matchup. In a game that wasn’t safe for those with any kind of heart condition, Brenton Strange was a welcome return to the Jaguars offense against the Arizona Cardinals. This passing game was equal parts explosive, equal parts frustrating on Sunday. But Strange proved to be a chain mover for Trevor Lawrence, with 93 yards on five catches. Ultimately, his timely return from injury was probably the difference, allowing the Jags to be in the AFC playoff hunt and keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts in the division.
Similarly for the Titans, Gunnar Helm has proven to be a reliable outlet for Cam Ward as both rookies find their feet in the league. It’s been a tough season in Tennessee, which most of us saw coming. But if Ward can hurt the Jaguars then it’s highly likely he leans on his tight ends to do so – Helm had 51 yards from six catches against the Seattle Seahawks, whilst his running mate Chig Okonkwo chipped in with another forty yards.
For offenses struggling for consistency, tight ends are a lifeline. Whichever team gets the most out of the position on Sunday will be in a good position to take home the win.
Travis Etienne had a reduced workload last weekend, with just 15 carries and three receptions. And whilst his supporting catch didn’t particularly help in terms of yards (Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen combined for 19 yards in total), it was quite clear that keeping him fresh worked. Etienne piled up 116 total yards and a score against the Cardinals, and looked as fresh as he had done in some time. It’s become somewhat obvious that Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen are still fumbling a little when it comes to working out the chemistry for the passing game, and it’s only natural to lean on the run in such situations. If Etienne can carry the offense without being run into the ground, then the Jaguars should challenge a Titans run defense that is one of the worst in the league.
Cedric Gray will have other ideas. The second year pro has exploded in output in 2025, with more than 100 tackles already this season. He’s heating up too, with the linebacker racking up 34 of them in the last three games. No doubt he’ll be there to meet Etienne as he comes through the line of scrimmage – despite the Titan’s dire campaign thus far, this won’t be an easy assignment for the Jaguars running back.
This Titans team has been leaning on rookies heavily on offense this year. And they might have found another gem in slot receiver Chimere Dike, a 4th round pick out of Florida....
