MNF: Titans Tops Jags
N A S H V I L L E, Tenn., Oct. 17 -- Another Tennessee win over Jacksonvilleand even Titans coach Jeff Fisher is providing the Jaguars withexcuses.
“Jacksonville’s got a lot of people hurt now,” Fisher saidMonday night after the Titans beat Jacksonville 27-13, their fifthstraight win over the Jaguars.
“They’re struggling over there, but they’re a good footballteam.”
This first prime-time game in Tennessee was a showcase for theTitans’ prime-time players—Eddie George, Steve McNair and FrankWycheck.
Whipping Boys
The Titans beat their favorite whipping boys as George ran for165 yards on 30 carries, McNair threw for 234 yards and twotouchdowns, and Wycheck started things off by catching a TD passflat on his back.
The defense chipped in with five sacks in a game in which a lotof streaks continued.
It was the fifth straight win after an opening-game loss inBuffalo for Tennessee and put the Titans in first place bythemselves in the AFC Central, one-half game ahead of Baltimore.
It was the fourth straight loss for Jacksonville, the longeststreak since its first season in 1995. The Jaguars (2-5) lost yetanother key player, wide receiver Jimmy Smith, who bruised hisright knee in the first quarter.
And George, who didn’t crack 100 yards in his first three games,had his third straight in triple figures and second over 150.
“I think it’s the best stretch I’ve had,” George said. “It’sa lot of fun when you’re controlling the ball and keeping thedefense off balance.”
5 Straight Over Jags
The five straight wins over Jacksonville include three lastseason, when the Jaguars finished 15-3 and capped the season with a33-14 home loss to Tennessee in the AFC title game.
But this year, it was just another loss added to four earlierones. And this game went just about the way the season has for theJaguars.
They had two chances in the first half—at the beginning andthe end. They blew them both and went off trailing 17-3.