The Tennessee Titans host their division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars, for their 2020 home opener. Both teams enter this week two matchup with identical 1-0 records. Tennessee has won seven of the last 10 matchups including the last six at Nissan Stadium. Jacksonville hasn’t won in Nashville since the 2013 season. The winner of this game will have a valuable early-season lead in the AFC South. What to watch for as Derrick Henry and the Titans take on Gardner Minshew II and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Is Minshew Mania ready to get fired up once again?
Minshew Mania 2.0? What to Watch in Tennessee Titans-Jacksonville Jaguars
More Derrick Henry Dominance
Derrick Henry may be the most feared man in DUUUVAL County Florida. He has owned the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two seasons at home. Henry has 397 yards on 36 carries and six touchdowns combined in the last two meetings in Nashville. That’s good for an 11 yard per carry average. Expect a heavy dose of Henry in this game, especially with third-down, rookie running back Darrynton Evans missing his second straight game. The Titans will also be without star wide-out A.J. Brown who’s sidelined with a bone bruise.
Derrick Henry owns the Jaguars! Two years in a row. Beast Mode.😤
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/FU1M8rQqKd
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 24, 2019
Jonnu Smith Breakout
With A.J. Brown out and the Jaguars’ emphasis on stopping Henry, look for Jonnu Smith to see more opportunities. Smith had four receptions on seven targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Monday night’s win over the Denver Broncos. He could see even more targets from Ryan Tannehill with Brown on the sideline and wide receiver Corey Davis attracting most of the attention from the Jacksonville secondary.
Minshew Mania 2.0
Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II had a career start to the 2020 season. He finished with 19/20 passing for 173 yards and three touchdowns in their Week 1 win at home against the Philip Rivers-led Indianapolis Colts. Although there was talk the Jaguars were tanking for Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Minshew’s success may change the narrative in Jacksonville, and he’s not without weapons. Rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. looks to be a potential star alongside D.J. Chark. Both Shenault and Chark were on the receiving ends of Minshew touchdown passes. Minshew has had success against the Titans, He was 20/30 passing for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the Jaguars’ Week 3 win at home last season. He missed the second meeting of the year in Week 12 due to injury. The Titans will have to rely on two rookies in the secondary on Sunday, second-round pick Kristian Fulton and seventh-round pick Chris Jackson as star corner Adoree Jackson is on the injured reserve and Malcolm Butler is questionable with a quad injury.
MINSHEW. MANIA.
19/20
173 Pass Yds
3 TD pic.twitter.com/Wf3GSemqTj— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 13, 2020
The Titans enter Sunday’s matchup as 7.5 point favorites, but there’s potential here for a trap game. Jacksonville has a chip on its shoulder and Minshew always plays with a confident swagger his teammates feed off. The Titans will have to overcome injuries to key players and will have to shake off any early-season rust. Narrowly avoiding a disappointing loss in Denver, the Titans will have to bring their A-game on Sunday at home.
