Cowboys vs. Jaguars: Notes On The Game

It's true, the Dallas Cowboys do have a game this weekend, and it's against the Jacksonville Jaguars. No matter what our record is, no matter who is playing quarterback, no matter the mood of the fanbase - the NFL schedule rolls on.

Since I haven't seen the Jaguars play much this season, I decided to stroll over to SB Nation's Jaguars blog, Big Cat Country, for a little insight into the Jacksonville team. Since their season is still in play, they sit at 3-4, they've done their scouting on the Cowboys and have come to the same conclusion many of us have - this team is talented, and statistically good - but they keep killing themselves with self-inflicted wounds. In this post, they lay out a season worth of sins for the Cowboys and offer this stark appraisal:

As you can see the Cowboys have been shooting themselves in the foot all season long. This team which was heading in the direction of the Superbowl is now already being counted out of the playoffs in Week 8 because they can not stop making stupid mistakes. Every team has a game or two where they make a mistake and it costs them but to consistently make mistakes like this is simply ridiculous. If I was Wade Phillips I would already have my bags packed because you can't blame all of this on the players, there is too much talent on this team. The blame must be squarely put on the coaching staff. The Cowboys are still a good team, they have the talent, but their spirits are crushed and their motivation is already lost because they are already out of the running for the playoffs.

More after the jump...

On the other hand, the Jaguars are over-achieving. They've won three games even though their defense is terrible, and they are getting no consistency at quarterback. David Garrard has been cleared to play after failing a concussion test last week, but there's still a little bit of a question if he'll start. The odds are he will as long as he shows no ill-effects from the injury during practice this week.

Maurice Jones-Drew ranks eleventh among running backs in yards gained with 510 on the season, and sports a 3.8 yards per attempt stat. Jones-Drew ranks fourth among running backs in rushing attempts, meaning the Jags are relying on him for offensive output. Mike Thomas leads the receiving corps with 29 catches for 346 yards, but has yet to find the endzone. The guy who has been getting it done in the passing game for Jax is tight end Marcedes Lewis. He has 28 catches for 275 yards, and more importantly, five touchdowns.

Jacksonville's defense ranks near the bottom of the league in almost every statistical category.

 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-5)

SERIES

STATS

NOTES

SERIES NOTE:  All 4 games between Jaguars-Cowboys have been decided by 7 points or fewer.

JAGUARS:  Club has totaled 56 points in past 2 road games (36 at Buf; 20 at KC).  Jax. has 20-4 (.833) record when QB DAVID GARRARD has 100+ passer rating.  In season debut, QB TODD BOUMAN made 1st start since 1/1/06 last week & had 2 TDs...In past 3 against NFC, RB MAURICE JONES-DREW is averaging 98.6 rush yards per game (296 total).  Jones-Drew totaled 121 yards last week against KC (74 receiving, 47 rush) & posted 7th TD reception of career...15 of WR MIKE SIMS-WALKER's 21 receptions this season have been for 1st downs (71.4%).  DeSoto, TX native WR MIKE THOMAS attended DeSoto HS...TE MARCEDES LEWIS is tied for 2nd among NFL TEs w/ 5 TD rec. in '10 (ANTONIO GATES, 8)...CB RASHEAN MATHIS had INT in only meeting against Cowboys...LBs KIRK MORRISON & DARYL SMITH are tied for team lead w/ 40 tackles...DE AARON KAMPMAN has 2.5 sacks in past 3 games in '10.  Kampman has 2 career sacks vs. Cowboys in 3 games.

COWBOYS:  QB JON KITNA will make 1st start since 10/5/08 w/ Det.  Passed for 187 yards w/ 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 86.3 rating last week...RB MARION BARBER has 11 rush TDs in past 16 vs. AFC.  Incl. playoffs, RB FELIX JONES has 8 career TDs (7 rush, 1 KR) & averages 47.1 yards per TD (377 yards)...Rookie WR-PR DEZ BRYANT (1st round) has 4 TDs in past 2, incl. career-high 3 last week (2 rec., 1 PR) - 1st Cowboys rookie since JULIUS JONES (2004) w/ 3 TDs in game.  His 93-yard PR-TD vs. NYG is 2nd-longest in club history.  Has 5 total TDs, tied for most among NFL rookies (JAHVID BEST).  In 5 career starts vs. AFC, WR MILES AUSTIN avgs. 130.4 receiving yards per game (34 catches, 652 yards) with 5 TDs...TE JASON WITTEN has TD catch in 2 of past 3, incl. 4-yarder vs. Giants...DT JAY RATLIFF had sack in last meeting.  LB DE MARCUS WARE has 7 sacks in past 4 & aims for 5th in row with sack.  Has 64.5 sacks since 2006, most in NFL.  LB KEITH BROOKING had 1st INT w/ Dal in Week 7.