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Thursday, September 23
 
Baxter Bits: Titans vs. Jaguars

By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com

The Titans head to Jacksonville as this key AFC Central rivalry is renewed for the fifth straight year.

The Jaguars have prevailed in five of the previous eight meetings between the clubs.

Last season, the teams split their two-game set for the third time in four years. In Week 4 at Vanderbilt Stadium, Titans QB Steve McNair threw a pair of touchdown passes to WR Yancey Thigpen as Tennessee jumped out to a 19-7 second-quarter advantage, however Jaguars RB Fred Taylor would finish the afternoon with 116 yards rushing and a touchdown and PK Mike Hollis' 18-yard field goal with 9:45 remaining gave Jacksonville the lead for good as Tom Coughlin's club rallied for a 27-22 win.

Three months later at ALLTEL Stadium (Week 15), Jacksonville (playing without QB Mark Brunell) jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead, but McNair would throw for 232 yards and a score (1 INT) and Titans' PK Al Del Greco connected on a 41-yard field goal with :04 remaining to give Tennessee a hard-earned 16-13 triumph.

The Titans are 3-1 lifetime in four previous visits to Jacksonville as the road team owns a 7-1 mark in this series, with each of those 8 contests decided by 8 or fewer points.

Numbers: The Titans have limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in 17 of their last 30 contests dating back to '97. After giving up just five touchdown passes in their first seven games, the Titans have allowed 22 TD passes in their last 11 contests dating back to '98.

Including playoffs, the Jaguars have seen a player gain 100 or more yards rushing in 10 of their last 20 games dating back to 1998, doubling the number of 100-yard rushing performances (5) that the Jaguars managed in the regular- and postseason combined (5) during their first three years in the NFL (1995-97). Including playoffs, the Jaguars have forced 36 turnovers in 14 wins, six turnovers in six losses dating back to '98

Things To Look For: After embarrassing the 49ers on opening day, the Jacksonville defense came back to earth last week at Carolina and were almost done in by Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein. Jeff Fisher's club has a pair of divisional wins under their belt and haven't really turned QB Eddie George loose yet. That figures to change this week, although Titans' QB Neil O'Donnell won't be fooled by Dom Capers' defense.

Etc.: The Titans are 2-0 for the first time since 1991 (when they were the Houston Oilers), while Jaguars are 2-0 for the third straight year dating back to 1997. PK Al Del Greco (1,376) needs 4 points to tie Jim Bakken (1,380) for 12th place on the NFL's all-time scoring list. Del Greco (301) needs 2 field goals to tie both Pat Leahy and Jim Turner (304) for 8th place on the NFL's all-time field goals list. The Titans are 20-20 in their last 40 divisional games (1994-99), this after going 6-0 vs. AFC Central foes in '93. However, Titans are 9-1 in their last 10 games vs. divisional competition dating back to '98 (2-0 in '99). Since '95, the Titans are 9-9 at home vs. AFC Central foes and 10-6 on the road in divisional contests. Since 1995, the Titans are 16-18 at home and 17-15 on the road.

The Jaguars are 29-10 in their last 39 regular-season games (32-13, including playoffs) dating back to 1996, this after managing just an 8-19 record in their first 27 contests dating back to their debut season in 1995. Including playoffs, the Jaguars are 40-32 in their 72-game history (1995-99), including 21-11 vs. AFC Central rivals. They are 22-2 in their last 24 home games (including playoffs) dating back to 1996.





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