Brian Thomas Jr.'s "electric" performance helps the Jaguars win against the Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) head coach Doug Pederson has seen a great rookie receiver up close.

Pederson played for Green Bay in 1998 when the Packers faced the Minnesota Vikings when Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss was in his rookie season.

In two games against the Packers this season, Moss posted 343 yards on 13 catches, including 190 yards on five catches in his first game at Lambeau Field.

In Sunday’s 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans (3-13), Brian Thomas Jr. tied with Moss as the rookie receivers with the most games with 60 yards and a touchdown in NFL history.

Game review:https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/jaguars/2024/12/29/jaguars-titans-live-score-updates-highlights-tv-channel

“Randy Moss is a great receiver and Brian impresses every week,” Pederson said, taking a moment to acknowledge the magnitude of the record Thomas just achieved. “The way he works, the way he handles himself. It’s very impressive for a small child.”

Thomas recorded 108 total yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Jacksonville called a wide receiver reverse and a shovel pass to put the ball in space, which traveled a total of 35 yards on the intended plays, catching Tennessee off guard.

Because of his dynamic play, part of the team’s focus is to target him in every way possible.

“Any time you get the ball in Brian Thomas’s hands, it’s pretty electric,” Pederson said. “He does some great things with it.”

While the team created creative looks for him in the backfield, they weren’t afraid to utilize his pass-catching skills.

Thomas and quarterback Mac Jones connected on a 31-yard reception, during which the rookie dropped the ball over his shoulder to not give the defender a chance to break up the play.

And on his touchdown, he made a similar catch by then hitting the Tennessee defender with a “too small” celebration hit.

For the first-year route runner, it was another highlight in a season full of them.

“It’s a great accomplishment just to be in conversation with Randy Moss,” he said after the game. “He is one of the greats. To be in the same conversation, I’m just thankful and grateful.

Thomas has already established himself as the franchise’s best rookie wide receiver. He is the only rookie to exceed the 1,000-yard threshold in receiving yards.

He holds the record for touchdowns, catches and yards in a single season and still has one more game to put some distance between himself and anyone else who wants to keep up in the future.

And with a game next week against a team he ran for 122 yards against in Week 5 – coupled with the shape he’s in – he’ll do just that.

“It’s definitely a great feeling to be able to do some of the things that I’ve done,” Thomas said when asked if he would mind setting some of the records he set this season. “I don’t even know all of them, but some of the ones I’ve heard are great successes.”

Walker goes into the history books, the Jaguars defense finishes the game

Travon Walker left his mark on Sunday’s game against the Titans. The third-year defensive end recorded two quarterback hits, two tackles (including one for a loss), a sack and a forced fumble.

His sack moved him into the top 10 in franchise history with 23 total sacks in his short career.

“To be honest, it really means a lot to etch my name in Jaguars history,” Walker said after the game. “It really means a lot, but it’s just the beginning.”

Walker has 9.5 total sacks this season and is just half a sack away from reaching double-digit sacks for the second straight year. Together with pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen, who also recorded a sack and two quarterback hits on Sunday, the Jaguars’ defense held its own against Tennessee.

After the Jacksonville offense failed to convert on its second-to-last possession, the burden fell on the defense to prevent the Titans from tying the score or taking the lead at the end of the fourth quarter.

What problems with the short barrel length?:The Jacksonville Jaguars play a perfect game in short distance and help beat the Tennessee Titans

The Titans marched the ball down the field to the Jacksonville 26-yard line, but were stopped on three consecutive possessions that set up a fourth-and-long that essentially clinched the game.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph dropped back to pass and fired a shot up the middle to the goal line, but safety Antonio Johnson was able to block the pass.

The cheers erupted as the Jacksonville offense took the field and killed off the remainder of the game.

“Every time it comes down to the last play,” Walker said. “I would prefer it to be in our hands.”

The Jaguars look to close out the season with a win against the Colts next week

Normally the rule is that you enjoy the winnings for 24 hours and then unlock them. But the Jaguars didn’t stick to that anymore after the game.

“I just think the way you finish is to finish strong,” Pederson said when asked about potentially finishing with a 4-2 record in the division. “It’s a good message to the team that I think you can still have control of your division, right?”

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Brian Thomas Jr.’s “electric” performance helps the Jaguars win against the Titans

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