Jaguars knew they could create a big play on special teams vs. Titans, leading to season's first turnover

The Jaguars victory vs the Titans on TNF was kick started by a huge special teams play in the first quarter

For the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) to find success against divisional foe Tennessee Titans (1-2) on Thursday Night Football, they needed to do something they had not done in their last three preseason games; win the turnover battle.

A large part of Thursday's 20-7 victory came on the game's only turnover, a muffed Adoree' Jackson punt early in the first quarter that rookie undrafted free agent Andrew Wingard helped jar loose. The fumble was scooped up by linebacker Leon Jacobs, and on the next snap Gardner Minshew threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to James O'shaughnessy.

Adoree Jackson muffed punt! #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/AgJF03xBUN

— Roto Street Journal (@RotoStJournal) September 20, 2019

"I thought that obviously in the beginning, coming off a tough loss on the road last week, you’re looking for something to happen early. You’re looking for something good to happen. Obviously we were able to get that muffed punt and able to recover it and turn it into a score. We were able to build on that and go up 14-nothing."

This scenario was not necessarily a surprising one to the Jaguars though. They came into the game knowing Titans cornerback and punt returner Adoree' Jackson has been a risky return man the last two seasons, seeing as to how Jackson had fumbled three of his last 18 return attempts.

"We talked about it all week. We knew Adoree' (Jackson) was going to make some questionable decisions when he was returning the ball, so we knew that going in," Wingard said in the locker room after the game.

"We talked all week about winning the turnover battle, too. They we're like 1-8 or something when they lose the turnover battle and that was the goal, and we got it accomplished. "

Jackson was later replaced by Adam Humphries as the team's punt returner, but he did field a few more punts after the fumble. 

“I wanted to give him an opportunity to come back and catch it and see if we could get something going. And then at that point in time, I made a switch," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said.