The Jaguars knew that all they had to do was beat the Raiders to make the playoffs and they came out with fire in their eyes.  David Garrard had a really solid all-around game as he completed 11 of 18 passes for 199 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 19 yards (4.8 ypc) with a TD run.  Quinn Gray finished up in garbage time and he played well also.  Gray completed 5 of 8 passes for 54 yards with 2 TD passes.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 16 yards (8.0 ypc).  Fred Taylor had a short, but very productive day as he carried the ball 7 times for 111 yards (15.9 ypc) with a TD run.  Maurice Drew also had a good game as he carried the ball 10 times for 44 yards (4.4 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 6 passes for 96 yards (16.0 avg).  Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, Richard Angulo and Greg Jones each caught 1 TD pass apiece.  The Jaguars finished up with 201 yards rushing on 28 carries (7.2 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 26 passes for 236 yards.

Rookie linebacker Justin Durant (8 tackles, sack) and veteran safety Sammy Knight (8 tackles) led the way for the Jags defense.  The Raiders finished up with 110 yards rushing on 30 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 31 passes for 105 yards.

The weather was really cold in Pittsburgh but it didn’t stop the Jaguars from punching the Steelers in the mouth.  The Jaguars dominated the clock holding the ball for 37:39 and they also out-yarded the Steelers 421-217!  David Garrard had a solid game as he completed 17 of 33 passes for 197 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  Fred Taylor shredded the Steelers defense with 147 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.9 ypc) and he had a TD run.  Maurice Drew also had a solid game with 12 carries for 69 yards (5.8 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 30 yards (6.0 avg).  Dennis Northcutt had a outstanding game as he caught 4 passes for 81 yards (20.3 avg) with a TD grab.  Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams each added a TD grab.  The Jaguars finished up with 224 yards rushing on 42 carries (5.3 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 33 passes for 197 yards.

Rookie linebacker Justin Durant led the way for the Jags defense with 10 tackles.  The Steelers finished up with 111 yards rushing on 17 carries (6.5 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 33 passes for 106 yards.

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Both of these teams are 9-4 on the season and they mirror each other in offensive style and physical play.  This game will come down to who wants it more and it will be interesting to see which team it winds up being.

Despite the Steelers only allowing 72.6 yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry it won’t stop Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew from attacking them.  The Jags are averaging 143.8 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so something has to give and it will be interesting to watch.  David Garrard has been outstanding this season (103.3 QB Rating) as he has been moving the football around as Dennis Northcutt is leading the team with only 39 catches.  That makes it really hard for the DBs to concentrate on any one receiver.

The Steelers will likely come out running the ball with Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport against the stern run defense of the Jags who allow only 93.1 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  Ben Roethlisberger will need to be careful with the ball in this game as the Jags have intercepted 16 passes already this season.

PREDICTION:  PITTSBURGH STEELERS 20, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 17

The Jaguars absolutely dominated the Panthers yesterday as they improved to 9-4 on the season.  The Jags dominated this game on both sides of the football as they had possession of the football for 38:58!  David Garrard had a solid game as he completed 20 of 36 passes for 230 yards with 2 TD passes.  Fred Taylor had another outstanding game as he carried the ball 18 times for 132 yards (7.3 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 24 yards.  Maurice Drew didn’t have a good game as he carried the ball 11 times for 24 yards (2.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 21 yards.  The Jaguars finished up with 178 yards rushing on 38 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 37 passes for 249 yards.

Linebackers Daryl Smith (6 tackles, sack and fumble recovery) and Clint Ingram (1 tackle, 39-yard interception return for a TD) led the way for the Jags defense.  The Panthers finished up with 50 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 38 passes for 99 yards.

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The Jaguars had the perfect gameplan as they had possession of the football for 35:45 of the football game but they didn’t make defensive plays when they needed to and that’s why they lost this game.  David Garrard had a good game as he completed 24 of 29 passes for 257 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  Fred Taylor turned back the clock yesterday as he rushed for 104 yards on 14 carries (7.4 ypc).  Maurice Drew also ran the ball well as he carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards (4.7 ypc) with a TD run.  Ernest Wilford (5 rec, 72 yards), Mercedes Lewis (5 rec, 42 yards, TD), Reggie Williams (4 rec, 69 yards) and Dennis Northcutt (4 rec, 37 yards, TD) all had solid games against the Colts.  The Jags finished up with 168 yards rushing on 31 carries (5.4 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 29 passes for 243 yards.

The Jags defense was led by rookie linebacker James Durant who had 8 tackles.  The Colts finished up with 63 yards rushing on 25 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 29 passes for 279 yards.

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