Week 3 of the NFL starts off with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennesse Titans. This division rivalry is set to be a ground and pound fest. Both teams have a great run offense and have defenses that want to prove that they’re still at the top of the list in the NFL. The Titans come into this matchup 1-1 on the season and look to change that to 2-1 heading into Week 4. On the other side, we have the Jaguars who have already lost their $88 million dollar quarterback Nick Foles for an extended period of time. Foles injury has put Gardner Minshew in the driver seat trying to get the Jags to win number 1 on the season. Both teams want to set the tone defensively and ground and pound but with the Jalen Ramsey trade talks looming around this game it seems like Jacksonville needs this more than Tennesse. Last year this matchup was headlined by Derrick Henry’s 99-yard touchdown run where he brought back “Beast Mode” like Marshawn was out there on the field. Below you can check out the run and also read what to look for as we breakdown the matchup deeper.

QB Matchup – Gardner Minshew vs Marcus Mariota

The quarterback play in this game is simple because it comes down to who will manage the game better than the other one. Marcus Mariota has to prove to everyone that he can get the job done this season to separate himself from Jameis Winston and all the comparisons coming into the league. So far on the young season, Mariota has thrown for 403 yards in the air with 4 TDs and he will need to try to continue airing the ball out against this Jags defense that has struggled in the first two weeks. Jacksonville does need some credit because they’ve played the Chiefs & Texans which would be two tough matchups for any defense. Marcus Mariota will need to use his arm and his legs if he wants to get this win over the Jags. Marcus Mariota has shown a lot of pocket presence and has been very patient in his approach this season and that will need to continue with Campbell and that stout defense coming for him tonight.

Gardner Minshew has been filling some serious shoes in Jacksonville, especially as a rookie 6th rounder. The Jags didn’t expect to have Minshew in with the 1st squad but with the injury of Foles, he’s found his niche in the offense and has looked amazing. The Jags might be winless but Minshew has stepped up big time and almost made a heroic comeback in Houston against the Texans. Minshew has shown that he can throw the ball and that he has some legs on him to run for the yardage that he needs when the defense isn’t pressuring him. Minshew has thrown for 488 yards and 3 TDs on the season and will need to continue to sling the football to his favorite targets Chark & Westbrook. The Jags can squeeze a win out if Minshew manages the game and keeps things simple while trying to feed his running back Leonard Fournette.

RB Matchup – Derrick Henry vs Leonard Fournette

Derrick Henry has been a complete monster this season and has pounded opposing defenses that he’s played heading into Week 3. A lot of people want to see if he can sustain this for a whole season and Henry’s trying to make believers out of the haters. Henry has been setting the tone for the offense and has been able to use the ground game to help his QB in the play action big time. Henry has 166 yards on 34 carries with 2 TDs on the ground and 1 TD on a 75-yard reception. The growth in Henry’s game has kept Dion Lewis off the field and the way he’s been playing he looks like the clear cut 3 down back. Henry will need to be physical with this Jags defense and beat them up all quarters to help his team to victory. Henry has put the 99 yard TD run behind him from last year but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again against this Jags defense if they’re caught sleeping.

One of the running backs that has been quiet on the season has been Leonard Fournette. He had the chance to propel his team to victory last week and got stopped on the 1-yard line for the two-point conversion against Houston. Look for Fournette to try to punish the Titans to make up for last week. Leonard Fournette is one of the most powerful runners in the NFL and he will try to set the tone for the game for his team because the offense goes the way he leads. On the season Fournette has rushed for 113 yards on 28 carries with no touchdowns. Looks for Fournette to get in the end zone to spark his team and help them get a win on the season. People don’t understand how much of an emotional leader that Leonard Fournette is for this team and the way that his energy’s shown is how the team moves. Look for LF27 to have a big game on the ground in this one to try to show he’s still an elite running back in the NFL.

WR Matchup – Titans Receivers vs Jaguars Receivers

The Titans receiving core has been all over the place just like the Jaguars core. Both teams don’t have a for sure number 1 target but both teams work great as a unit. Dede Westbrook & Corey Davis came into this season as the two go-to receivers in the offenses but haven’t had those breakout games. Davis has 3 catches for 38 yards on the season so far and Westbrook has 6 catches for 33 yards with 1 TD. Those two should get back on track but a couple of names that have been putting up the numbers in those offenses are DJ Chark and AJ Brown. Those two have been on a fast pace and have gained the trust of the quarterbacks that are about to go head to head in this Week 3 matchup. This could be one of those games where the big names show up or it could be the moment where we learn more about these rookies trying to make a name for themselves. The Titans have a lot of weapons and even use Dion Lewis in the passing game so it should be interesting to see how things shake out in this game. The Jags don’t really throw too much to Fournette out the backfield unless its a check-down play so we will see if this becomes a shootout.

TE Matchup – James O’Shaughnessy vs Delanie Walker

James O’Shaughnessy has been the safety blanket in this offense the first two weeks and this will be someone that Minshew leans on if the Titans pass rush tries to get to him. O’Shaughnessy has 8 catches on the season for 60 yards and will be trying to add more if Minshew can get the ball to him. With O’Shaughnessy’s size, he’s a great mismatch in the secondary if he gets loose against the Titans. The thing that could hurt O’Shaughnessy is if the Jags get the running game going or if it’s a great defensive game he may not get in the end zone. He’s a nice target and I’m sure that Minshew will be looking for him inside that 20-yard line before they try to score.

Delanie Walker on the flip side has been the go-to man for Mariota since he entered the NFL. Walker has been someone that Mariota can depend on in any situation and I don’t see this going away anytime soon. Walker has been a pro bowler and a receiving stud at all times when healthy. Walker was out last season and came back with some serious energy and has vowed that he’s coming back for that top TE spot in the NFL. On the season Walker has 9 catches for 94 yards and 2 TDs on the season and it’s only Week 3 of the NFL. The chemistry that Walker and Mariota have is something special and they will continue to exploit defenses in the red zone for as long as they both can. The Jags will have their eyes on Walker and trying to slow him down but if Derrick Henry’s making plays it will be tough with a balanced attack from the Titans.

DEF Matchup – Jaguars Defense vs Titans Defense

The Jaguars have a great defense on paper but they haven’t been able to translate it to the game since their AFC Championship game against the Patriots 2 seasons ago. The Jags are going through a little turmoil right now with Jalen Ramsey requesting a trade but he will be suited up for the game tonight. Ramsey expressed he wants to win and he will be a huge part of winning in Jacksonville if he’s out there and not traded.

"S*** happens. It is what it is." Says he'll let God and his agent do their work. Asked follow-up questions, he keeps saying he's excited to play Thursday. "I want all my dogs to go out there and ball. I want to go out and ball with them — if I'm still here."

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 17, 2019

The Jags still have Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye on the defensive side. The Jags will get their first win on the season if they can pressure Mariota and make them force throws inside the pocket with pressure. The Jags can’t let this game be a well-balanced attack from the Titans as they want to keep them one dimensional. This will be a defensive game and it will be a game that could be one of those 15-12 type games with both defenses.

The Tennesse Titans have Malcolm Butler and Kevin Byard in the secondary which has been very explosive for them so far in the season. The Titans defense has stepped up and they have made some big plays and want to build on that against the Jaguars. The Titans will try to pressure Minshew into some bad throws and will try to stack the box against Leonard Fournette to establish the line early in the game. The Titans have been ball-hawking and want to send a message to the rest of the league that their defense is for real and they have the playmakers to prove just that against the Jaguars on tonight with the NFL and fans watching.

Prediction: Titans vs Jaguars (Jacksonville 17 – Tennesse 13) 

Photo Credit: Gary McCullough/Associated Press, (AP Photo/James Kenney), Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports, Stephen B. Morton AP,