Joe Rexrode and Jason Wolf recap the Titans' last regular-season game against the Jaguars. Autumn Allison / USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
It was cold and it was dark, the stands weren’t full, the game was dull, the Tennessee Titans could barely complete a forward pass, and oh my God, did they just get stuffed on another predictable short-yardage run?!
There are always reasons to complain. There have been so many lately. But this is a new year and, as demonstrated in their 15-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Nissan Stadium, these are new Titans. Playoff-bound Titans, for the first time since 2008. Winners, no matter how often their play suggests otherwise. Successes in 2017, worth a look to see what they can do in the early stages of 2018.
More: Titans 15, Jaguars 10: Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry lead Titans into playoffs
It was cold but they hit hard. It was dark, but running back Derrick Henry found daylight on a second-quarter screen and, bam, he was gone, 66 yards on the play of the game. The stands weren’t full, but they were more full than a week earlier when the Titans lost to the Rams – a third straight to fall to 8-7 – and they were New Year’s Eve festive in the end.
![Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) celebrates]()
1 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws an autographed]()
2 of 106![Titans head coach Mike Mularkey smiles as he walks]()
3 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates his first]()
4 of 106![A fan doesn't seem to mind the cold during the second]()
5 of 106![Titans mascot T-Rac celebrates after the team's playoff-clinching]()
6 of 106![Titans general manager Jon Robinson pats offensive]()
7 of 106![Titans general manager hugs safety Kevin Byard (31)]()
8 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates after the]()
9 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) signs autographs]()
10 of 106![Fans celebrate withTitans linebacker Avery Williamson]()
11 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) celebrates with]()
12 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) celebrates with]()
13 of 106![Jaguars linebacker Donald Payne (52) mixes it up with]()
14 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates with fans]()
15 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles for]()
16 of 106![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) and quarterback]()
17 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and quarterback]()
18 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) is congratulated by]()
19 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles out]()
20 of 106![A fan has multiple layers to stay warm during the second]()
21 of 106![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) is brought down]()
22 of 106![A bundled-up fan watches the second half at Nissan]()
23 of 106![Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin (22) breaks up a pass]()
24 of 106![Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin (22) motions an incomplete]()
25 of 106![Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) gains yards]()
26 of 106![Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson (39) hangs on to bring]()
27 of 106![Jaguars fans celebrate with defensive end Yannick Ngakoue]()
28 of 106![Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during the]()
29 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) runs with the ball after]()
30 of 106![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) and linebacker Jayon]()
31 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) gains yards]()
32 of 106![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) can't hang onto]()
33 of 106![Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook (12) can't hang]()
34 of 106![This Titans fan is covered in layers to beat the cold]()
35 of 106![A young fan is covered up to battle the cold during]()
36 of 106![Titans linebacker Avery Williamson (54) brings down]()
37 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during]()
38 of 106![Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) calls for]()
39 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) powers over]()
40 of 106![A fan is all bundled up during the first half at Nissan]()
41 of 106![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) pulls in a catch]()
42 of 106![Titans defenders stop Jaguars running back Leonard]()
43 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) advances on a]()
44 of 106![Jaguars safety Barry Church (42) brings down Titans]()
45 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) gets by Jaguars]()
46 of 106![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) kicks a field goal]()
47 of 106![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates his]()
48 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) and linebacker]()
49 of 106![Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) comes up with the]()
50 of 106![Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) celebrates his fumble]()
51 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) celebrates the]()
52 of 106![Titans head coach Mike Mularkey likes what he sees]()
53 of 106![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates his]()
54 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles with]()
55 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) lands after gaining]()
56 of 106![A fan watches the game all bundled up during the first]()
57 of 106![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) kicks a field goal]()
58 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) breaks up a]()
59 of 106![A fan is bundled up for the Titans-Jaguars game during]()
60 of 106![Titans running back David Fluellen (32) and tight end]()
61 of 106![Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) gains yards]()
62 of 106![Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) stops Jaguars]()
63 of 106![Jaguars place kicker Josh Lambo (4) makes a field goal]()
64 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands off to]()
65 of 106![Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) stops Jaguars running]()
66 of 106![Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) can't hang onto]()
67 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) scores on a]()
68 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) leaves the Jaguars]()
69 of 106![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) celebrates]()
70 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) takes off on]()
71 of 106![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) congratulates]()
72 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) gets ready to]()
73 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) gains yards]()
74 of 106![Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson (39) can't quite hang]()
75 of 106![Jaguars wide receiver Jaydon Mickens (85) gets by Titans]()
76 of 106![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) is stopped by]()
77 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is sacked by]()
78 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) stops Jaguars]()
79 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) stops Jaguars]()
80 of 106![Titans safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) misses a tackle]()
81 of 106![Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) breaks]()
82 of 106![Fans are bundled up against the cold during the Titans-Jaguars]()
83 of 106![Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) signals to a]()
84 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up on the]()
85 of 106![A fan deals with the cold during the Titans-Jaguars]()
86 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) stops Jaguars]()
87 of 106![A fan photographs the Titans as they take the field]()
88 of 106![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) makes a catch]()
89 of 106![The Titans receivers huddle before the start of the]()
90 of 106![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) warms up before]()
91 of 106![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before]()
92 of 106![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) warms up before]()
93 of 106![Steven Dalton, of Nashville, warms his face with a]()
94 of 106![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before]()
95 of 106![The Titans warm up before the start of the game at]()
96 of 106![The Titans huddle before the start of the game against]()
97 of 106![Johnny "Bonfire" Goodman sports blu facial hair before]()
98 of 106![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) warms up before]()
99 of 106![Two fans are bundled up before the start of the game]()
100 of 106![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) warms up before]()
101 of 106![Fans arrive before the game between the Titans and]()
102 of 106![The Titans ÒBlue CrewÓ drum line warms up before the]()
103 of 106![Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau signs autographs]()
104 of 106![Fans keep warm under a heater before the game between]()
105 of 106![Fans play games before the game between the Titans]()
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“Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!” the fans chanted, after Marcus Mariota delivered one of the most impressive runs of his young career in the biggest game, a 13-yard scramble on third-and-6 to effectively end Jacksonville’s chances. He had just fought like an ornery fullback for a first down on a previous run.
He's banged up, and his statistics have taken a huge dip this season, but those plays – against the team that broke his leg and ruined the Titans' playoff hopes a year ago – speak to what he is to this team.
More: Instant analysis of the Titans win over the Jaguars
And yeah, the Titans are struggling to pass or do much of anything on offense. But they sure can punt. Tennessee had 116 total yards and four first downs at the half, and led 12-3. That’s because Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern is a great one, just like kicker Ryan Succop, and one of his boomers was muffed and recovered by Titans tight end Phillip Supernaw.
Combine that with a forced fumble from Titans cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and the Titans had two short fields in the first half. Those two drives went a combined 13 yards in eight plays. Ugly. But Succop finished both as he usually does.
Titans ballhawk Kevin Byard got his seventh pick of the season early in the fourth quarter, at the expense of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, and it was getting close to over … until Mariota and Henry collided on a mix-up and botched exchange and Yannick Ngakoue raced 67 yards with the fumble to cut the lead to 15-10.
Didn't matter. This was the Titans’ day. After losing three straight and blowing the AFC South and hearing in the morning from various national NFL reporters that coach Mike Mularkey’s job may be in jeopardy.
It was their day and it was earned – the Jaguars did not just give this to them. Jags coach Doug Marrone insisted his team would play to win Sunday, even though it had the No. 3 spot in the AFC playoffs locked up. He played his mainstays. And they were getting run out of the stadium until that gift from the Titans.
Still, this offense. We’ve been talking about it for months now, and if it doesn’t figure some things out fast this will be a one-week postseason for the Titans. It actually did miss running back DeMarco Murray (knee), though Henry accounted for 117 of the Titans’ 232 total yards.
Mariota was off for much of the day. Then he put a perfect pass in the hands of receiver Eric Decker with the Titans trying to hold on late, and Decker dropped it. Then the Titans got stuffed, yet again, on a predictable third-and-short run.
But linebacker Brian Orakpo continued the terrorizing of Bortles that was consistent all day, and the Jags had to punt. Mariota did his thing. Byard ended it with his second pick. He and several of his teammates did a victory lap in celebration. And at that moment the vibe at Nissan Stadium was loud, and happy, and new.
Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.