| Date: | October 3rd, 2010 |
Location: | Jacksonville, FL |
| Time: | 4:05 pm EST |
Stadium: | Everbank Field |
| TV: | CBS |
Favorite: | Colts -7 |
| Radio: | WOKV |
Over/Under: | 46.5 |
| Weather: |
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After spending the better part of this week whining and moaning, there is still a game to play on Sunday. Peyton Manning and the Colts come to town this Sunday in a game that could end up defining the Jaguars season. Following back to back blowout losses and with ticket sales starting to once again become an issue, will the Jaguars circle the wagons?
Jaguars Offense vs Colts Defense
At the end of the day, the Jaguars hopes are once again going to rest on David Garrard. Garrard went toe to toe with Manning for 3.5 quarters, before ultimately letting the team down during last year's Thursday Night meeting. David is going to have to shake off two weeks of absolutely abysmal play in order for the Jaguars to have any chance at a win.
The Texans showed that the Colts could be run on just as easily as ever, and I believe Maurice Jones-Drew will have a solid game regardless of Garrard's performance. However, the Texans also had the threat of Matt Schaub throwing to keep the Colts from cheating. Garrard will have to keep the Colts defenders honest if the Jaguars want to run the ball.
As Vic said, this is the game that Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton were drafted for. Regardless of who you want to point the finger at, neither had a great game last week vs Philadelphia. Monroe's real coming out party came during the Thursday night game last year, where he stonewalled Dwight Freeney. This time, Freeney will be healthy. Will Freeney take Monroe to the woodshed once again?
Jaguars Defense vs Colts Offense
I can't lie, this is going to be ugly. After the likes of Kyle Orton and Michael Vick carved up the Jaguars secondary, Manning and Co. shouldn't have much of an issue. I expect the Jaguars to go heavily with dime and nickle zone packages in order to limit the big play, but it's very much a pick your poison strategy.
Just as Monroe and Britton will be needing to earn their checks this week, so will Aaron Kampman and Tyson Alualu. The Jaguars will be relying heavily on just their front four getting pressure on Manning and if they don't cause Manning to have happy feet, the secondary will get light up once again.
The Jaguars best hope lies in trying to force the Colts to move the ball slowly in 8-10 play drives. Most of the Colts touchdowns last year vs Jacksonville came off of big plays. If those can be limited, the Jaguars have a change.
Special Teams and Intangibles
Deji Karim will finally be making his regular season debut, and the special teams should be the better for it. If what we saw during the first few preseason games is any indication, the Jaguars should have good field position consistently.
Jack Del Rio is going to need a strong performance as well. While it is still unlikely he'll be canned before the end of the season, a third straight massacre could end up swaying Wayne Weaver.
Player(s) on the Hot Seat
Aaron Kampman and Tyson Alualu
Real simple, unless Peyton Manning starts getting Happy Feet, this will get ugly and get ugly fast.
Prediction
Indianapolis Colts 28
Jacksonville Jaguars 17