The Jaguars need this game to stay ahead in the run for the Wild Card Spot in the AFC.  With that in mind look for them to get the football in the best player on the teams’ hands as much as possible and that is Maurice Jones-Drew.  Jones-Drew will be facing a Dolphins’ D that is allowing 107.0 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so he will have his work cut out for him.  That’s because they will likely be keying on him the whole game with WR Mike Sims-Walker likely out for the game with knee and calf injuries.  If the offensive line gives David Garrard time to throw the ball he could have a nice game against a Fins’ D that is allowing 242.9 yards passing per game.

The Jaguars must go all out to stop Ricky Williams as the Dolphins are averaging 150.4 yards rushing per game this season.  If the Jags can slow down the Dolphins running game and they can force Chad Henne into obvious passing downs then they should have some success on Sunday. 

PREDICTION:  DOLPHINS 23, JAGUARS 20

The Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Houston Texans (5-7) on Sunday.  David Garrard had a good game, throwing for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns 15/28 attempts.  He got some help from Maurice Jones-Drew, who rushed for 76 yards on 24 carries, with 38 of those yards coming on the final drive to run the clock out.  It was a solid and smart effort by the Jaguars’ offense, and if they can get Garrard to keep the passing game effective they will have a good shot at making a run at the playoffs.

The Jags defense did a good job defending the pass, as they intercepted three passes by three different quarterbacks.  Texans’ starting quarterback Matt Schaub left the game early with a separated left shoulder.  Rex Grossman came in relief and played like Rex Grossman, throwing an interception and completing only 3/9 passes for 33 yards.  Schaub returned but the damage was already done and the Texans were down 17-0.  The Jags defense did a good job stopping the run too, holding them to 68 rushing yards.  This was a big win for the Jags who are vying for that Wild Card spot.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) are facing a pretty even opponent this week in the Houston Texans (5-6), and it should be a close game.  The Texans don’t have a particularly good defense, especially when it comes to pressuring quarterbacks, so David Garrard should have some opportunities to make some big plays.  The Texans do give up 120 rushing yards per game though, so Maurice Jones-Drew should be the first option for the Jags’ offense.  In their meeting earlier this year where the Jags won 31-24, Jones-Drew rushed for 119 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Jaguars defense, specifically their pass defense, is not very strong.  They give up close to 250 passing yards per game and in their last game against the Texans, Matt Schaub threw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Schaub-Andre Johnson connection has been one of the Texans’ strengths all season, so the Jags need to keep Johnson in check.  I expect a very close game, but I’m giving the Texans a slight advantage since the Jags’ pass defense is so weak and Schaub has proven he can put up some big numbers against them.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Jacksonville Jaguars 21, Houston Texans 28

The Jaguars have waived 26-year old DT Derek Landri.  Landri played in 7 games for the Jaguars this season and he made 13 tackles and had 1 sack.  He played three years for the Jags appearing in 35 games in which he made 39 tackles, defensed 1 pass and he had 3 sacks.  The Jaguars are going to more of a 4-3 look in the front seven and Landri’s lack of size at 6’2″, 290 pounds has hurt him.  He will get signed by another team though because he is a talented player.

24-year old rookie RB Rashad Jennings is doing a solid job as Maurice Jones-Drew’s back-up this season.  He was selected in the 7th round (#250 overall) by the Jaguars out of tiny Liberty.  Jennings has played in 10 games for the Jags so far this season and he has carried the ball 26 times for 121 yards (4.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 6 passes for 40 yards (6.7 avg) for the Jaguars this year.  The Jaguars look like they found a keeper late in the draft as Jennings is a solid football player with a decent little upside.  He also has returned 3 kickoffs for 56 yards (18.7 avg) this year.