The Jaguars have lost five of their last six games as they have looked awful lately.  They beat the Colts 17-3 earlier this year in Indianapolis.  The Colts are a lock for the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in 2012, if they lose this game.  Their players aren’t going to go for that as they have won two games in a row over AFC South opponents (Texans and Titans).  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to feed the ball to Maurice-Jones Drew so that he can win the NFL rushing title.  It is also their best chance to win this game as the Colts are giving up 140.9 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry so far this year.  The Jaguars are going to have to keep DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis out of the backfield or Blaine Gabbert is going to have a rough time throwing the ball.  The Jaguars are going to need some WRs and TEs to step up if they are going to win this game.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Colts are starting to feel better about themselves.  The Jaguars are going to have to brace for a heavy attack by the Colts’ passing game.  The Jaguars are going to have to mount a good pass rush or Dan Orlovsky could have a big game.  Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are heading into free agency after the game on Sunday, so they are going to want to go out with a bang.  WR Austin Collie, TE Jacob Tamme and RB Joseph Addai will lend support on the shorter passes for the Colts in this game.  If the Jaguars put a lot of DBs in the game, look for Orlovsky to turn around and hand the ball off to Donald Brown and Joseph Addai.

PREDICTION:  COLTS 20, JAGUARS 17

The Jaguars have lost four of their last five games as their season is going down the commode.  But, they did beat the Titans 16-14 in Jacksonville in the season opener.  The Titans have lost two games in a row, including a shocking 27-13 decision against the Colts last weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to attack the Titans’ front seven with Maurice Jones-Drew both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.  Jones-Drew should have no problem finding running room tomorrow as the Titans are giving up 127.7 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry.  The Titans don’t have a great pass rush, so Blaine Gabbert should have time to throw the ball.  His WRs and TEs don’t catch the ball too well, so it might be a moot point.

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans will likely work backwards tomorrow, using the passing game to set up the run.  The Jaguars need to get after Matt Hasselbeck, or he could really torch their secondary.  Nate Washington, Lavelle Hawkins, Damian Williams and TE Jared Cook give Hasselbeck some nice targets in the passing game.  If the Titans are effective throwing the ball, it will set up RB Chris Johnson to have a solid game tomorrow.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 23, JAGUARS 13

The Jaguars looked great last weekend, beating the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-14.  They will try to keep the momentum going tomorrow against the Falcons in Atlanta….and that’s not going to be easy.  The Falcons have won three of their last four games and this is a game they need badly if they want to make the playoffs.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to come out running the ball with Maurice Jones-Drew (1,222 yards rushing) against a stout Falcons’ D that is allowing only 95.2 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  The Jaguars started taking some shots down the field last weekend and that will likely continue as long as Blaine Gabbert has time to throw the ball.  Gabbert will likely be aiming for TE Marcedes Lewis and Maurice-Jones Drew the most in the passing game tomorrow night.  WRs Jarrett Dillard (21 rec, 211 yards, TD), Chastin West (8 rec, 88 yards) and Kassim Osgood (3 rec, 23 yards) will all have to step up if the Jaguars are going to have success in the air tomorrow night.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The front seven of the Jaguars is going to have to deal with stopping Michael Turner, because the secondary is going to have their hands full stopping Matt Ryan and the passing attack.  The Falcons have a lot of weapons in the passing game as TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Roddy White, WR Julio Jones and WR Harry Douglas are all solid receivers.  The safeties will likely have to give help over the top against Julio Jones, who is a homerun hitter.  The rest of the Falcons’ receivers work on the short stuff and make plays after the catch.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, JAGUARS 13

The Jaguars got thumped last Monday Night at home 38-14 by the San Diego Chargers, and they have now lost three games in a row.  The Buccaneers have lost six games in a row and they also got thumped at home last weekend, 38-19 by the Carolina Panthers.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to ride Maurice Jones-Drew hard in this game.  The Buccaneers are giving up 141.7 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry so far this year, so Jones-Drew could he in for an epic game for the Jaguars this Sunday.  The Bucs don’t have much of a pass defense either as they are giving up 252.2 yards passing so far this year.  Blaine Gabbert might actually have a decent game if some of his WRs and TEs step up and catch the football.  It’s hard to bank on that happening though.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  Anyone who watched last Monday Night’s game against the Chargers knows that the Jags’ corners and safeties can’t cover too well on deep passes.  Josh Freeman is likely going to return to action for the Bucs this week, but he has a sore right shoulder.  So, the passing game will likely be shorter with WR Mike Williams and TE Kellen Winslow being his top targets this Sunday.  The Jags’ front seven is going to have to tighten up the chinstraps as RB LeGarrette Blount packs a wallop in the running game with his power.

PREDICTION:  BUCCANEERS 20, JAGUARS 17

The Jaguars lost 20-13 at home last weekend and it cost Jack Del Rio his gig as the head coach.  Former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will be making his head coaching debut on the big stage of Monday Night Football.  The Chargers have lost six games in a row as they appear to have quit on head coach Norv Turner.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to feed the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew in this game (no surprise there).  The Chargers are giving up 131.9 yards rushing per game so far this year and 4.3 yards per carry.  I’m thinking that they aren’t capable of stopping Jones-Drew consistently.  The Jaguars might decide to throw the ball a little more than usual.  They will have to give Blaine Gabbert time to throw the ball, if he’s going to have any chance of being productive.  The Jaguars will need TE Marcedes Lewis and WR Mike Thomas to step up if they are going to be effective passing the ball.

When the Chargers have the ball:  The Chargers are going to come out of the locker room passing the ball.  Philip Rivers is like a statue in the pocket, so the Jaguars might be able to get to him and force him to throw the ball before he wants to.  He already has thrown a career high 17 interceptions this year, so the Jaguars might be able to force some turnovers.  The Chargers have a solid running game with Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert, so the Jaguars can’t cheat on pass defense.

PREDICTION:  JAGUARS 17, CHARGERS 13

The Jaguars lost a tough game in Cleveland last weekend, but they are playing better as they have won 2 of their last four games.  The Texans have won four games in a row and they have had two weeks to prepare for the Jaguars.  The Texans won 24-14 in Houston against the Jaguars just four weeks ago.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to feed the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew in this game.  The Texans are only giving up 91.3 yards rushing per game this year, but 4.2 yards per carry, so Jones-Drew could have some success.  Blaine Gabbert is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly in this game as the Texans are a heavy blitzing team with 28 sacks already this year.  TE Marcedes Lewis really stepped up last weekend and he could quickly become Gabbert’s best friend starting this weekend.  Gabbert was only 10 of 30 passing for 97 yards in the first matchup of these teams, so he’s going to need help from his receivers.

When the Texans have the ball:  The Texans are likely going to try to run the ball at least 40 times this weekend in Matt Leinart’s first start at QB.  Arian Foster (740 yards rushing ) and Ben Tate (686 yards rushing) should be able to handle the heavy workload put on the running game this weekend.  The Jaguars are giving up 111.2 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so far this year.  They are going to have to try to stop the Texans’ vaunted running game and force them to pass, which is much easier said than done.  The Jaguars are going to have to get after Matt Leinart and force him into making some mistakes.  That is going to be hard to do as the Jags’ secondary is getting a little thin due to injuries.  WR Andre Johnson is going to cause huge matchup problems for the Jaguars in this game.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 24, JAGUARS 7

The Jaguars have been playing a lot better lately as they have won two of their last three games.  They are 1-4 on the road this year, as they beat the Colts last weekend in Indianapolis.  The Browns lost at home last weekend 13-12 to the Rams and they have lost three games in a row now.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are a run first team, so Maurice Jones-Drew will carry the load against a Browns’ D that is allowing 142.8 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry.  Expect the Jags to give the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew until he gets tired and then let Deji Karim get a few carries.  The Jags hope that Jones-Drew has a good game to set up some play action opportunities against a very tough Browns’ secondary.  Gabbert will hope to make a couple of plays down the field to WRs Mike Thomas and Jason Hill.  But, he will like be in game manager mode once again this Sunday in Cleveland.

When the Browns have the ball:  The Browns are very predictable on offense, so the Jaguars will have to stop RBs Chris Ogbonnaya and Montario Hardesty (if he plays) on early downs.  The Jaguars will try to mount a strong pass rush on Colt McCoy in an effort to force him into making some bad throws.  The Browns don’t throw the ball down the field too much, so the secondary will need to play tight on Josh Cribbs, Greg Little and Ben Watson.

PREDICTION:  JAGUARS 17, BROWNS 13

This will be a very interesting game between two teams heading in opposite directions.  The Jaguars are only 1-2 in their last three games, but they are playing their best football of the year right now.  The Colts have been pathetic all year long, but especially so the last three weeks in which they have been outscored 120-24!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are only averaging 242.6 yards per game offensively, but this might be the week they truly break out.  Maurice Jones-Drew is likely going to have a heavy workload again against a Colts’ D that is allowing 146.1 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per carry.  I look for him to have a huge game this Sunday.  With all of the attention that the Colts are going to have to pay to stopping Jones-Drew, rookie QB Blaine Gabbert might have a breakout game as the Colts are giving up 260.0 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a 112.1 QB Rating against them.  This could be a good opportunity to get TE Marcedes Lewis and WR Mike Thomas back more involved in the offense.  Jaguars’ WR Jason Hill could be in for a big game as he is developing into one of Blaine Gabbert’s favorite targets.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Colts are still a pass first team, even though they aren’t too good at it.  The Jaguars will likely try to amp up the pass rush a little in an effort to force Curtis Painter into making some big mistakes.  The Colts still have dangerous WRs in Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, but Painter has had difficulty getting them the ball the last few weeks.  The Colts have a pair of effective RBs in Delone Carter and Donald Brown, but they don’t run the ball enough to scare anyone.

PREDICTION:  JAGUARS 24, COLTS 10

The Jaguars are coming off a HUGE win over the Ravens in Jacksonville last Monday Night.  They have played better at home this year, but they gave the Steelers and Panthers rough games in their last two road losses.  The Texans have been really solid at home this year and they are coming off a 41-7 win at Tennessee.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are a full blown running football team right now.  So they are going to give the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew as many times as he can handle against a Texans’ D that is giving up 99.3 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  When Jones-Drew gets tired, Deji Karim will take over at RB.  The Jags’ O-Line is going to have to not only open holes for the RBs this Sunday, but they are going to have to protect rookie QB Blaine Gabbert better if they want to give him a legit chance to make some plays through the air.  WR Jason Hill has been Gabbert’s favorite WR so far, but the Jags need Mike Sims-Walker, Michael Thomas and TE Marcedes Lewis to step up starting this weekend in Houston.

When the Texans have the ball:  With Andre Johnson out of action, the Texans are going to run the ball with Arian Foster and Ben Tate a lot this Sunday.  The front seven of the Jaguars are going to have to stop Foster & Tate if they want to have any chance of pulling an upset this weekend.  Matt Schaub doesn’t have a go-to receiver right now but he has been spreading the ball around, making the offense pretty hard to figure out.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 27, JAGUARS 13

The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost five games in a row and they have the Ravens paying a visit on Monday Night Football.  This could get ugly, and quick.  The Ravens have won three games in a row, outscoring the competition 100-38 in those games!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Jaguars are going to try to run the ball with Maurice Jones-Drew against a Ravens’ D that is allowing only 76.6 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per carry so far this year.  The Jaguars are going to want to mix in some early down passes to try to get Blaine Gabbert some confidence.  The Jags’ QBs have been sacked 17 times already this year and OLB Terrell Suggs of the Ravens is one of the best pass rushers in the league.  Gabbert will likely have to have shorter pass drops that usual and hope that Jason Hill, Mike-Sims Walker, Mike Thomas and Marcedes Lewis can make some plays after the catch.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Ravens are likely going to be pretty balanced in this game.  The front seven are going to have their hands full trying to slow down Ray Rice and Ricky Williams.  The Jaguars will likely double Anquan Boldin and dare Joe Flacco to throw to someone else.  That someone else could be rookie WR Torrey Smith who is averaging 26.3 yards per catch and he has already caught 3 TD passes.

PREDICTION:  RAVENS 24, JAGUARS 6