Despite a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Colts remain in second place in the AFC South eight weeks into the 2024 season with a 4-4 record. The Texans (6-2) hold a commanding lead over the division, as the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans both lost on Sunday, dropping to 2-6 and 1-6, respectively.
Six Jaguars starters suffer injuries in loss to Packers
The Jaguars traded blows with the Green Bay Packers throughout Sunday's game at EverBank Stadium in a back-and-forth game that ended with a Packers field goal with two seconds left on the clock, but the biggest blows the Jaguars suffered were, arguably, not score-related.
A total of six Jaguars starters, including top wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., sustained injuries during the game and five of them did not return. Here's the full list:
- WR Christian Kirk
- WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- WR Gabe Davis
- OL Ezra Cleveland
- CB Ronald Darby
- OL Brandon Scherff (returned to game)
Thomas was listed as questionable to return in the fourth quarter, but before he exited the game Thomas was responsible for a crucial touchdown that put the Jaguars up 17-13 in the third quarter. Thomas will have an MRI on his ribs to determine his status for Week 9, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. Rapoport also reported Kirk suffered a broken collarbone and is out for the season.
"It's a warrior league, and we're getting to that point in the season," safety Andre Cisco said.
Lawrence completed 21-of-32 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, finishing the game with a passer rating of 104.7. Lawrence also recorded a rushing touchdown of his own, running six yards to reach the end zone to put Jacksonville's first points up on the board in the first quarter.
However, Lawrence committed two turnovers on Sunday as well, with the second one leading directly to a Green Bay touchdown that put the Packers up 27-17 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. And while the Jaguars were able to fight their way back to tie the game – at that point missing their three best receivers – the Packers got within field goal territory on their final possession thanks to a 51-yard pass from backup quarterback Malik Willis to wide receiver Jayden Reed, and made a last-second field goal to take the win.
"They fought to the end," head coach Doug Pederson said. "That's all I can ask for, but I want them to understand that games come down to about two plays, three plays."
"Everybody was playing their asses off [on Sunday], leaving a legacy for themselves and for our team," tight end Evan Engram said. "That brought us down to the wire against a really good team. So, I'm saying that we've got to continue to do that and continue to build on that."
The Jaguars are now 2-6 on the season, next traveling to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.
Titans plagued by turnovers, penalties in loss to Lions
For a little over one quarter of the Titans and Lions game on Sunday, it looked like it might actually be a game. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph – playing for the second straight week in place of an injured Will Levis – and the Titans offense responded in kind to the Lions' first two touchdowns, as Rudolph ran the ball in himself for the first touchdown and connected with wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the second.
With just over 14 minutes to go in the second quarter, the game was tied 14-14.
Then, the Lions scored 38 unanswered points.
"We have to do a lot of things a lot better," head coach Brian Callahan said. "Right now, it is not a product that people are excited to watch. We have to do something about that."
Despite the lopsided final scored of 52-14, there were still some bright spots for the Titans. Rudolph completed 22-of-38 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown, wide receiver Calvin Ridley had 10 receptions for 143 yards and linebacker Arden Key had two sacks and three quarterback hits.
But the Titans also had four turnovers, including two interceptions, and committed eight penalties for a total of 60 yards. The special teams unit allowed a 90-yard touchdown return and a 72-yard punt return that started another Lions touchdown drive; Detroit finished the day with a total of 262 return yards.
"Obviously, we haven't played well enough on special teams," Callahan said. "We haven't played well enough, and we haven't coached well enough…We don't get down and cover, and we missed tackles today. There's blame to go around all of it, both schematically and in performance. None of it is good enough anywhere."
Both of Rudolph's interceptions turned into Lions touchdowns as well.
"Unfortunately, it's the same story – giving them some easy ones once again, putting our defense on a short field," Rudolph said. "I have to protect the ball better, and put our defense in a better situation."
Ridley said postgame the Titans went into Week 8 with the goal of turning their season around. Instead, they are 1-6 and left with even fewer answers as to how to fix their team.
"It's the same thing every week," Key said. "We don't play complementary football. One week it might be the offense, one week it might be the defense, one week it might be special teams. We haven't yet played complementary football in all three phases of the game."
