NFL: Jacksonville at Houston (8:35 PM ET, ESPN)
2008-12-02
ESPN’s Monday night audience will be “treated” to a game between two teams with little left to do in ’08 but play out the string. Both Houston & Jacksonville have missed expectations and are relegated to the spoiler role. Of course, they won’t be able to do that against one another here. The Texas are the 3-point home favorite and are looking to extend a run of success vs. the Jaguars.
The Jaguars’ woes have been hard to put a finger on. Houston’s problems have been namely on the defensive side of the ball, in almost every stat and facet. On offense, the Texans gain over 6.0 yards per play. However, HC Jack Del Rio’s teams are 8-1 ATS vs. good offenses averaging >=5.65 YPP in the second half of seasons. Houston has held a firm edge on Jacksonville in the head-to-head series, going 7-6 SU & 10-3 ATS all-time, including 4-2 SU & 5-1 ATS at home.
In the first Monday night game ever at Reliant Stadium, Houston will go for its third straight win against Jacksonville on its home turf. While both of these teams appear headed home in January, recent get-togethers between these two have been interesting.
Case in point: The Jaguars won the earlier meeting in Week 3 on a 37-yard field goal by Josh Scobee in overtime to prevail, 30-27. Kris Brown tied the game up on a 47-yarder with a second left, but consecutive David Garrard passes to Matt and Greg Jones, no relation, in the extra stanza set up the game-winning field goal. Matt Schaub was brilliant that day with 307 passing yards and three touchdowns in the losing cause.
The loss of Schaub hurt any chances the Texans even had of heading to the postseason and his replacement, Sage Rosenfels, has been subpar. Houston finally won without Schaub, beating Cleveland 16-6 behind a breakout game from a sagging defense (three interceptions, including two of Brady Quinn).
The emergence of rookie running back Steve Slaton has been one of many rookie tailbacks who have stepped up in a big way in 2008 and his 774 yards and six touchdowns are proof of how important he has been. Slaton has also caught 32 passes and hasn’t fumbled.
Like Slaton, wideout Andre Johnson has also emerged after a slow September.
Since the beginning of October, Johnson has caught 76 passes for 892 yards and three touchdowns.
Beside San Diego, there hasn’t been a bigger disappointment than Jacksonville, which sits at 4-7. Losses to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Tennessee really did the team in and rumblings about head coach Jack Del Rio’s job security have surfaced.
Garrard has failed to continue the success he had in 2007 and has only nine touchdown passes through 12 games. The lack of production from Garrard has not been contagious to Maurice Jones-Drew, who leads the team with 11 touchdowns. With Jones-Drew reaping all the fruit, the cupboard has been bare for fellow running back Fred Taylor, who has yet to score and is averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry.
PREDICTION: Like the nation’s mortgage system, the bottom has been pulled out from under the Jaguars’ once promising season and Del Rio is feeling the heat. Houston has never really been able to get any real traction, but a Monday night crowd may be able to get it over the hump in this spot. HOUSTON 20, JACKSONVILLE 17
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