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01/04 17:04 CST Streaking Jaguars clinch AFC South title with a 41-7 drubbing
of Titans
Streaking Jaguars clinch AFC South title with a 41-7 drubbing of Titans
By MARK LONG
AP Pro Football Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) --- Trevor Lawrence's teammates gave him a
light-hearted present in the locker room after the quarterback broke the
franchise record for total touchdowns in a season and led the Jacksonville
Jaguars to the AFC South title: a diamond-covered mouth grille.
Lawrence gladly slipped it into place and posed for pictures, mimicking an
AI-generated image that went viral weeks ago. It seemed to fit perfectly
alongside championship hats and T-shirts.
Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, breaking the club's single-season mark
for total scores, and the Jaguars earned a home playoff game with a 41-7
drubbing of Tennessee on Sunday. It was the most lopsided outcome in series
history.
And now Lawrence has some mouth jewelry to remember the occasion.
"Pretty funny," Lawrence said. "It's just been awesome this year with the team
and just how close we are."
The Jaguars (13-4) clinched their third division title in nine years, swept the
Titans (3-14) for the third time in four seasons and topped a dozen wins for
just the second time in the team's 31-year history.
Jacksonville, though, will have to wait several hours to learn its postseason
seeding and opponent. The Jaguars could land the AFC's No. 1 seed but more
likely will end up as the third and host Buffalo or the Los Angeles Chargers
next week.
No one should want to play the Jaguars, who have won eight in a row and nine of
10 since their bye. And Lawrence has been the hottest quarterback in the league
during the streak.
"Today is the biggest game in franchise history because it's the next one,"
coach Liam Coen said. "That's it --- because it's the next one. That's been the
mindset and mentality of this group. They've stayed even-keeled. There's
confidence. This team has confidence, but they're not overlooking anybody, and
they know that whoever comes here has to play us."
Lawrence completed 22 of 30 passes for 255 yards against Tennessee, with TDs to
Brenton Strange, Parker Washington and Quintin Morris. After a lackluster
opening possession, Lawrence picked apart the Titans' depleted secondary and
watched most of the fourth quarter from the sideline.
Tennessee rookie quarterback Cam Ward also spent much of the game on the bench.
Ward landed on his right shoulder while scrambling for a 7-yard touchdown on
the Titans' opening drive and returned wearing a sling in the second half.
"It stings that he gets hurt, in general," Titans interim coach Mike McCoy said.
Journeyman backup Brandon Allen replaced Ward and was mostly ineffective,
completing 17 of 30 passes for 72 yards and an interception that was returned
for a touchdown.
Antonio Johnson picked off Allen's third down pass over the middle in the
second quarter and took it 58 yards the other way.
"It was really one thing after another," Allen said. "When you get a couple
three-and-outs in a row, it's tough for momentum to build."
It was the 22nd interception of the season for Jacksonville and broke the
previous team record set in 2017.
Lawrence, meanwhile, closed the regular season with 38 total TDs --- 29 passing
and nine rushing. Blake Bortles had a combined 37 in 2015. Lawrence also passed
Bortles (17,646) for the second-most passing yards in team history. He now
trails only Mark Brunell (25,698 yards).
Lawrence played into the fourth quarter so he could top 4,000 yards passing for
the third time in his professional career. He got a nice ovation while exiting
following a 23-yard completion to Washington.
"He is a special dude," Strange said. "He has done it over his career and is
doing it at a super high level right now. ... He is a great leader for our
team. He comes out and sets the tone for us every game. Trevor is just being
Trevor, and that is what Trevor does. Trevor is special."
Another long kick for Little Jacksonville's Cam Little kicked a 67-yard field goal to end the first half, giving him the two longest kicks in NFL history in the same season. Little set the record with a 68-yarder at the Las Vegas Raiders in early November. Little also drilled a 70-yarder in the preseason. Finale for Titans interim coach McCoy finished 2-9 as Tennessee's interim coach. The former Jaguars assistant replaced Brian Callahan in mid-October following a 1-5 start. Now the Titans will look to hire their next head coach and someone who can continue Ward's development. Key injuries Titans guards Kevin Zeitler (quadriceps) and Corey Levin (biceps) were ruled out after sustaining injuries. Jaguars left tackle Cole Van Lanen, who signed a three-year contract extension this week, injured his right knee in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Greg Newsome II (shoulder) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (concussion evaluation) left the game for tests but returned. Up next Titans will continue their search for a new coach. Jaguars expect to be back at EverBank Stadium next week for a home game. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl |
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