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Last-second FG block helps Titans avoid loss to Jags

Oct 12, 2014 - 9:12 PM Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Succop connected on three field goals and the Tennessee special-teams unit came up with a game-saving field-goal block in the final seconds, as the Titans escaped with a 16-14 decision over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6 action.

"I had a sense of foreboding. I'm just glad we made a play at the end to win the game," admitted Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "I'm glad to get the win today. It's what we needed."

With Jake Locker inactive due to a thumb injury, Charlie Whitehurst finished 17-of-28 for 233 yards for the Titans (2-4), who did just enough to put an end to a four-game losing skid since a season-opening win at Kansas City.

Bishop Sankey totaled 61 yards on 18 carries, Justin Hunter added 77 yards on three catches and Jackie Battle's rushing score accounted for the hosts' lone touchdown.

Blake Bortles threw for 336 yards and a late score to Clay Harbor on 32-of-46 attempts for the Jaguars (0-6), who have dropped the first six games of a season for a second consecutive year.

"You earn success in this league, it's not given," Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley said. "We'll use this and I think we'll grow from this."

Cecil Shorts led all receivers with 103 yards and 10 receptions, with Storm Johnson adding another TD on the ground.

Trailing by nine inside of five minutes to play, Jacksonville moved the ball deep into enemy territory. Bortles hit Shorts for a long gain on 1st-and-10 from the Titans' 26, but Jason McCourty stripped the ball from behind and Avery Williamson recovered with a run back one yard shy of midfield.

Tennessee went three-and-out, but the Jags began their following drive on their own 17 with 2:43 remaining. Shorts was called upon twice for first-down catches immediately after the two-minute warning, the second of which resulted from a replay reversal of an initial call of incomplete.

Five plays later, on 3rd-and-15, Harbor bounced off a defender between the hashmarks and hit the end zone for a 20-yard TD reception with 37 seconds left for a 16-14 contest.

The onside kick was bobbled by the first Titan to touch it, then eventually wound up in the hands of a Jaguars player at his own 42-yard line. Two completions sandwiched around a spike to stop the clock set the stage for Josh Scobee's 55-yard attempt, which was blocked at the line of scrimmage.

"It's huge. We've been fighting for a win for so long. After the day a win is a win. We fought to the end," said Tennesee defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.

Johnson's 1-yard plunge capped the opening series of the contest and put the Jags on the board. Succop's 25-yard make ended the Titans' second touch for a 7-3 game.

Tennessee went ahead 10-7 with just over a minute to play in the half, as Battle dove into the end zone from a yard out to cap an 80-yard drive.

Succop was good from 21 yards away on the Titans' first series of the second half, and the hosts led 13-7 after a 77-yard, 13-play march. A Blidi Wreh- Wilson pick of Bortles on the Jags' ensuing possession set up Succop's 42-yard make early in the fourth for a nine-point Tennessee edge.

Game Notes

Succop made three-or-more field goals in one game for the 18th time in his career ... Bortles surpassed the 300-yard mark for the first time in his brief career ... Jacksonville picked up 27 first downs and was 8-of-15 on third downs, while holding Tennessee to 14 first downs and 3-of-11 efficiency on third-down plays ... The Jags lost despite a 379-290 edge in total offense ... Sankey got the start with Shonn Greene inactive due to a sore hamstring ... Also inactive for the Titans was safety Coty Sensabaugh and tight end Taylor Thompson (knee injuries).