Tennessee Titans vs. Jaguars: 5 storylines to watch in Week 13

The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars face off at 12:00 p.m. CST from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, this Sunday in Week 13.

You never know what will happen in a divisional game. These are the games where your record really doesn't matter, and with the way the Titans played the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12, the Jaguars might be worried. Everyone counted the Titans out a long time ago, and that has allowed them to focus on developing their young players.

That focus hasn't yielded any wins just yet, but the improvement is noticeable in the way this team is playing without some of its key members. Ward lobbied to elevate Xavier Restrepo, and the result saw Restrepo vie for a roster spot with his play. Ward was also more relaxed on the field and more confident than we've seen all season.

Here are five major storylines to follow heading into this Week 13 matchup.

Cam Ward's offensive growth

As indicated above, the improvement in Cam Ward from Week 1 through Week 12 is visible. He's faced the toughest defensive slate of any rookie quarterback in history, he lost his head coach midway through the season, he lost his top receiver to injury for the season, and he continues to persevere and make plays. Last week, he mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter that put the Titans within a score of winning, and he recorded his highest point total thus far. This week provides a huge opportunity for Ward to help the Titans break their losing streak.

Jaguars inconsistency

The Jaguars have a winning record, but their season has been erratic. They've beaten tough teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, but then they've had blowout losses as well. Their up-and-down form makes this divisional game unpredictable, especially with the improvement the Titans have shown over the last couple of weeks.

Jags run defense vs. Titans' ground game

Let's face it, the Titans' run game is lacking this season. For whatever reason, Tony Pollard seems a step slower than we're used to seeing, and Tyjae Spears has been less successful than anyone hoped. Tennessee ranks near the bottom in rushing efficiency. Meanwhile, Jacksonville leads the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed per game, which means Cam Ward will likely throw the ball a lot on Sunday, making it easy for the Jags to defend a one-dimensional passing attack.

Titans' losing streak ends with turnovers

The Titans are on a six-game losing streak, and Jacksonville's propensity to turn the ball over could provide an opportunity for the Titans to turn it around. Last week, Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. The Titans have only two interceptions since Week 2, but it's not for lack of effort. If Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat can get enough pressure on Lawrence, they'll easily force him into a mistake that leads to a turnover..

Series history vs. recent history

The Titans own the historical series 35-26, but the Jaguars swept them last season, and they've won four of the last five games between the two teams. However, their point differential this season shows they've only scored 17 more points than they've allowed this season. This suggests that they're winning close games rather than dominating. With the recent surge by Cam Ward, keeping it close benefits the Titans more than the Jags.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans vs. Jaguars: 5 storylines to watch in Week 13