11-22-2017, 07:17 PM
As we are on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, there are numerous football related reasons Jaguars fans should be thankful. I am thankful Khan kept the team here. I am thankful he hired Marrone and Coughlin and retained Caldwell. I am thankful the team hired a very good coaching staff. I am thinking we now have a dominant defense that can cover with the best and rush the passer. I am thankful we pulled off the deals for Marcell Dareus, Calais Campbell, and Barry Church. I am thankful for the impact rookies this year. I am thankful our offensive line can run block and pass block decently. I am thankful we have a more competent special teams. All of this leads to where we are now...a 7-3 record and sole possession of first place after ten games. Undoubtedly, Jaguars fans are thankful for that and the hope that goes along with it. With this out of the way, let's get on to the picks.
tacks (6-4) at Colts (3-7)-Perhaps this is the result of no real personal stake in the result, other than message board ridicule, and we all know I've received that before. Perhaps this is the result of a holiday wild hair or temporary insanity. Perhaps this is nothing more than myopic wishful thinking from a Jaguars fan that doesn't want the division to come down to the final week. But somehow, I have the feeling the Colts are going to win this one. A few weeks back, the Colts played Tennessee tough until fading down the stretch in Nashville. The tacks have had several tough games against presumably inferior opponents like Cleveland (12-9), Baltimore (23-20) and Cincinnati (24-20) before getting waxed by the not inferior to them Steelers 40-17. Meanwhile, the Colts have played their last three opponents tough, losing 24-23 to Cincy, actually beating Houston 20-14, and losing to Pittsburgh 20-17 at home. In an unusual scheduling quirk, both teams had at least ten days to prepare for this game, with the tacks playing last Thursday and the Colts having the bye last week. In an upset special, the Colts beat the tacks 21-20.
Jaguars (7-3) at Cardinals (4-6) This is a game that looks winnable for the Jaguars at face value. The Cards are down to their 3rd string QB, former Jaguars bust Blaine Gabbert. They are down their starting LT, though they are not in bad shape, as Jared Veldheer moves back to LT. They have not been able to get the running game going, as they rank 31st on the ground, while the Jaguars' run defense has improved since Dareus' arrival, and outside of future HOF WR Larry Fitzgerald, have problems at WR, which is a bad combination against a team that can rush the passer and cover the way the Jaguars have. Defensively, they are second tier (10th) vs the run and despite having a talented secondary featuring Patrick Peterson, Honey Badger and Budda Baker, rank 22nd against the pass. The Jaguars with the injuries will have it a little tougher on this side of the ball, but should have some success. Though Cards fans seem to have turned on Arians, I have a great deal of respect for him. In a tougher game than the score seems, the Jaguars win 24-7.
Texans (4-6) at Ravens (5-5)-The Ravens have recorded three shutouts defensively, including two of the last three weeks. Might they get another against a Texans team depleted along the OL and injured beyond recognition? Maybe, maybe not, but they get the win at home in prime time. Ravens 23-Texans 10.
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 20-14
Please have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.
tacks (6-4) at Colts (3-7)-Perhaps this is the result of no real personal stake in the result, other than message board ridicule, and we all know I've received that before. Perhaps this is the result of a holiday wild hair or temporary insanity. Perhaps this is nothing more than myopic wishful thinking from a Jaguars fan that doesn't want the division to come down to the final week. But somehow, I have the feeling the Colts are going to win this one. A few weeks back, the Colts played Tennessee tough until fading down the stretch in Nashville. The tacks have had several tough games against presumably inferior opponents like Cleveland (12-9), Baltimore (23-20) and Cincinnati (24-20) before getting waxed by the not inferior to them Steelers 40-17. Meanwhile, the Colts have played their last three opponents tough, losing 24-23 to Cincy, actually beating Houston 20-14, and losing to Pittsburgh 20-17 at home. In an unusual scheduling quirk, both teams had at least ten days to prepare for this game, with the tacks playing last Thursday and the Colts having the bye last week. In an upset special, the Colts beat the tacks 21-20.
Jaguars (7-3) at Cardinals (4-6) This is a game that looks winnable for the Jaguars at face value. The Cards are down to their 3rd string QB, former Jaguars bust Blaine Gabbert. They are down their starting LT, though they are not in bad shape, as Jared Veldheer moves back to LT. They have not been able to get the running game going, as they rank 31st on the ground, while the Jaguars' run defense has improved since Dareus' arrival, and outside of future HOF WR Larry Fitzgerald, have problems at WR, which is a bad combination against a team that can rush the passer and cover the way the Jaguars have. Defensively, they are second tier (10th) vs the run and despite having a talented secondary featuring Patrick Peterson, Honey Badger and Budda Baker, rank 22nd against the pass. The Jaguars with the injuries will have it a little tougher on this side of the ball, but should have some success. Though Cards fans seem to have turned on Arians, I have a great deal of respect for him. In a tougher game than the score seems, the Jaguars win 24-7.
Texans (4-6) at Ravens (5-5)-The Ravens have recorded three shutouts defensively, including two of the last three weeks. Might they get another against a Texans team depleted along the OL and injured beyond recognition? Maybe, maybe not, but they get the win at home in prime time. Ravens 23-Texans 10.
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 20-14
Please have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.