[Note by River City Rage, 10/10/08 10:44 AM EDT ]This is actually by Collin, but there was a glitch in the HTML which made the site look weird.  -Chris

"Must Win a Mile High"

Get ready Jag fans, it is almost time for the last Jaguar game for two long weeks, and it is a doozy of a draw. The Jaguars will be heading to Mile High Stadium and need to come away at 3-3 to realistically have a shot at getting into playoffs.

Right now there are a few AFC teams who own the tiebreaker against us because they beat us this season. I can't stress enough how crucial it is that these teams win their division. Were they not to win the division, they not only will be in direct competition with us, but they will have a leg up on us. This means that if we both were to have the same record overall, they automatically get in over us because of the tiebreaker advantage.

The Teams Who Own the Tiebreaker Against Us :

1. Pittsburgh - AFC NORTH

2. Buffalo - AFC EAST

LAST WEEK'S KEY MATCH-UPS :

Let us take a look at last week's key games to see whether or not they went as we hoped.

Ravens - Titans : Titans won again... Not Ideal. this team is over-powering everyone right now.

Colts - Texans : Colts somehow pulled it out... Not Ideal

Chargers - Dolphins : Dolphins won on a 4th and goal stand at the one yard line... Ideal. May be competitive this season for a wild-card spot. They looked solid in this win.

Patriots - 49ers : Patriots won... Not Ideal. They are ahead of us in a wild-card race as of now, I don't think they'll unseat the Bills at the front of the division, but they may try to slide into the playoffs.

Bills - Cardinals : The Cardinals somehow put up 41 on the Bills D... Not Ideal. We need them to win their division handily.

Buccaneers - Broncos : Broncos won by a field goal... Ideal. We want Denver to easily win the division and we need San Diego to continue to struggle in the AFC WEST.

Chiefs - Panthers : Ideal. Panthers demolish the chiefs, who from here on out will have their name written only in lower-case lettering, due to their horrible play. I love Herm Edwards, mostly for his sound-bites, but it's a freakshow over there. Get it together Herm!

THIS WEEK'S KEY MATCH-UPS

Patriots @ Chargers : This is such a toss-up that I really am not sure whom to say it would be ideal to win. The New England Patriots travel to sunny San Diego where I believe we actually want the Patriots to win. The Patriots are 3-1 right now, but without their star QB, they won't hold it together. We want the Chargers to continue to fall behind both us (in the Wildcard battle) and the Broncos (In their Division). Maybe I don't have enough faith in Matt Cassel to hold it together for a season, but I'm not concerned with the Patriots at 4-1 given the ease of their schedule so far.

Raiders @ Saints : Always root for the NFC in an AFC vs NFC match-up, unless it is a team we want to win their division. A victory by the Saints would be Ideal.

Dolphins @ Texans : I am actually going to deviate from the norm here a bit. Miami seems to be gaining steam and if Houston ever catches us, it will mean that we aren't in contention for the playoffs anyway. So I actually think it would be Ideal for the Texans to win this week, but I completely understand any argument made to the contrary.

Bengals @ Jets : A Cincinnati win would be Ideal. They have no chance of being contenders over there anyway.

Giants @ Browns ( Monday) : Go for the NFC team.

GAME OF THE WEEK :

Ravens @ Colts : We must stay ahead of the Colts, a Raven victory would be Ideal. Baltimore will be headed to Indy to face the crowd-noise of Lucas Oil Field. The Colts are battered on defense so look for long sustained drives again this week. Flacco is at his best when he doesn't have to put the team on his shoulders, and their defense is spectacular (as we'll see first hand later this year).

Your thoughts? Especially those regarding my picks of the Patriots over the Chargers, and the Texans over the Dolphins. I think it is very important we put some distance between ourselves and the Chargers because they are a solid all around team and are bound to spring back sooner rather than later. A Dolphin win puts Miami at 3-3 (hard to believe, eh?). That's my reasoning for rooting for the Texans in that game despite the Texans being in our division.

-Collin

Howdy and Greetings MHR!

It is I, your humble and broken Jacksonville Jaguars blogger from Big Cat Country.  If you couldn't tell, we're all a little depressed about the state of our season.  Perhaps the expectations were too big, but so far it's been a rough ride of injuries and mistakes.

Now our boys in teal head west to the site of the Jaguars greatest victory and one of their most disappointing defeats.  It's always special when we go to Denver, though it's probably not looked on nearly as fondly by the Bronco-Nation.

Anyhow, this is an open Q and A thread.  Anything you'd like to know about the Jaguars, the state of the team, injuries, I'll be glad to answer.  You can even toss a little smack, I'm down.

-Chris

Ben Roethlisberger escapes John Henderson for the game winning play...

There it is.  The play of the game.  If John Henderson brings Ben down, it's a long field goal for a hobbled kicker.  It's third and everything.  Roethlisberger makes the throw to Hines Ward in a remarkable display of grit and determination, thereby giving the Steelers enough life to score the go-ahead touchdown and put down the Jaguars.  Not that it should have come down to this one play, the Jaguars had every chance in the world to win this game, but mistakes and sloppy play have the Jaguars at 2-3 overall and 3rd in the AFC South. 

2-3, 3rd in the AFC South.  That turns my stomach.  I don't know who I was watching last night.  I saw a team with no identity, no bread and butter, no drive.  Everything we knew about the Jacksonville Jaguars going into this season is completely and utterly wrong.  The team can't even rely on a powerful running attack to drive the ball down the throats of the Steelers defense.  Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for less than 40 yards, something that must change for the Jaguars to have any shot at a winning season.

Yes, we're at that point, the point where we have to seriously consider the the thought of even contending for the playoffs rather than our gilded dreams of Super Bowl rings and division titles. Sure, it's early, the Jaguars have about as easy of a schedule after their bye week, with games against Cincyi, Detroit, and Cleveland, this of course after we get past the offensive machine that is the Denver Broncos.

The Jaguars are hurting right now.  Mike Walker and Rob Meier both have Sprained MCL's, and Brian Witherspoon has a Jammed Kneee.  The emergence of Mike Walker as a serious receiving threat was perhaps the only bright spot of the entire game, so losing him puts the Jaguars back a step as far as pass-catching goes.  Dennis Northcutt is available, considering that he's been deactivated for the last two games. 

Losing Meier hurts, but I'm a big, big, big fan of Tony McDaniel, who will have to step in and step up against Denver. 

The dream is not lost, that's for sure.  It just seems like it'll be a whole lot harder to get there than we ever thought.  The Blitz happy defense we expected out of Gregg Williams needs to return to the safe and comfortable Cover 2 of Mike Smith.  The linebacker play out of the Jaguars, especially Mike Peterson is remarkably worse than last season.  Either Mike Peterson is getting old really fast, or the scheme is putting our LB's in all the wrong places.  Denver is going to pass and pass and pass against our suddenly weak secondar and if I were Jay Cutler, I'd look for Will James on every snap.  If he takes the field on Sunday, I may just turn off the TV.  He has no buisness being on this roster under any circumstance.  Maybe if we put 8 defensive backs on the field and he's covering the Bronco's 6th wide receiver.

But, as always, Wednesday's are for looking forward, which means that we turn our attention to the Denver Broncos.  My good friend at Mile High Report covers them, and is probably the best Sports Blogger anywhere in the world, so be sure to drop them a line.

I'll be back later today with some more positive and forward thinking stories.

-Chris

Welcome to the Big Show.  The Jacksonville Jaguars are the feature entertainment as they face off with their historical rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Our friends at Behind the Steel Curtain will be live blogging the game, if you're interested in seeing what the terrible towels are thinking as the Jaguars envicerate their offensive line and send the Steelers home with a loss.

Yes, I'm being that confident about it.  This was a long week, and all I've looked forward to was sitting at home, watching the game, and relaxing with a beer. Instead, I'll be watching the game on my Computer, at work, as I muck through a very long list of things to do.

So if you're having a beer during the game, have one for me.  If you're in Missouri and watching the game, have a very tall vodka drink for me. 

Consider this an open thread/live blog.  I demand that since I can't watch this with friends, that we make a "sports bar" in the comments.

Jaguars Inactives

 Your humble narrator is having an awfully good stretch of luck with his NFL picks.  Amongst my blogging peers in the "Blogger Deathsport", I am in an astouding 2nd place overall. Considering how little I understand of NFL betting (spread, points, etc), this is proof that dumb luck is better than smarts.

Here are my picks, highlighted in bold for extra emphasis.  This post is also our early games open thread, as our Jaguars have an awfully long time before their game.  Remember to root for the Houston Texans to beat the Indianapolis Colts.  Also, rooting for Baltimore to beat the Titans would be nice as well, but not as effective for helping the Jaguars.

BUF @ ARZ (-1)

KC @ CAR (-9.5)

CHI (-3.5) @ DET

CIN @ DAL (off the board = straight up even)

TB @ DEN (-3)

ATL @ GB (off the board = straight up even)

IND (-3) @ HOU

PIT @ JAX (-4)

NE (-3) @ SF

SEA @ NYG (-7)

WAS @ PHI (-5.5)

SD (-6.5) @ MIA

TEN (-3) @ BAL

Monday

MIN @ NO (-3)

Score: 21-17, Vikings.

Good Morning and Greetings!

It is I, the your humble Jacksonville Jaguars Blogger over at Big Cat Country, one of the fine NFL SB Nation blogs we all know and love.  I'm dropping by today to open a discussion between BtSC and BCC where I'll answer any and all questions you may have about the Jacksonville Jaguars!

Yup, no matter how obscure, inflammatory, or absurd, I'll be happy to answer anything about the Jaguars for this weeks big game.  Our teams have a pretty special history, at least as far as Jacksonville is concerned.  Two physical teams who typically beat the snot out of each other week in and week out, every time they play. 

So, all that introductionary nonsense aside, who's got a question?

-Chris

Quick Bytes: The daily digest of everything you need to know about the Jacksonville Jaguars (and other things).

Nothing like a Wednesday morning to get some perspective on where the Jaguars are as they shift their focus away from their nail-biting win over the Houston Texans and onto their Sunday Night Battle with the Battered and Broken Pittsburgh Steelers.  Our friends at Behind the Steel Curtain, with whom we shall talk frequently throughout the week, probably disagree with that statement, but I'd imagine that they're really nervous about the physical game they're facing this weekend.

I don't ever get to say this about a team, but the Jaguars have had the Steelers number in recent history.  I need not remind you that the Jaguars walked into Heinz Field twice last season and left with a victory, something that has never happened in Pittsburgh history.  I won't go so far as to say we "own" them, I leave inflammatory rhetoric like that to other sites.

But anyhow, let's see what's bouncing around in the NFL world:

: The Colts are two and a half games behind in the AFC South. Let that sink in for a second.  Tennessee leads the division, that's no doubt, but Jacksonville is a game behind and still alive in the division hunt.  This year it's Indianapolis who's got a chance to be on the outside looking in (in the Divsion Title race).

: Kenny Pettway, the man who kept Richard Collier alive while waiting for help to arrive, was signed by the Green Bay Packers.

: Wayne Weaver gives his "State of the Jaguars".  As usual, he reconfirms his committment to Jacksonville:

“It’s not necessarily that we were looking for partners,” Weaver said. “We’ve been approached obviously over the years, either to sell the team or something. My desire is to continue to build a wonderful winning tradition here in Jacksonville.”

In several interviews Wayne Weaver has never seemed less than 100% committed to keeping his team in the city of Jacksonville, despite being able to take part in a financial windfall if he were to ever sell. Unfortunately for Weaver, the Jaguars are in the bottom half of the league in attendance and they have one of the league’s lowest ticket prices.

“Obviously the economy is affecting every sector of our economy and it certainly has some affect on us,” Weaver explained. “We’ve just had to be creative and work a little harder, and we’re fortunate

:The Steelers have been decimated by injuries.  Ok, so maybe not reduced by a factor of 10, but close to it.  Without Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, I don't know how the Steelers avoid throwing so many passes that Big Ben dosen't get blasted through the injury-riddled offensive line.   My question is this, if Ben Roethlisberger blows up on his team in the locker room, is it "leadership" or a "quarterback falling apart"?

: Justin Durrant, Reggie Nelson, Jerry Porter, and Rashean Mathis should all practice this week.  Brad Meester is still at least a week away from returning to the offensive line. 

What's on your mind on this halfway to the weekend day?

-Chris

Yup, it's that time again.

Jaguars Inactives: Jaguars inactives: Reggie Nelson, Justin Durant, Brad Meester, Chris Naeole, Charles Spencer, Troy Williamson, Dennis Northcutt and Tony McDaniel.

Dennis Northcutt?  I wonder what's up with that.  Anyone know what his injury is?

Texans Inactives: Eugene Wilson, Ahman Green, Brandon Harrison, Kasey Studdard, Rashad Butler, Mark Bruener, Tim Bulman and N.D. Kalu.

Live Blog Away!

-C

       VERSUS          

Sunday morning just might be my favorite part of the week.  Work dosen't start till later (yes, I work 7 days a week), I get to nurse whatever hangover I picked up from the night before and lounge around a little bit.  The house is quiet, real life feels like it is a million miles away, and for a hour or two I can sit around and think.  Not all of my thoughts wander to football, but on this Sunday Morning I'm hung up on one thing.

Jerry Porter.

I remember being at the NFL Combine and talking to a reporter with the Times-Union about the Jaguars situation at wide receiver.  I prodded him about free agency, who was available, and what the team thought of perhaps draftng another wideout in the first round.  He told me that the Jaguars were going to make a "big splash" in free agency, they'd do something that would fix their woes with pass-catchers.

Jerry Porter.

He was to be the missing piece.  The deep threat that drew the safety out of the box and opened up running lanes for the backs.  He was the guy that would develop into David Garrard's best friend in the passing game.  Then he hurt his hamstring, the Jaguars offensive line was mauled, and the best thing they can do is run the ball three times in a row on any particular offensive series and hope for the best.  Matt Jones is the only receiver who's had any sort impact and even that's only been in brief flashes.  Even David Garrard is a little shaken up right now with the passing attack.

Jerry Porter, in a perfect world, helps Garrard to relax.  He becomes the guy that allows David to throw to with confidence.  Confidence will put Garrard  into the top tier of (the remaining) AFC Quaterbacks.  He knows he can stand in the pocket behind the rebuilt offensive line, now he needs to know that when he throws the ball that someone will be there to catch it.

Now, I don't thnk Porter rights the offensive ship in one game.  In fact, Jack Del Rio might be screwing with us a bit by marking him probable.  We might find out in two hours that he's the Third Quarterback today and it's another day of run, run, run.  And I'd be OK with it.

But against Houston, at home, with a chance to be 2 and 2 in the standings, 2-1 in the division, if the Jaguars are on their a-game, it'll be a sight to see. 

Jerry Porter.

Did we overspend?  Is he a malcontent that writes checks with his mouth that his body can't cash?  Is he the victim of the nonsense in Oakland?

We'll see today, that's for sure.

As usual, pay attention to the fine folks at Battle Red Blog.  They're good people.  I'm not sure yet where I'll be at gametime, hopefully watching on my computer, but work might put me in the field.  Either way, there will be an open thread and I encourage you to join us.

-Chris

BUF (-8) @ STL
Pick: Bills. Yeah, St. Louis is bad.  I wonder how Holt would look in Teal?

ATL @ CAR (-7)
Pick: Panthers. I really, really, really like Carolina.  I think this year is the year they finally do what they've been picked to do for the last three years...

PHI @ CHI (off the board = straight up even)
Pick: Chi-town.  When in doubt, go with the team that allows Kyle Orton to pick up a paycheck...

CLE @ CIN (-3.5)
Pick: Bengals. I bet the NFL really, really, really regrets giving Cleveland all those primetime games...

WAS @ DAL (-11.5)
Pick: Redskins.  Seriously?  11 points in a divisional rivalry?  No way the score's that wild.

DEN (-9) @ KC
Pick: Denver.  Kansas City is a long way from winning if ToGo is talking about leaving...

HOU @ JAX (-7.5)
Pick: Jaguars. I don't care what the spread is, I pick the Jaguars no matter what.

SF @ NO (-6)
Pick: San Fran.  This is the Chris Harris "lock of the week".  Whatever that means.

ARZ @ NYJ (-2.5)
Pick: NYJ.  J.E.T.S. JETS JETS JETS.

SD (-7.5) @ OAK
Pick: Chargers.  They are angry.  Oakland will be the victim.

GB @ TB (-1)
Pick: Buccaneers. Battle of the bay...

MIN @ TEN (-3)
Pick: Vikings.  Beat the Titans, please?


Monday
BAL @ PIT (off the board = straight up even)
Pick: Steelers.  Though I'd like Baltimore to wear them down a bit for next week...

-Chris