Jaguars Vs. Browns 11/21/10
Jacksonville eyes a third straight win when they host Cleveland
Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
NFL Football: Sunday, November 21, 2010, 1:00 EST
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After an exhilarating last-second victory in week ten, the Jacksonville Jaguars look to stay in the playoff hunt when they host the Cleveland Browns.
Tied at 24 with seconds to play against Houston, David Garrard’s hail-mary attempt was deflected by a Texan into the hands of Mike Thomas. The surprised receiver secured the bobbling pigskin and stepped into the end zone for the win. Jack Del Rio has gone from the hot seat to a game out of the playoffs in just a couple weeks. Garrard has caught fire the last two weeks, averaging 300 yards and three touchdowns this month.
The Jags quarterback is finally getting some help at receiver- Mike Thomas is on pace for just under 1,000 yards, and tight end Marcedes Lewis (7 TDs) has emerged as a reliable red zone target. Those two along with the hyphenated duo of Mike Sims-Walker and Maurce Jones-Drew form a solid offense.
Offensively Jacksonville has had some strong games, but the defense is another story. Matt Schaub and the Andre Johnson torched the secondary last week, and the Texans quarterback was only hit once during the entire game. There are not many names on the defense, and one of the them- defensive end Aaron Kampman- was placed on injury reserve last week. Without their top pass rusher, a questionable defense may be left with few answers. Football Outsiders ranks the unit 28th against the pass and 29th against the run. The run defense will be tested this Sunday when the Browns come to town.
Cleveland was on the losing side of a thriller against the Jets last week. After Colt McCoy led an impressive game-tying touchdown drive to force overtime, the Browns fumbled away an opportunity for a third straight win. Actually, Chancy Stuckey fumbled it away. The ex-Jets receiver took a pass down the sideline and into New York territory early in overtime, only to lose the ball in an effort the gain extra yards. Had he held onto the ball or stepped out of bounds, Cleveland would have already been knocking on the door of field goal range. Instead, the Jets pulled it out with under a minute left.
Although the Browns came up short, they played strong against elite competition for the third straight game (New England last week, New Orleans the game before). It sounds cliché, but this team plays a lot tougher than their 3-6 record indicates. Eric Mangini has his players playing hard, and his aggressive style has thrown opponents off balance.
There is a bright future on the offensive side with Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis leading the way. McCoy fell in the draft, but has showed why he won so much in college- he is a poised, mature, and smart player. He really stepped up under pressure against New York, and has thrived throwing out of the pocket. Hillis has been a pleasant surprise as their most feared weapon. The powerful running back has been superb of late, bulldozing over opponents and displaying surprising quickness. The offensive line is also strong. Unfortunately, the receiving corps does not provide much help, and wild card Josh Cribbs will likely be out with a toe injury.
Given their personnel and the Jaguars’ poor run defense, expect a lot of Hillis rushes this Sunday. Mangini does not want to have his rookie throw too many passes, and their passing game is not very explosive. It will be important for the Browns to get a lead or stay close given that Hillis and tight end Ben Watson are the primary offensive threats. Jack Del Rio will try to establish a more offensively-oriented game. Cleveland’s defense is solid, but they can be thrown on. If Garrard continues to throw the ball accurately, the Browns will probably not be able to keep up.
I am not crazy about this game, but I think there is a little more value with Jacksonville laying under two points. They are not a particularly strong team, but their offense is the more trustworthy of the two. Cleveland has one road win all year, thanks to a couple of defensive touchdowns against the Saints. That is not a reliable formula to win away from home. I think they have been overachieving a little recently as well. Barring a dominant effort on the ground, the Browns will come up short here.
