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By JEFF MEZYDLO

STATS Senior Writer

 

(AP) -- Ken Whisenhunt believes his Tennessee Titans can confidently move forward from one of the most disheartening losses in franchise history.

 

The Titans look to prove their coach right while trying to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat Sunday and prevent the Jacksonville Jaguars from recording their first win of the season in Nashville for a second straight year.

 

Tennessee (1-4) led by 25 points late in the second quarter last Sunday before Cleveland scored 26 unanswered to win 29-28. The Titans' stunning collapse - a franchise record - was also the largest blown lead by a home team in NFL history.

 

Whisenhunt, meanwhile, has tried make something positive from a disastrous situation.

 

"It gives us an opportunity to learn from it, and if we get in that situation again and we win a game because of it, it doesn't leave a mark," he said.

 

Though the Titans have allowed an average of 32.3 points in four games since their 26-10 win at Kansas City, lost veteran safety to Bernard Pollard to a season-ending Achilles injury and aren't sure if a thumb problem will sideline quarterback Jake Locker, Whisenhunt feels there are better days ahead.

 

The Titans last dropped five straight as part of a six-game skid during the 2010 season.

 

"I fully believe that we're going to be a good football team," Whisenhunt said. "It's coming. We're getting better. We're going to be OK. We just have to continue on this same track and be consistent."

 

That track, however, has been rocky.

 

The Titans rank 29th in scoring (17.6 points per game), 23rd in total defense (374.2 yards per game) and have been among the league's most undisciplined teams with 55 penalties.

 

Limited by hand issues, Locker has thrown four touchdowns, four interceptions and owns a 75.9 passer rating in four games. If he's unable to play, Charlie Whitehurst is likely to make his second start after throwing two TDs and no INTs in relief against the Browns.

 

"Are we frustrated that we're not better, we're not playing better football or we haven't had more success? Sure," Whisenhunt said. "Everybody wants to win. That's what this business is all about. I feel like our guys believe that what we're doing, (and) we're doing it the right way."

 

Jacksonville (0-5) hasn't found a way to win but should feel confident heading to Tennessee, where it won 29-27 on Nov. 10 after an 0-8 start. The Jaguars also believe they might be close to putting things together defensively following Sunday's 17-9 loss to Pittsburgh.

 

After allowing an average of 38.0 points in the first four games, the Jaguars yielded one offensive touchdown and held the Steelers to 372 total yards - the first time they kept an opponent under 400.

 

"At the end of the day, our focus here is to get better and to correct the things we haven't been doing well," cornerback Alan Ball. "(Sunday), just playing for four quarters, that's what I'm energized about. That's one thing we should build on."

 

The Jaguars, however, rank 31st in both scoring (13.4 ppg) and total offense (272.2).

 

Rookie Blake Bortles has thrown one TD and four INTs in his two starts. One of those picks was returned 22 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Steelers.

 

Fellow rookie Allen Hurns burst on the scene with four receptions for 110 yards and two TDs at Philadelphia in Week 1, but has dropped six passes since, including three on the first four drives last Sunday.

 

"At the end of the day it's not acceptable," said Hurns, who has 12 catches for 170 yards and one TD in the last four contests. "It's all about being consistent. When the plays come to you, you've got to make them."

 

Running backs Toby Gerhart, Storm Johnson and Jordan Todman each missed time last Sunday with foot injuries, so it's uncertain if any or all would face the Titans. Jacksonville's average of 67.0 rushing yards also ranks second-to-last in the NFL.

 

Gerhart, the team's starter to open the season, has averaged 2.6 yards per carry while rushing for 123 yards and a TD.

 

The Jaguars could have rookie receiver Marqise Lee back after missing three straight games with a hamstring injury. Lee has eight receptions for 73 yards in two games.

 

Source: Hosted.Stats.com

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Prepare! For terrible football!

 

:jags: 24

:Titans: 21

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Jags gonna get that first win.

 

:jags: 21

:Titans: 16

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I'm surprised the Jags didn't try to make that a shorter fg with 12 seconds left

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Thoughts on Bortles, Vin?

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Didn't see the game. Stat-line seems pretty good though, and Cecil got involved. So that's a plus.

 

We need a run game. Whether it be the O-line stepping up or one of the backs doing it. Someone needs to.

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Ah, wish Storm did better but the Titans are tough to run on.

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Jedd Fisch really getting on my last nerve with his babying of Bortles. Dude calls short routes for days then wonders why DBs sit on routes and jump over WRs for interceptions.

:badass:

 

They let him do his thing in the preseason then once he's in the regular season they try to scale everything back, I guess because the games count? Fuck it, let the kid grow and learn. Not to mention his stubborness to use these heavy formations when we simply do not have the OL or TEs that can block to do so. Spread it out, you have all those young WRs, Bortles can make a few guys miss if need be. Also, when you spread the defense out, holes magically appear in the run game. This isn't rocket science.

 

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