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Jaguars ready for South showdown
Andrew O’Brien | aobrien7@gmail.com
It’s now 14 weeks through the regular season; the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves at 7-6 and have a chance to return to the playoffs. But, the game against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night is magnified so great, that a playoff berth isn’t the only thing people will be watching.
Granted the Jaguars went 5-12 throughout an injury-plagued campaign last season, but Jaguars quarterback David Garrard has something to prove, the Jaguars as a franchise have a lot to prove and, yes the Colts, also have something to prove.
Garrard garnered some harsh fan criticism following the team’s 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins in a crucial AFC game Sunday, where a win could have significantly enhanced the Jaguars’ playoff hopes. Garrard threw for only 139 yards and posted a meager 59.6 passer rating. Despite the loss, the Jaguars still control their destiny to the playoffs, but a win over the Colts will mean much more.
The Colts seemingly locked up the AFC South weeks ago, and at 13-0, are looking to improve on their undefeated record. With home field advantage already sealed up, the Colts are no doubt interested in going 16-0 for the regular season. The New England Patriots went 16-0 in 2007, and eventually lost in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants, finishing 18-1.
The Jaguars can make a statement with a win, though. Naysayers are claiming the Jaguars aren’t a playoff team. After all, they have to play the Colts on Thursday, and then travel to New England to play the Patriots and close the season against the Cleveland Browns.
The Jaguars’ hopes of making the playoffs rides on a wild card spot. The Denver Broncos control one spot at 8-5 and then four teams, including the Jaguars, are tied with a 7-6 record. Fortunately for the Jaguars, they hold some of the tie-breakers.
Ultimately, the Jaguars are in a much better position than they were a short year ago. They are above .500 and have a chance to really make a name for themselves this season if they can upset the undefeated Colts. And, as a young team, Jacksonville has a huge upside. For the first time since the deadly wide receiver tandem of Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, the Jaguars feature a veteran receiver in Torry Holt, and then two young, budding players, Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas.
If the Jaguars want to have a chance Thursday night and want to continue their playoff run, then Garrard and running back Maurice Jones-Drew need to step up. Jones-Drew has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season with 14 touchdowns, but his production has been slacking since the Jaguars’ 24-22 clutch win over the New York Jets. Jones-Drew rushed for 123 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown that game, but hasn’t broke the century mark in the four games since. Jones-Drew has only scored two touchdowns since the Jets game.
As for Garrard, well his statistics have been fairly consistent throughout the season. He hasn’t put up huge numbers, although his passing attempts have been much higher this season than in previous ones. Garrard has attempted 30 or more passes in seven of the 13 games this season, much higher than Jaguars fans are accustomed to. It may not be a bad thing, however, since the Jaguars actually have down-field threats now.
Either way, the Jaguars need a big win Thursday to increase their chances of making the playoffs, and Garrard and Jones-Drew can make a huge difference.
