Once again, Mark Brunell walks off the field a beaten man against the Titans. (AP)

Or, in the case of the Tennessee Titans, brought out the beast in them.

Wave a red flag in front of an angry bull and it will react predictably. Put the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same field with the Titans, and it's the equivalent of tossing chum in the water. And so it was on Monday night as the Titans for a fourth consecutive time in 13 months chewed up the Jaguars and spit them out, their 27-13 victory the latest trouncing of a Jacksonville outfit whose combination of character, grit and pride have been insufficient to overcome a manpower shortage now bordering on depth-chart anemia.

"There's just something about playing those guys," said Tennessee cornerback Samari Rolle. "It's old-fashioned football. There aren't a whole lot of tricks or surprises. They know everything there is to know about us and we know everything about them."

That familiarity has, of course, bred a certain level of contempt between the two teams, which last year played for the AFC championship. It has also cultivated a quiet mutual respect. Both were in evidence at Adelphia Coliseum on Monday, where the Titans claimed a 12th consecutive victory since the stadium was christened in last year.

More obvious than anything else, however, was the disparity that now exists between these bitter division rivals and the striking divergence of fortune that has taken place in the past nine months. The two franchises have switched places in terms of perception and reality, Tennessee suddenly the physically superior team capable of a return engagement to the Super Bowl, and Jacksonville an inconsistent outfit merely attempting to locate any semblance of momentum.

The way things are going, Tennessee and Jacksonville might consider switching nicknames, too. Back in full stride now following some early-season stumbles, Tennessee is the hungry cat. On the other hand, Jacksonville is like the Titanic, having sunk to the bottom of the division courtesy of the first four-game losing streak since the franchise's inaugural 1995 season. Jacksonville's only two victories came against Cleveland and Cincinnati, franchises which are a combine 2-11.

Watching the Jaguars get pummeled, with quarterback Mark Brunell again under siege and trying to salvage the disastrous season operating an offensive unit comprised principally of wannabes and suspects, it seemed doubtful there is anything coach Tom Coughlin can do to create some ballast. Conversely, the combination of speed, power and intensity exhibited by Tennessee served notice the Titans could sail right through the rest of this season.

"They seem to be hitting on all cylinders again, like they were at the end of last season," said Jags safety Donovan Darius. "They just come right at you. You may not necessarily like them, but you have to respect them for playing as hard as they do. I don't think it's just against us, because that is definitely their style. But they probably get a little more (emotional) when they play us. I give credit where it's due. They're a very strong team."

Like the crippled Jaguars lineup, the Titans have been forced to play through injuries over the first half of this season. But while Coughlin has reshuffled his line and played third-string tailbacks and plugged in anyone resembling ambulatory status, Titans coach Jeff Fisher has been able to get just enough solid production from backups like wide receiver Derrick Mason, rookie tight end Erron Kinney and defensive tackle John Thornton.

It is, Fisher downplayed after a victory that boosted the Titans to 5-1 and afford them a half-game lead over Baltimore, a team they face next Sunday, the reason the league gives you 53 players on the roster. "We count on everyone to contribute," Fisher said. "We tell our guys at some point in the season, it will be your time."

Of course, the Titans still have some stalwarts and it always seems like prime time when tailback Eddie George, quarterback Steve McNair, tight end Frank Wycheck and the many standouts on the Tennessee defense are matched up against the team that always gets the juices flowing. It is a Titans team fashioned in the image of Fisher, a onetime Chicago Bears defensive back who kept earning a roster spot by striking the first blow.

Actually it was the Jaguars who struck first Monday night, grabbing an early 3-0 lead on a Mike Hollis field goal. After that, though, the Titans countered with a series of roundhouse rights and, glancing at the Jacksonville sideline, one could sense that even Jaguars players realized that the knockout punch was not far behind.

The Titans got juggling touchdown catches from Wycheck and Mason but mostly it was George, and his characteristic bludgeoning running style, that set the tone. The Tennessee tailback carried 30 times for 165 yards and scored on a 19-yard burst over the right side. Over the past three games he has 101 rushes, the third-highest total ever for a three-game stretch, for 471 yards. And when George wasn't battering the Jags, the entire Titans defense became a collective blunt instrument in beating up on Brunell and his outclassed assemblage of makeshift talent.

Come to think of it, the formula was hauntingly similar to last season, when Tennessee backed up its bravado with deeds and the Jacksonville's aggressiveness turned out to be a dud.

"Yeah, we're starting to feel like we did last season," said guard Benji Olson. "No matter what the Jaguars' record is, we always use games with them as a measuring stick. And we showed with this game that we're starting to measure up pretty good again."