Jaguars should be ashamed

Can we send the Patriots to the AFC Title Game already? Coming off Jacksonville’s 31-29 victory (if you can really call it that) over Pittsburgh, I am disgusted. I am beyond disgusted. Here’s a team that came out of the gates and made all kinds of big plays. The Jones-Drew kick return is the answer that set the tone for the whole first half. And then the Mathis INT return for a TD puts them on top and the audience gets the idea that Big Ben is in for a long night. Another interception later and a great touchdown pass to Jones-Drew, and I’m ready to put this one on ice. It was a dominating display and everybody looked justified in taking Jacksonville this week.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. Fourth and 12 for Pittsburgh in Jacksonville territory. Up pops the obligatory graphic (the largest fourth quarter deficit to be overcome in playoff history was 16 points. The Steelers were down18.) Jags Blitz. Steelers pick it up. Touchdown. Okay, you say, its still an 11 point game, no need to worry. And on most occassions, you would be right. But not with the Jags, no. They’d rather see their fan base collapse of a heart attack than hold onto an 18 point lead. Two more unanswered Pittsburgh touchdowns (with failed conversions, thank God), and the Steelers go up 1. At this point, I want to throw numerous heavy objects at my television. The Jags can’t complete a pass. They can’t run for more than 2 yards. They can’t stop Roethlisberger from doing whatever the hell he wants despite how little of a threat Davenport was all game.

Eventually Garrard would scramble deep into Pittsburgh territory, and the Jaguars were saved of complete and utter embarrassment. One thing is certain. This team will get rocked by the Patriots next week. Garrard looks great on some throws. On other occasions (that interception in the fourth where he was throwing to his 18 foot wide receiver) he looks putrid. I have serious doubts about him handling a Bill Belicheck scheme. While the Patriots have allowed 4.2 yards per carry on the ground this year (26th in the NFL—something that stands to benefit Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor), they have often left ground games dead simply because their opposition cannot afford to run. This is exactly what will happen next week in Foxboro. The Patriots will jump out, pile it on, and the Jaguars will have no choice but to make mistakes through the air and abandon the run. It’s not all that impressive picking the Patriots as a lock to win, but I have a better chance of out-running a Kenyan in the Boston Marathon than the Jaguars do at smelling a victory at New England.