Jaguars at Titans
How quickly fortunes can change in the tightly packed AFC South.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were within a quarter of taking over sole possession of first place in the AFC South a week ago before a late collapse against the New York Giants. The Tennessee Titans were alone atop the division before a four-game losing streak sent them plummeting below .500.
But both teams can keep themselves squarely in the middle of the division title race with a win when the Titans host the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Jaguars (6-5) are tied for the division lead with Indianapolis after having their three-game winning streak snapped in last week's 24-20 loss at New York, a game in which they led 17-6 at halftime and 17-9 after three quarters before surrendering a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Eli Manning.
Jacksonville's potential winning drive was thwarted by three consecutive sacks - the last of which resulted in a fumble - and the Jags hope the return of left tackle Eugene Monroe (concussion) will help them keep quarterback David Garrard upright against a Tennessee defense that is tied for second in the NFL with 32 sacks.
Garrard struggled against the Titans in the first meeting this year, completing only 7 of 12 passes for 49 yards with an interception before leaving with a concussion.
He could be without a key receiver Sunday in Mike Sims-Walker, who did not practice Wednesday because of a high ankle sprain. Sims-Walker, who has 36 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns, played through the injury last week.
The Titans (5-6) led the AFC South at 5-2 after an impressive 37-19 win against Philadelphia in Week 7 - a week after they thumped the Jaguars 30-3 in Jacksonville - but they've lost four straight since then.
The losing streak hit a new low last week in Houston, where the Titans managed only 162 total yards in a 20-0 loss to the Texans. Rusty Smith threw three interceptions in his first career start, and star running back Chris Johnson was held to a career-low five yards on seven carries.
The Titans' offense hasn't scored a touchdown in nine quarters, a trend it hopes to change against a Jaguars defense it has fared well against.
Tennessee has won four of the last five against Jacksonville, including the last two in Nashville, and the Titans have scored 30 points in each of the past two meetings.
Veteran Kerry Collins is expected to be back under center Sunday after missing two games with a calf injury. Receiver Kenny Britt could return after missing three games with a strained right hamstring and Johnson hopes to bounce back from his career-worst performance by continuing his recent dominance against the Jags.
Johnson had 228 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee's 30-13 win last November in Nashville, and he rushed for 111 yards and a score in the first meeting this season.