Buffalo Bills (3-6)	Week #11	Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
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First, I want to offer an apology for helping drag this site back down into negative territory. I realize that 99% of the people who come to this site are either season ticket holders or do their best to attend as many games as they can. We all appreciate the support you show this team. Now, we have a game to play Sunday!

The Buffalo Bills travel to Northeast Florida this week as something of an enigma. Head coach Dick Jauron was fired on Wednesday and rumors that the Bills are already in talks with Mike Shanahan have already begun to emerge. Not to mentioned benching Trent Edwards for Ryan Fitzpatrick, having the worst run defense in the NFL, and the malignant locker room cancer Terrell Owens.

The Jaguars are coming off perhaps their most impressive road win since the 2007 Wild Card win over Pittsburgh. Maurice Jones-Drew is already within sight of the franchise's single season touchdown record, needing only two more to tie Fred Taylor's record of 14. Mike Sims-Walker's performance against the Jets seems to have signaled his arrival as a #1 wide receiver. The defense has seen a resurgence under the 4-3, and it seems the Jaguars will have meaningful games past Thanksgiving.

What does this all add up to? Well, under Jack Del Rio this usually means the Jaguars will under perform and either squeak out a win or lose. However, something strikes me as it being different this time. Click below to read why.

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Welcome to the Playoffs:

The Jaguars face the New York Jets in what is a playoff environment for both teams.  The Jets and Jaguars are looking at the wild-card if they've got any shot at going to the post-season, and dropping to 4-5 would begin the long slow road to mathematical elimination. 

Shocking Jaguars Fact of the Day:

If I was drinking coffee this morning, I would have spit it all over my screen at the most recent posting on Vic Ketchman's pre-game blog:

The Jaguars haven't thrown a touchdown pass on the road this year. That, in my opinion, has to change for the Jaguars to have any chance of winning today.

The Jets are going to blitz, blitz, and blitz some more.  Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see Matt "Chimichonga" Sanchez on a blitz or two. (hilarious but potentially offensive link).  They're going to rush from every angle, every position, and on third down they will rush everyone.  David Garrard will have to know exactly where the ball is going on every snap, lest he sit in the pocket and be sacked by the waterboy.  The Jets have a tremendous cornerback in Darrelle Revis that they can lock onto Mike Sims-Walker all day and not worry about a Chief's-esque blown coverage.  The man-to-man coverage on the outside is what opens the doors to the Jailhouse Blitzes that the Jets employ on 3rd down.

Who are we rooting for and against:

Today, the Jaguars-Nation must be fans of the following teams:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bring back the creamsicles!

Tennessee Titans: Ugh.  Is there anything worse than wanting the Titans to win?  I don't really understand why the Titans beating Buffalo effects the playoff picture, but I'll roll with it.

Washington Redskins: Denver's got some issues, Washington has to win one, right?

Philadelphia Eagles: Why is Norv Turner still coaching the Chargers?

Cleveland Browns:  Rex Ryan is my favorite coach in the league.  Eric Mangini is the worst coach in the league.  Because of Mangini, the Jets can go 0-16 and they'll still love Rex, just because Mangini is so terrible.  It's too bad the Brown's haven't figured that out yet.

Pittsburgh Steelers: I'll let Vic explain this one:

If you really want to take it to the extreme, you root for Pittsburgh to beat Cincinnati and take the AFC North lead because the Bengals have lost to Denver and Houston, which are AFC losses that would hurt them in the tiebreakers and, thus, make the Bengals more vulnerable in a tiebreaking situation than the Steelers currently would be.

I'm in Miami, Trick:

Does anyone know of a Sports Bar in Miami that's open to the possibility that someone might actually want to watch the Jaguars play?  There's no worse Sunday for me than when the Dolphins and Jaguars play at the same time.  Thankfully I have NFL Mobile Live on my Palm Pre and can at least be that awkward guy who's trying to enjoy the sports bar while listening to the game on his phone. 

Keys to Victory:

1. Feed the Ball to Maurice Jones-Drew, it works every time.

2. Know where the ball is going, especially on 3rd down.

3. When Mark Sanchez struggles, the Jets lose, Harvey, Smith, give him something to stress about. 

-Chris

New York Jets (4-4)	Week #10	Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
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The Jaguars travel to the swamps of New Jersey for what is in essence a playoff elimination game. Both teams are part of the logjam of 5-3/4-4 teams in the AFC. A win means they get a leg up on one of their main competitors, a loss means they'll need a lot of help to keep their hopes alive.

The last time the Jaguars went against a Rex Ryan defense was the final game of the 2008 season at Baltimore. It was certainly a low point in a season filled with low points. The Jaguars committed four turnovers and were held to only 245 yards in a 27-7 defeat.

Now the Jaguars must find a way to defend against the defense to keep their playoff hopes alive. In addition, the Jaguars must deal with a hot rookie quarterback, much like last year in Baltimore. Mark Sanchez has played well for the Jets so far, but has had his fair share of rookie moments.

Can the Jags go into the Meadowlands and land one of Jack Del Rio's biggest wins in his career, or will they have another quiet flight home?

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Good Decisions: Rashean Mathis and Eugene Monroe to start!

After last week's debacle of Reggie Nelson at Cornerback and Tra Thomas getting the go-ahead at the last minute to start in place of Monroe at Left Tackle, the Jaguars return to a much better lineup.  Rashean Mathis, as we've discovered, is the best player on the Jaguars defense.  Losing him for any amount of time creates a chain reaction of awfulness that results in Brian Russell taking the field and embarrassing himself.

Eugene Monroe is looking like the best of the first round left tackles, why he was not on the field against the Titans is a mind blowing and awful decision that disrupted the most important element of the Jaguars offense.  Why a player would practice with the first team offense for two weeks and then be benched is a stunningly stupid decision.  Offensive lines require unity and chemistry, rotating the unit abruptly leads to very, very bad things.

Interesting statistic that I did not know about:

David Garrard is second in the league in rushing yards behind Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers.  David has 162 yards on 29 carries for a 5.58 yards per carry average.  I would like to see David's legs brought into the gameplan a little bit, particularly in short yardage situations.

Things that I would like to see:

1. A Jaguars defense that doesn't make me cringe.  I've heard the word "swarming", "hard-hitting", and "tackling" attached to what the Jaguars did in practice this week.  I'm glad to see that basic defensive procedures are introduced in week 9.  In all seriousness, if the Jaguars can put together some sort of pass-rush or pressure, they can win this game.  If not, you should start Matt Cassel in your fantasy football leagues, as he's bound for a big day.

2. Run the ball, then when you want to mix it up, run the ball again.  You know the card that coaches hold (not Del Rio, but the coordinators) with all the plays and the game plan on it?  The Jaguars should be really simple, on one side it should list all the running plays, on the other side, it should say "turn card over".  I don't care if it's 3rd and 72, Maurice Jones-Drew can get the yards.

3.  Rebound.  This is a rebound game for the Jaguars, there's no reason why they should lose this game, it's completely winnable, it would put the team at 4-4, and they can start looking at the final stretch of the season with some serious hope for next season.  Wayne Weaver needs to realize that the closer the Jaguars get to 8-8 the more likely it is that they are out of the top ten draft picks and the less next offseason will cost him. 

What are the Kansas City fans saying?

They didn't mean it, but Arrowhead Pride has a particularly amusing title to their post about the Jaguars pass-rushing woes.  Let's just say that they accidentally imply that the Jaguars lack a particular sort of testicular fortitude.  Also, I'd have to check it, but I'm almost positive that in the last 4 years of this site, that's the first time that I've used the word "testicular".

Who wins and why?

The Jaguars are going to win a nail-biter, 20-17 on the leg of Josh Scobee.  Harvey and Groves will combine for 2 sacks.  Seriously, I think it'll happen.

Consider this your pre-game open thread.

This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel, a new NFL Network channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.

The Jaguars: This group has the makings of a team that can be great in the red-zone.

 According to Pat Kirwin of NFL.com, here's what it takes to succeed in the most important area of the football field. 

With four weeks of the 2009 season in the books, there is enough information to take a look at red-zone production. Also, a number of coaches have explained what it takes to be an effective red-zone team.

Here are the things most mentioned as components to being a successful red-zone team (in no particular order):

1. A mobile quarterback -- The threat to also run the ball in for a score can break down a red-zone defense.
2. An athletic tight end -- Teams need a player who can open up his alignment and take defenders away from the line of scrimmage to open up the running game.
3. A tall receiver -- With size, there is always the threat of a fade route in the end zone.
4. A power back -- Pushing the pile and moving the chains can keep defenses honest.

The Jaguars have every single one of those. Garrard is no doubt a running threat, and can provide TD's with his legs in crucial situations. Marcedes Lewis is starting to look like what we were promised he'd become last year, a tall, athletic, and oversized WR. HE's actually catching the ball, and seems to be on route to a very productive year. Our offensive line is improving every game, and they can push the pile forward, as we've seen first-hand evidence of during games. Top it off with Mike SIms-Walker, and you've got yourself the makings of a powerhouse in the red-zone.

Proof the MJD is better than Chris Johnson: It's all about the "zone"

MJD is the league's premier back, and there's nobody in the NFL I'd rather have in the backfield (No, not even AP). He's a dual threat to receive or run the ball every time he's on the field, and he plays a major role in closing out drives and guaranteeing success on third downs. MJD has 26 carries in the red-zone for 69 yards, a 2.7 YPC average. However, he's gotten a whopping 7 TD's out of those carries. He's stellar in the red-zone.

Chris Johnson is a speed-demon, but he's not a multi-faceted RB the likes of MJD. He possesses the same home-run ability the MJD has, and Johnson's receiving ability is adequate, although clearly inferior. The major flaw in Johnson's game is his inability to slam into a pile, and still gain 3 yards. He doesn't have the power of MJD, and his red-zone stats for the season clearly indicate this. So far, Chris Johnson has only two rushing attempts inside the red-zone, for an average of -2.0 YPC (You read that right, negative two yards on two carries). The team clearly believes that Lendale White is the only goal-line power-back, as he's gotten 6 carries and netted 16 yards (a respectable red-zone average of 2.7 YPC). 

If MJD can continue to provide the key to the TD, then the Jags will win again on Sunday. 

-Collin Streetm an

Tennessee Titans (0-6)	Week #8	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
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Part 1: Titans Defense vs Jags Offense

Part 2: Titans Offense vs Jags Defense

Series History

The Jaguars have played the Oilers/Titans more than any other franchise. Sunday's game will be the 31st meeting between the two teams, with the Titans holding a 17-13 advantage. The Jaguars first regular season game and first win (Week 5) came against the Houston Oilers. Fred Taylor broke 10,000 career rushing yards in 2007 against the Titans. A win on Sunday would give the Jaguars their first sweep of the Titans since 2005.

Coaching

This could be a special game because it may be the last time the Jaguars go up against the most hated man in Jacksonville, Jeff Fisher. Between the Titans 0-6 start and Jerseygate, the Titans' head man may well be heading to the unemployment line after this season.

However, he would like nothing better than to add one last feather in his cap against the Jaguars. A win here at least begins to quiet the lynch mob in Nashville and most likely takes the Jaguars season down with him. However, has the team quit on him?

My thoughts concerning Jack Del Rio can be read here.

5 Things To Look For

1. The Vince Young Effect: How will the Titans former franchise quarterback react to once again being handed the reigns of the offense? Young was never a dominant player and was easy to shake. If things go south early for Young, expect another long day for the Titans.

2. Derek Cox:  Rashean Mathis may not play against the Titans because of a finger injury. If that is the case, then Derek Cox will become the #1 corner on Sunday. While he won't be going against Tom Brady, it will be interesting to see how Cox reacts if he is forced to become the man in the secondary.

3. Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton: The rookie tackle tandem have been progressing nicely so far this season. However, both missed the Week 4 game against the Titans. While Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch aren't the feared pass rushers they once were, it will still provide a quality test for Monroe and Britton.

4.Maurice Jones-Drew: Jones-Drew was largely absent in the Titans game, even before the Jaguars pulled away. With a Titans defense that will most likely be worried about giving up the big play through the air, look for Jones-Drew to get quality carries, especially early.

5. Chris Johnson: The only time I wasn't sure the Jags would win in Week 4 was when the Titans started giving it to Chris Johnson consistently. With Vince Young making his first start in over a year, it would be logical that the TItans would lean heavily on their star running back.

Player On The Hot Seat

Vince Young, QB, Tennessee

Did you think I would pick anyone else? The weight of the world will be on Young's shoulders on Sunday, and we've seen how he's reacted in these situations since becoming a pro. He'll have to start fast or this one could be uglier than the game in Jacksonville.

Prediction

Jacksonville Jaguars 31

Tennessee Titans 17

A close game through the first three quarters, Vince Young throws a pick six to Derek Cox to open up the 4th quarter and make it 24-14 Jaguars. The Titans get a field goal on their next drive, only for MJD to drive the steak in their hearts scoring a touchdown with two minutes left.

-Jonathan Loesche

Tennessee Titans (0-6)	Week #8	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
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In case you haven't heard yet, Tennessee owner Bud Adams commented that he wanted Vince Young to start once again for the 0-6 Titans. The Titans offense has been woeful this year, sans rookie WR Kenny Britt and RB Chris Johnson. QB Kerry Collins was resurgent and looked the best he had since leading the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000 last season. However, Collins has thrown eight interceptions and only five touchdowns, with a QB Rating of 62 so far this season.

As a unit, the Titans offense ranks in the bottom third of the league in points per game (14/27th), yards per game (310/22nd), and 3rd down conversions (36%/20th). The Titans offense hasn't scored a touchdown in eight quarters and hasn't scored a touchdown with the game on the line in four games.

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