by tom weppel
In Week One, Jacksonville opens on the road, playing the Colts (12-4 last year). We all know Indy has given the Jags a nasty time. They are led by perhaps the best QB in the NFL, Peyton Manning, who continues playing at a high level. And while the Colts will be without veteran WR Marvin Harrison, Manning will still have great receivers to throw to, including TE Dallas Clark and WR Reggie Wayne.
Defensively, the Colts are led by S Bob Sanders, who has established himself as a leader on the squad. You can also look for a strong pass rush, led by DE’s Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. This will be a different year for the Colts, playing without veteran Head Coach Tony Dungy. Former Assistant Jim Caldwell comes in to run the show.
All of this means that Indy will be strongly favored to win this one, and I would consider it an upset if the Jags prevail.
In Week Two, the Jaguars open up their home slate against the Cardinals, a team that last played in Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII, losing to the Steelers. This is a team that has a strong passing offense, led by veteran QB Kurt Warner, and perhaps the best receiver combo in the NFL, with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Add in third WR Steve Breaston, and a solid running game with Tim Hightower and rookie Beanie Wells (Ohio St.), and you can say that the Jags certainly will have their hands full in this one.
In Week Three, Jacksonville goes back out on the road, this time to Houston, to face a Texans team that has gradually improved. Last year, they finished at 8-8. The Texans feel they can do better than that. This is a team led by two solid All-Pros, in DE Mario Williams on Defense, and WR Andre Johnson on offense. Houston also has RB Steve Slaton, who rushed for over 1,200 last year. Take into consideration the Jaguars have lost to the Texans in five of the last six seasons, and you know why this is gonna be a tough game for Del Rio and his squad to bring home a ‘W’.
Then in Week Four, Jacksonville will come back home, this time to face those nasty Tennessee Titans (13-3 last season). Without question, a rivalry has developed between these two teams. They frankly don’t care for each other. A lot of it has to do with Jeff Fisher and the Titans’ success against Jacksonville. The Titans hold a 16-12 edge in the series history, and they’ve beaten the Jags four of the last six times they’ve played here in Municipal Stadium. Stuff like that does not make for friendly relations.
Tennessee will come in with the veteran QB Kerry Collins, and a solid running game, led by RB’s LenDale White, Chris Johnson and Chris Henry. Defensively, they lost DT Albert Haynesworth to free agency, but still have DE’s Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch to create problems for any offense. This means the Jags will once again have a tough time playing their Division nemesis.
All in all, its not gonna be an easy first month for this squad, without question. I’m guessing they might be happy to go 2-2. If nothing else, we will get a very good chance to see what these Jacksonville Jaguars have got in the tank, hopeful that, if nothing else, they can be entertaining and exciting to watch.
Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Lonnie Marts, Eugene Chung, Artis Gilmore, and Ron Duguay on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
schedule
Preseason
Sep. 3 Washington Redskins 7:30 pm
Regular Season
Sep. 13 at Indianapolis Colts 1:00 pm
Sep. 20 Arizona Cardinals 1:00 pm
Sep. 27 at Houston Texans 1:00 pm
Sept 18 Jaguars Kick Off Pep Rally
Make a game plan to kick off the season right as the anticipation builds for the Jaguars first home game! Activities include live entertainment and appearances by Coach Jack Del Rio, Owners Wayne and Delores Weaver, current and former Jaguars players, Jaxson De Ville, The Roar, Jaguars D-Line and more! Jacksonville Municipal Stadium at the Jaguar Statue 6-10 pm, 630-3690, www.coj.net.
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