Late Punt Return Gives Jaguars Their First Winning Streak In Over Two Years

Jacksonville rookie Rashad Greene sat out the last seven games with a thumb injury, but on Thursday night the Jaguars were glad to have him back in the line-up.

Trailing by four points with just under four minutes left in the game, Greene fielded a low punt near his own 35-yard line. Streaking straight ahead, he burned the Titans punt unit for 63 yards before being forced out of bounds just five yards from the end zone.

From there, the offense took over and, on the next play, they hit pay dirt. Blake Bortles threw a strike to Julius Thomas, giving the Jags a lead they would never relinquish.The Titans following drive was spoiled almost immediately, as tight end Phillip Supernaw fumbled near his own 30-yard line; Jacksonville would tack on an insurance field goal before seeing out the 19-13 win.

“My fault on that play,” Supernaw said. “I didn’t cover the ball up enough and the guy made a good play on it. My ball security wasn’t as good as it should have been. No matter what bad happens, this team is always going to fight, like we did on that last drive.”

For the Jaguars, this win puts them back in the thick of the AFC South race. Coach Gus Bradley viewed the win as something his team deserved after struggling through several tough losses earlier in the season. “We’ve been in these one-possession games all season. To see us do enough to get the win was great,” he said. “Fortunately, we came out on the good end.”

The Jaguars will host the Chargers next weekend while the Titans will face the Raiders in Nashville.

Photo: EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 22: Rashad Greene #13 of the Jacksonville Jaguars makes the catch in the first quarter against the New York Giants during preseason action at MetLife Stadium on August 22, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Article by Joe Kozlowski