The Texans need a win in the worst way tomorrow against the Jaguars but they don’t match up well with them at all.  The Texans would be smart to come out passing against the Jaguars to try to get a quick lead on them and take them out of their running game on offense.  That will be easier said than done as the Texans have already allowed 8 sacks this season and Matt Schaub has thrown 5 interceptions this season.  Schaub will have to be careful when throwing the ball to WR Andre Johnson who will likely be covered all game long by Rashean Mathis.  With that in mind look for him to keep the passing game short and for him to use TE Owen Daniels and Kevin Walter a lot.  Rookie RB Steve Slaton will also get a lot of touches for the Texans and that’s a good thing for the Texans against a Jags’ defense that is allowing 108.7 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry this season.

The Jaguars have to be foaming at the mouth watching game film of the Texans’ run defense which is allowing 168.5 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry this season.  With that in mind look for the Texans to have to deal with a heavy dose of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.  Look for QB David Garrard to also have his best game of the season as he should be efficient throwing the ball against mostly single coverage as the Texans will go all out to stop the Jags’ running game.

PREDICTION:  JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 27, HOUSTON TEXANS 13

The Jaguars made David Garrard a very rich man in the off season and now they need him to reward them for their confidence in him.  Garrard has completed 56 of 85 passes (65.9%) for 547 yards with 1 TD pass and 4 interceptions (68.1 QB Rating) this season and that’s just not enough to get the job done.  He is better than he’s playing right now but the Jags can’t be a playoff team unless he plays up to his ability.  Garrard also has carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards (3.8 ypc) so far this season.

The Jaguars have lost CB Scott Starks for the season due to a torn right ACL.  Starks only played in one game for the Jags this season and he didn’t make any tackles or plays.  He has played in 49 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has made 64 tackles, defensed 5 passes and he has 2 interceptions (one of which he returned for a TD).  The Jaguars have signed CB Omare Lowe to replace Starks on the active roster.  Lowe hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2006 season with the Falcons.  He has played in 38 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has made 42 tackles and has defensed 1 pass.  Starks is a better football player than Lowe but they likely won’t miss him too much.

The Jaguars held onto the football for an amazing 41:35 of this football game but it came down to a 51-yard FG by Josh Scobee with 4 seconds left to win this football game.  David Garrard just managed this football game as he completed 16 of 22 passes for 167 yards with a interception.  The running backs carried the Jaguars to the finish line in this game as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were both strong last Sunday.  Fred Taylor led the way for the Jaguars with 121 yards rushing on 26 carries (4.7 ypc).  Maurice Jones-Drew also had a very solid game with 107 yards rushing on 19 carries (5.6 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 59 yards (14.8 avg).  The Jaguars finished up with 236 yards rushing on 48 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 22 passes for 167 yards.

The defense was shaky for the Jaguars in this game as the Colts rolled up 325 yards of total offense despite only having possession of the football for 18:25 of this game.  Safety Brian Williams (5 tackles, interception) and CB Rashean Mathis (3 tackles, 61-yard interception return for a TD) both made huge plays that helped the Jags prevail.  The Colts finished up with 114 yards rushing on 19 carries (6.0 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 29 passes for 211 yards.  This was a huge win for the Jaguars as they are now 1-2 on the season.

This is a big clash in the AFC South between two teams that are off to slow starts.  The Jaguars need to get back to the basics on offense and run the football.  The Colts are allowing 181.5 yards rushing per game and they are on the small side on the interior of the defense.  With that in mind look for Fred Taylor (67 yards rushing, 2.9 ypc) and Maurice Jones-Drew (30 yards rushing, 2.5 ypc) to each have their best games of the season as long as the Jags get some push from the offensive line.  If the Jaguars get their running game going against the Colts then they can attack them through the air with play action passing.

The Colts will likely come out throwing the ball to try to get a lead and take the Jaguars out of their offense.  The Jaguars are allowing 191.0 yards passing per game so the Colts will spread out Anthony Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison and let Peyton Manning pick who to throw to.  It would really help the Colts if they could get the running game going against the Jags which will be easier said than done as the Colts are only averaging 39.0 yards per game rushing and 2.3 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 20, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 13

The Jaguars couldn’t get much going on offense yesterday and it killed them in the end.  David Garrard completed 17 of 28 passes for 165 yards with 1 interception.  He also carried the ball 6 times for 32 yards (5.3 ypc) against the Bills.  Fred Taylor led the Jags in rushing with 49 yards on 14 carries (3.5 ypc) yesterday.  Maurice Jones-Drew only had 17 yards rushing on 7 carries (2.4 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 3 passes for 25 yards (8.3 avg).  Matt Jones led the Jaguars in the passing game with 5 grabs for 50 yards (10.0 avg).  Reggie Williams pitched in with 4 passes for 36 yards in this game.  The Jaguars finished up with 98 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 28 passes for 145 yards. 

The Jaguars Defense gave a decent effort at least against the run.  CB Brian Williams and LB Mike Peterson led the way for the Jaguars with 8 tackles apiece.  The Bills only rushed for 75 yards on 26 carries (2.9 ypc), but, they also completed 20 of 25 passes for 210 yards.  The Jaguars are now 0-2 on the season.

The Jaguars pounded the Bills 36-14 in Jacksonville last season but both teams are coming into this game going in opposite directions as the Bills throttled the Seahawks 34-10 last week while the Jags were beaten 17-10 at Tennessee last week.  Last season RB Marshawn Lynch didn’t play against the Jags but he’s ready to go this week against a Jags’ defense that allowed 137 yards rushing to the Titans last week.  The Bills’ would like to run the ball but they will likely try to stay balanced on offense against the Jaguars.  Trent Edwards will likely have to be careful throwing the ball to Lee Evans as Rashean Mathis will likely draw him in coverage.  Jags’ safety Reggie Nelson better be ready to hit and defend TE Robert Royal who caught 6 passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg) with a TD grab against the Seahawks.

The Jaguars will likely have some trouble running their brand of offense due to injuries along the interior of the offensive line which caused them to allow 7 sacks and rush for only 33 yards (1.9 ypc) against the Titans last week.  With new starters at both guard slots, former Jags’ DT Marcus Stroud could have a huge game and that would be trouble.  Look for the Jags to attempt to run the ball on the perimeter of the Bills’ defense with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor.  The Jags will also likely keep the passing game short to protect David Garrard.

PREDICTION:  BUFFALO BILLS 17, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 13

The Jacksonville Jaguars moved quickly to improve the depth of the offensive line as they have signed 31-year old OT Todd Wade, 28-year old OG Milford Brown and 30-year old OT Chad Slaughter.  Wade is a big guy at 6’8″, 308 pounds and he played in 11 games (10 starts) for the Redskins last season.  Wade has now played in 99 games (96 starts) in his 8-year NFL career.  Even though the Jags have a need at guard Wade isn’t a good fit inside.  6’5″, 330 pound Milford Brown, however, could get into the starting lineup in the near future for the Jags as long as he gets in playing shape quickly.  Brown played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Rams last season.  Brown has now played in 47 games (43 starts) in his 6-year NFL career.  Chad Slaughter is a huge man at 6’8″, 340 pounds but he hasn’t played since 2006 with the Raiders.  Slaughter has now played in 43 games (7 starts) in his six year NFL career.  These were good signings for the Jaguars as they needed bodies along the offensive line.

The Titans really beat up the Jaguars physically as they will have to play the rest of the 2008 season without their starting guards.  RG Maurice Williams has a torn biceps muscle and LG Vince Manuwai has a torn ACL.  Losing these two guys will definately hurt the inside running game of the Jaguars as backups Uche Nwaneri and Tutan Reyes will replace them. 

The Jaguars just couldn’t get anything going on offense in this game and it killed them.  David Garrard had a game he would like to forget as he completed 23 of 35 passes for 215 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  Fred Taylor led the Jags’ in rushing in this game with a whopping 18 yards on 9 carries (2.0 ypc).  Maurice Jones-Drew didn’t play much better as he carried the ball 5 times for 13 yards (2.6 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 37 yards (9.3 avg).  Matt Jones was the leading receiver in this game for the Jaguars with 80 yards on 6 catches (13.3 avg).  The Jaguars finished up with only 33 yards rushing on 17 carries (1.9 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 35 passes for 156 yards.

CB Brian Williams and DT John Henderson led a so-so effort by the Jags’ Defense with 8 tackles apiece in this football game.  The Titans finished up with 137 yards rushing on 32 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 24 passes for 172 yards.  The Jaguars better pick it up next week as the Bills are visiting coming off a 34-10 victory over the Seahawks last week.