TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coming off the worst blown lead at home in NFL history and with four straight losses, the Tennessee Titans certainly are in no position to take any team lightly.
Especially not the winless Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars got their first win of 2013 against Tennessee, snapping a 13-game skid. It’s part of an ugly run for the Titans who also became the first team to lose to the Jaguars in Jacksonville in 2012. Completing the unenviable hat trick, Tennessee also became the first team to lose to the previously winless Colts in 2011.
The Titans now have a new coach in Ken Whisenhunt, and he says they haven’t talked much about this team’s history with the Jaguars.
“We’re certainly aware of the success that they’ve had coming into here,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m not talking about what their record was. They have won here, and we have to be ready.”
Cornerback Jason McCourty noted the Titans (1-4) have only one more win than the Jaguars (0-5), and they need to prove to their home fans they can finish after blowing a 28-3 lead last Sunday, losing 29-28 to Cleveland. The Titans have lost seven of their last eight home games.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us,” McCourty said. “For us to focus on the fact that they’re winless would be dumb for us.”
The Jaguars gave Gus Bradley his first win as a head coach here last November. But they are deep in a complete rebuild with 435 roster moves since he and general manager David Caldwell took over last year. Bradley sees no carry-over from that win.
“I can speak for us, we’re a totally different team than we were last year,” Bradley said. “I think we have 10 new starters on offense compared to last year. A lot of our guys weren’t here, so it’s completely different.”
Rookie quarterback Blake Bortles will be making his third start since replacing Chad Henne, and the Jaguars are coming off a 17-9 loss to Pittsburgh at home that was their closest yet.
Here are some things to watch for Sunday:
WHITEHURST, TAKE 2: Titans quarterback Jake Locker’s injured right thumb means backup Charlie Whitehurst could start for the second time in three games. Whitehurst, a nine-year veteran, is coming off the best game of his career despite the loss to the Browns. Whitehurst had career highs with 194 yards passing, two touchdowns and a 123.9 passer rating. His two TDs came on consecutive passes, including a career-long 75-yarder to Justin Hunter.
ROLLING WITH ROOKIES: The Jaguars started an NFL-high seven rookies, including six on offense, last week against Pittsburgh. Jacksonville also has five second-year players in the starting lineup, making it one of the youngest and least-experienced teams in the league. Bradley knows the youngsters, especially Bortles, will make some mistakes early on. But he’s counting on them playing more like veterans late.
“It’s a challenge that we accept,” Bradley said.
BANGED-UP TENNESSEE: This will be the first game for the Titans without safety Bernard Pollard (ruptured Achilles tendon) and left tackle Michael Roos (right knee). Pollard was their leading tackler last season, and Roos had played more games than any NFL offensive lineman since 2005.
Veteran George Wilson replaces Pollard, but the Titans are going with rookie Taylor Lewan at left tackle for his first start. The No. 11 pick overall out of Michigan already has two penalties in limited play, and he was flagged for unnecessary roughness last week.
Whisenhunt said he got in the rookie’s ear after that penalty.
“Obviously, he’s got to understand his perception in the league now,” Whisenhunt said.
RUNNING ON EMPTY: Jacksonville ranks 31st in the league in rushing, averaging just 67 yards a game, and now starter Toby Gerhart (foot), Jordan Todman (ankle) and Storm Johnson (ankle) are banged-up. They all practiced in some capacity this week, but it’s unclear how healthy they will be against the Titans. Bradley would like to see more runs than the 15 the Jaguars had against the Steelers. That might mean reeling in Bortles, who changed seven running plays to passes in the loss.
CLEAN IT UP: The Jaguars may be young with lots of new faces, but they haven’t been hurting themselves with penalties. They have been flagged only 22 times for 180 yards. The Titans are one of the most-penalized teams in the league with 41 for 375 yards, and they were flagged for six personal fouls last week even if a couple were offset.
___ AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report from Jacksonville, Florida.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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