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The Jaguars just buttoned up their chin straps and beat up the Eagles.  With David Garrard playing QB in place of Byron Leftwich, the offense decided to give the ball to their playmakers and see what happened.  David Garrard completed 10 of 17 passes for 87 yards and ran the ball 8 times for 36 yards (4.4 ypc).  Fred Taylor was almost unstoppable with 15 carries for 103 yards (6.9 ypc) and a TD.  Maurice Drew carried the ball 21 times for 77 yards (3.7 ypc) and caught 3 passes for 20 yards.

The defense shut down the Eagles vaunted offense.  The Jags held the Eagles to 85 yards rushing on 20 carries (4.3 ypc).  The Eagles passing game never got going against the Jaguars, completing 18 of 34 passes for 142 net yards thru the air.

This was a HUGE win coming off of last weeks disappointing game.

Byron Leftwich’s ankle was clearly bothering him in the stunning loss to the Houston Texans.  Leftwich is one of those throwback players that never admits when he’s hurt and tries to play through everything.  Coach Del Rio was upset with Leftwich after watching game films of the Texans game, in which, Leftwich was clearly favoring his injured ankle.  It looks as if David Garrard will start on Sunday.  Garrard has alot more mobility than Leftwich, but he doesn’t throw the ball as well.  The Jags will probably run alot more than usual if Garrard starts Sunday.

Both of these teams are coming off of tough losses.  The Jags were unexpectedly destroyed by the Houston Texans 27-7 and the Eagles were beaten by a 62-yard FG at the final gun in Tampa.

When the Jaguars have the ball they will probably prefer to run it against the Eagles.  Fred Taylor (451 yards rushing) is having an outstanding season and Maurice Drew (187 yards rushing) has been a perfect change of pace back for the Jags.  The Eagles are allowing 104.7 yards per game rushing, so the Jags could have some success on the ground.  It’s up in the air as to who will start at QB for the Jags on Sunday.  Byron Leftwich had a hard time with an injured ankle last week, and David Garrard is a very capable QB.  The Jags need an effective running game to open up their passing game, because the Jags WRs lack big-time, game-breaking speed!

The Eagles will attack the linebackers of the Jaguars by sending Brian Westbrook at them in the passing game.  The Jaguars linebacking corps lacks experience and speed at the OLB positions.  Westbrook is one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL, with 462 rushing yards and 333 receiving yards.  Look for Donovan McNabb (2,151 yards passing) to attack the safeties with TE LJ Smith, who is having a great season with 28 receptions for 373 yards.  As soon as the defense creeps up, look for McNabb to take shots down the field to Reggie Brown (25 rec, 489 yards), Donte’Stallworth and Greg Lewis.  McNabb must always know where ReShean Mathis is on the field, because he’s a ball thief with 4 INTs so far this season.

The Eagles should feed off the home crowd and destroy the injury-depleted Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars need their offense to start being more productive.  The Jags are averaging 20.8 points per game, but alot of that is set up by short fields set up by the defense.  The Jags running game is ok as they average 115.7 yards rushing per game, but only 3.8 yards per carry.  The passing game hasn’t been stellar either as they average 185.2 net yards passing per game an complete 59.0% of their passes.

The Jaguars defense has been pretty good most of the season.  The Jags allow 98.7 yards rushing per game and only 3.6 yards per carry.  The pass defense allows 193.8 yards passing per game and 56.2% completions.  The Jags defense has been tough so far allowing only 16.8 points per game…..which is solid.

The Jaguars saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but it was the light of an oncoming train!  The Jaguars were completely dominated by the Houston Texans.  Byron Leftwich completed 14 of 28 passes for 125 yards.  Fred Taylor had a good game catching 16 passes for 84 yards (5.3 ypc).  Maurice Drew carried the ball 8 times for 10 yards (1.3 ypc) and a TD.  Drew also caught 7 passes for 58 yards.

The defense got pushed around by the Texans usually bad offense.  The Texans carried the ball 34 times for 131 yards (3.9 ypc).  The Jaguars allowed the Texans to complete 25 of 34 passes for 218 net yards passing.

This team better straighten up soon, or this will be a lost season.

This game looks like a mis-match on paper.  The Jaguars have a hard-hitting intimidating defense and the Texans have been rendered one-dimensional on offense due to a lack of a running game.  The Jaguars have a solid offense and the Texans have one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

The Jaguars should pretty much be able to do whatever they want on offense against a Texans defense that allows 145.8 yards rushing per game and 273.0 yards passing per game.  Look for the Jags to come out running with their two-headed running back.  Fred Taylor will beat them up (367 yards rushing) and then Maurice Jones-Drew will run around them (177 yards rushing).  Look for Leftwich to start throwing the ball after they establish a running game, spreading the ball around to Reggie Williams, George Wrighster, Matt Jones and Ernest Wilford.  Leftwich also likes to throw to his backs once in awhile.

The Texans must be able to run the ball, or this game will get ugly soon.  Ron Dayne needs to step up (167 yards rushing, 2.9 ypc) or Wali Lundy or Samkon Gado will take his job.  If the Texans can’t run the ball against the stout run defense of the Jags (92.2 yards rushing per game, 3.5 ypc), then David Carr will have to throw against one of the best secondaries in the NFL.  Carr does have two great receivers in Andre Johnson (39 rec, 485 yards) and Eric Moulds (22 rec, 274 yards), but he will have to be careful as the Jags already have 9 interceptions this season.  Carr must always know where CB Rashean Mathis is because he is a big-time playmaker that already has 4 interceptions of his own.

This looks like a complete mis-match.  All Coach Kubiak can hope for is that Coach Del Rio will show him some mercy in the second half.

The Jaguars might have the best secondary in the NFL.  They are intimidating because they hit so hard and they also are gamblers that pick off alot of passes.  Strong safety Donovin Darius is a player whose game is built around intimidation.  Darius plays close to the line and is a great run stuffer.  Darius leads the secondary with 26 tackles so far this season.  Free safety Deon Grant has the deep part of the secondary covered.  He is very smooth as a pass defender and has 18 tackles and one interception so far this season.   CB Rashean Mathis is a thief in the secondary.  If you throw his way, the pass better not be late getting there.  Mathis already has 4 interceptions and he isn’t shy when taking on the running game, as he has 23 tackles this season.  CB Brian Williams is also a good player.  Williams has 23 tackles and an interception this season.

With Mike Peterson out for the season, the Jags have to change the defense around.  OLB Daryl Smith will be moving to Mike Peterson’s old linebacker spot inside.  Smith has 24 tackles this season and should do fine inside.  Rookie Clint Ingram, who has five tackles this season, will replace Smith on the outside.  It sounds funny, but Peterson will be easier to replace then Smith will on the outside.

The Jaguars need the bye week to find a way to replace Mike Peterson at linebacker.  Tony Gilbert filled in for Peterson when he hurt himself and finished with 3 tackles.  The Jaguars defense has been the strength of the team so far.  The Jags are holding opponents to 92.2 yards rushing and only 3.5 yards per carry.  The Jaguars secondary is very aggressive and have already intercepted 9 passes and held opposing QBs to a 60.1 QB rating.

Hopefully Matt Jones will be ready to return after the bye week to give Leftwich another weapon.  Young running back Maurice Drew (177 yards rushing) has been doing a great job giving Fred Taylor a break here and there to keep him fresh.  Fred Taylor is having a great season and is the key to the offense being effective (367 yards rushing).  It would be nice if Ernest Wilford stepped up his play a little bit (14 rec, 187 yards) and take some of the pressure off of Reggie Williams (24 rec, 297 yards) who has been outstanding.