Jags Look to Rebound Vs. 0-8 Bengals

Apologies for the lapse in Jaguar coverage.  I was hiking through a rain forest in Costa Rica during last week’s home loss to Cleveland.  I was unsuccessful in my search for a real jaguar — similarly the “real” Jaguars were seemingly absent from the last game.  The Jags got their season’s first two wins on last minute game-winning plays (against Indy and Houston).  Sunday it was not meant to be.  A catchable jump ball in the endzone that would have won the game was dropped by Matt Jones in the waning seconds.  Jokes can be made about how Jones, who appealed his suspension for a cocaine charge in order to play, wasn’t able to “get high” the right way or that he managed to “blow” his opportunity.  At any rate Jones has emerged as the Jags primary target this year, and presumably he’ll be able to redeem himself at some point for the 3-4, middle-of-the-road-dwelling Jaguars.

Starting guard Chris Naeole broke his hand in pregame warmups and landed on the injured reserve.  The ripple effect from this was felt as an uncontrolled Cleveland DE Shaun Rogers ran roughshod (9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 blocked FG) and controlled the Jags running game, as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were held to a combined 53 yards.  This led to an uncharacteristically high 42 pass attempts from David Garrard, who, despite an efficient afternoon wasn’t able to either score enough or punch in that last TD that would have given the Jags the victory.  Also, the Jags defense was unable to contain the damaging big plays.

Where does this leave Jacksonville as they face a Bengals team hungry for their first win?  At a critical crossroads.  True the Bengals have played more like The Bangles this year, but they have pride and could create a Manic Monday indeed for Jacksonville if this is the week they finally break through.  Cincy, however is near the bottom of the league in defense against the run, so yet again I enter Sunday imploring J-ville to get the ball to MJD and Taylor early and often.  Also, Carson Palmer is still out, no Cincy rusher is averaging more than 31 yards per game, and they have allowed a whopping 28 sacks this year.  Which is to say all signs point to a strategy of pursuit of backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Perhaps coming off a win against Cleveland this Cincy game could be considered a “trap”.  But given the disappointing loss there should be no let-up as the Jags go for the jugular against the down and-out Bengals.  Best Cincy can do is keep it close.  27-23 Jags.

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Last post (s) by Mark Reichman

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