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Titans explode for 4 TDs in 6 plays, rout Jaguars 42-20

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans scored touchdowns so fast and furiously quarterback Ryan Tannehill needed a little help recalling the exact order. ...
APTOPIX Jaguars Titans Football

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans scored touchdowns sofast and furiously quarterback Ryan Tannehill needed a little help recallingthe exact order.

Call it a very fun blur of points.

The Titans scored four touchdowns over six offensive plays in thethird quarter, routing the Jacksonville Jaguars 42-20 Sunday for their secondstraight victory to keep themselves firmly in the AFC playoff hunt.

“That was a crazy stretch,” Tannehill said.

Tannehill ran for two TDs and threw two TDs to improve to 4-1 asTennessee’s starter. Derrick Henry became the first player in the NFL since2006 to score two TDs within 20 seconds, and rookie receiver A.J. Brown cappedthe scoring spurt with a 65-yard TD catch that made it 35-3 with 6:57 left inthe third quarter.

“I don’t think I’ve been a part of something thatquick,” Henry said. “But that’s just credit to everybody on offensejust being locked in and hopefully we can keep this momentum going and justbuild off it.”

The Titans (6-5) are tied with Indianapolis and Oakland justoutside the AFC’s final wild-card spot — their next two opponents with both onthe road.

Jacksonville (4-7) lost its third straight all inside the AFCSouth, the past two since Nick Foles returned to the lineup.

The Jaguars had nine sacks in beating the Titans 20-7 in Septemberwith Marcus Mariota at quarterback for Tennessee. They sacked Tannehill onlyonce, though they forced a pair of fumbles by Tennessee. Ranked 29th in the NFLagainst the run, the Jaguars gave up 219 yards as the Titans had a 471-369 edgein total offense.

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone was left furious and dealing with morequestions about his job security.

“Am I embarrassed?” Marrone said. “Yes I am that.I’m not speaking for anyone else. You’re going to have to tell them. But Ipromised them that I am going to do a better job, and I’m going to work my buttoff to get this thing right.”

Leonard Fournette had a pair of 1-yard TD runs and finished with97 yards.

Tannehill ran for a 21-yard TD, jumping over Jaguars cornerback TreHerndon at the goal line for a 7-3 halftime lead. The Titans seized controlscoring three TDs on consecutive offensive plays in the third with the fourthcoming at the end of a three-play drive:

— Offensive lineman Dennis Kelly caught a 1-yard TD pass fromTannehill.

— After a three-and-out by Jacksonville, Henry went through themiddle to the left sideline stiff-arming Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson to theground on his way to a 74-yard TD.

— Linebacker Daren Bates stripped Michael Walker of the ball on thekickoff, and Henry scored on a 7-yard TD run on the next snap 16 seconds afterhis first TD.

— Tannehill found Brown around the Titans 48, and the rookie ranto the end zone for a 35-3 lead with 6:57 left in the third.

“It was like we played one half of good football,”Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell said.

Tannehill was 14 of 18 for 259 yards passing, Henry finished with19 carries for 159 yards and Brown had four catches for 135 yards.

The Jaguars recovered an onside kick after Fournette’s second TDbut touched the ball before it went 10 yards. Tannehill ran for his second TDfour plays later.

EXCLUSIVE COMPANY

With his two TDs 16 seconds apart, Henry was the first to scorethat quickly since Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson scored two TDs in 15seconds of Week 10 in 2006. Henry also joined Napoleon Kaufman (1997-99) andRobert Smith (1997-2000) as the only players in NFL history with a rushing TDof at least 70 yards in three consecutive seasons.

Henry had a 99-yarder against the Jaguars last season, and he saidhis 74-yarder was similar going down the opposite sideline to the other endzone.

“I was trying to keep him away as I kept trying to stayinbounds and keep moving down the field,” Henry said. “You know itworked again.”

INJURIES

Jaguars safety Ronnie Harrison suffered a concussion late in thefirst quarter and did not return. Herndon was evaluated for a concussion aftertrying to tackle Tannehill. He was cleared and returned.

Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan went down after taking an apparentshot in the ribs at the end of the first quarter. He missed the next play whereJaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue beat Lewan’s replacement to sackTannehill and strip him of the ball to start the second quarter. Titanscornerback LeShaun Sims hurt an ankle.

UP NEXT

Jaguars: Host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Titans: Visit Indianapolis on Sunday.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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