In Week 7 of the 2004 season, an upstart group of Jacksonville Jaguars traveled as heavy underdogs to the RCA Dome to meet the Indianapolis Colts, only to emerge as surprise 27-24 winners.
In nine games at home during '04, the defeat was the only one suffered by the Colts within their friendly confines.
You can bet that fact is going to be fresh on the collective minds of the 2005 edition of Tony Dungy's squad, which will again play host to Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon.
The squad that Indy will face comes off a 26-14 home victory in last Sunday's season-opener against the Seahawks. The double-digit win was rare for a Jaguar team that won eight of its nine games by seven points or fewer during a 9-7 campaign last year.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, secured an impressive 24-7 victory in Baltimore on Sunday night, holding the Ravens off the scoreboard for the first 59:47 of the contest.
SERIES HISTORY
The Colts hold a 6-2 edge in the regular season series with Jacksonville, but as mentioned, were 27-24 home losers when the teams last met. The win was the first for the Jaguars in four trips to Indianapolis.
Dungy is 4-3 against Jacksonville in his career, including 4-2 while with the Colts. Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio is 2-2 against both Dungy and Indianapolis as a head coach.
JAGUARS OFFENSE VS. COLTS DEFENSE
There was some question about how quickly Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich would grasp the new offense installed by first-year coordinator Carl Smith, but those doubts were put to rest almost immediately in last week's win. Leftwich completed 17-of-31 passes for 252 yards in the victory, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and not surrendering an interception on the day. The third-year pro threw both touchdown passes to wideout Jimmy Smith, finding the veteran on a 30-yard strike in the second quarter and a seven-yard toss in the third. The 36-year-old Smith (7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD) had a huge day in the triumph. Leftwich was also able to hook up with rookie Matt Jones (2 receptions, 22 yards) on multiple occasions. Jones kept Seattle off balance by rushing twice for 28 yards and throwing a six-yard completion to Reggie Williams (4 receptions, 41 yards) on an end-around. Leftwich was sacked three times in the contest, and will require better protection from the likes of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis this week.
The Indianapolis secondary was largely responsible for the 355 passing yards put up by the Ravens last week, but many of those came in garbage time, and the Colts were largely able to avoid the big play. Cornerbacks Nick Harper (5 tackles, 2 pass breakups) and Donald Strickland (6 tackles, 3 pass breakups) both played reasonably well, as did free safety Bob Sanders (3 tackles) and strong safety Joseph Jefferson (6 tackles). Jefferson (toe) is out this week, and Sanders (concussion) and Strickland (hamstring) are both questionable. The team will get a break on Sunday as strong safety Mike Doss, who was out last week while serving a one-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, is slated to return. The Colts pass rush managed three sacks last week, including two for tackle Larry Tripplett and one for Mathis. Mathis also forced a fumble in the win. Freeney had three tackles but did not notch a sack.
Fred Taylor, who battled injuries last season and early in the 2005 preseason, calmed some nerves by rushing 20 times for a hard-earned 76 yards in the win over the Seahawks. The 29-year old Taylor also caught two passes in the contest. Taylor has gone over the 100-yard mark in three of his last four meetings with the Colts. As expected, LaBrandon Toefield (4 rushes, 4 yards) spelled Taylor, but was ineffective. Rookie Alvin Pearman rushed once for two yards in his first NFL appearance, and fullback Greg Jones caught a pass for 10 yards out of the backfield. The Jags finished with 119 rushing yards in the game, slightly better than its mark of 115.6 per game compiled in 2004.
The most encouraging aspect of the Colts' win over Baltimore had to be the play of the team's linebacking corps. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett (10 tackles) had two interceptions on the evening, while weak side backer Cato June intercepted an Anthony Wright pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. That duo also helped hold the Baltimore rushing game in check, as the Ravens totaled just 77 ground yards on the night. Up front, tackle Corey Simon (2 tackles) made his presence felt in his first game as a Colt, and Tripplett (7 tackles) was productive as well. Tripplett (knee) is listed as questionable for this week, as is former starting tackle Montae Reagor (groin), who missed the opener.
COLTS OFFENSE VS. JAGUARS DEFENSE
Peyton Manning (21-of-36, 254 yards, 2 TD) had a slow start against the vaunted Ravens defense on Sunday night, but eventually broke through for a couple of touchdown passes. Manning found trusty Marvin Harrison on a 28-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter, and later in the frame hit tight end Ben Utecht with a 26-yard strike. Utecht, whose score was also his first NFL catch, was playing in place of the injured Dallas Clark (concussion). Clark is listed as questionable on this week's injury report. Harrison (6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD) had an impact on the game as did other frequent Manning targets Reggie Wayne (4 receptions, 50 yards) and Brandon Stokley (7 receptions, 83 yards). Manning was not sacked against Baltimore, and rarely faced serious pressure.
Charged with the task of dealing with Harrison, Wayne, and Stokley will be a Jacksonville secondary group that allowed Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck to throw for 246 yards but also goaded him into three interceptions a week ago. Cornerbacks Rashean Mathis (5 tackles) and Kenny Wright (6 tackles) both held up against the Hawks, with Wright turning in a solid effort in his first game as a Jaguar. Free safety Deon Grant had an interception in the contest, as did defensive end Paul Spicer. Strong safety Donovin Darius had a quiet day with two tackles in the win. Jacksonville struggled to get much of a pass rush last season, but both outside linebacker Akin Ayodele and defensive end Bobby McCray recorded sacks against Hasselbeck. Offseason acquisition and end Reggie Hayward had just one tackle in his first game as a Jaguar, and ex-Cowboy Marcellus Wiley played but did not post any statistics.
Edgerrin James carried 23 times for 88 yards in his 2005 debut, also catching three balls for 26 yards out of the backfield. James has never rushed for 100 yards in seven career outings against the Jaguars. Usual backup Dominic Rhodes did not play last week due to a foot injury, and is questionable for this Sunday. Fullback James Mungro and first-year player Ran Carthon were James' backups last week, but neither garnered an offensive touch.
The Jaguars are known as one of the top run-stopping groups in the NFL, and true to form, the unit shut down Shaun Alexander last week. Alexander, who came within one yard of winning the NFL rushing title last season, had just 73 yards on 14 carries and did not find the end zone. Apart from a 36-yard rush, Alexander averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt. Defensive tackles Marcus Stroud (3 tackles) and John Henderson (3 tackles) were a big part of that effort. Linebackers Daryl Smith and Mike Peterson combined for nine tackles, with Smith also recording an interception from his outside spot.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Jaguars were not intimidated by the Colts when they came into the RCA Dome and won last season, and they won't be pushed around this time either. Like Baltimore, Jacksonville has the defensive personnel necessary to stick around in the game. But unlike the Ravens, the Jaguars also have an offensive gameplan that will keep the Colts on their toes.I don`t look for a SU win here by the Jags, but Del Rio and company will give them a battle for four quarters and cover the 9.
BET ID=121474129
Straight Wager 09/16/05 01:03 ET
100.00/95.24 Result: Pending
Jaguars(Jacksonville)
Colts(Indianapolis) 09/18/05 (13:00 ET)
Jaguars(Jacksonville) +9 (-105)
*ADDING THE VIKINGS*
Minnesota surprised many pundits by playing an atrocious game in Week 1, but that effort will probably be viewed as but a blip on the radar in the long run. Culpepper was working with a host of new personnel and against the Buccaneers' confusing zone defensive scheme, which has foiled many a talented quarterback before him. Against the Bengals' more vanilla defensive look, Culpepper should bounce back. As for Cincinnati, the Bengals are going to struggle to play the type of mistake-free football they did against Cleveland while facing a much more talented opponent. Palmer and company will move the ball, but won't be able to match Minnesota score-for-score in the endgame. The Vikings will rebound with a win, and the faithful at Paul Brown Stadium will return home unhappy.
LOVE THE VIKES AGAINST AN OVERRATED BENGALS SQUAD THAT GOT A WIN OVER THE HAPLESS BROWNS.
BET ID=121888785
Straight Wager 09/18/05 00:17 ET
100.00/100.00 Result: Pending
Vikings(Minnesota)
Bengals(Cincinnati) 09/18/05 (13:00 ET)
Vikings(Minnesota) +3 (Even
In nine games at home during '04, the defeat was the only one suffered by the Colts within their friendly confines.
You can bet that fact is going to be fresh on the collective minds of the 2005 edition of Tony Dungy's squad, which will again play host to Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon.
The squad that Indy will face comes off a 26-14 home victory in last Sunday's season-opener against the Seahawks. The double-digit win was rare for a Jaguar team that won eight of its nine games by seven points or fewer during a 9-7 campaign last year.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, secured an impressive 24-7 victory in Baltimore on Sunday night, holding the Ravens off the scoreboard for the first 59:47 of the contest.
SERIES HISTORY
The Colts hold a 6-2 edge in the regular season series with Jacksonville, but as mentioned, were 27-24 home losers when the teams last met. The win was the first for the Jaguars in four trips to Indianapolis.
Dungy is 4-3 against Jacksonville in his career, including 4-2 while with the Colts. Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio is 2-2 against both Dungy and Indianapolis as a head coach.
JAGUARS OFFENSE VS. COLTS DEFENSE
There was some question about how quickly Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich would grasp the new offense installed by first-year coordinator Carl Smith, but those doubts were put to rest almost immediately in last week's win. Leftwich completed 17-of-31 passes for 252 yards in the victory, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and not surrendering an interception on the day. The third-year pro threw both touchdown passes to wideout Jimmy Smith, finding the veteran on a 30-yard strike in the second quarter and a seven-yard toss in the third. The 36-year-old Smith (7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD) had a huge day in the triumph. Leftwich was also able to hook up with rookie Matt Jones (2 receptions, 22 yards) on multiple occasions. Jones kept Seattle off balance by rushing twice for 28 yards and throwing a six-yard completion to Reggie Williams (4 receptions, 41 yards) on an end-around. Leftwich was sacked three times in the contest, and will require better protection from the likes of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis this week.
The Indianapolis secondary was largely responsible for the 355 passing yards put up by the Ravens last week, but many of those came in garbage time, and the Colts were largely able to avoid the big play. Cornerbacks Nick Harper (5 tackles, 2 pass breakups) and Donald Strickland (6 tackles, 3 pass breakups) both played reasonably well, as did free safety Bob Sanders (3 tackles) and strong safety Joseph Jefferson (6 tackles). Jefferson (toe) is out this week, and Sanders (concussion) and Strickland (hamstring) are both questionable. The team will get a break on Sunday as strong safety Mike Doss, who was out last week while serving a one-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, is slated to return. The Colts pass rush managed three sacks last week, including two for tackle Larry Tripplett and one for Mathis. Mathis also forced a fumble in the win. Freeney had three tackles but did not notch a sack.
Fred Taylor, who battled injuries last season and early in the 2005 preseason, calmed some nerves by rushing 20 times for a hard-earned 76 yards in the win over the Seahawks. The 29-year old Taylor also caught two passes in the contest. Taylor has gone over the 100-yard mark in three of his last four meetings with the Colts. As expected, LaBrandon Toefield (4 rushes, 4 yards) spelled Taylor, but was ineffective. Rookie Alvin Pearman rushed once for two yards in his first NFL appearance, and fullback Greg Jones caught a pass for 10 yards out of the backfield. The Jags finished with 119 rushing yards in the game, slightly better than its mark of 115.6 per game compiled in 2004.
The most encouraging aspect of the Colts' win over Baltimore had to be the play of the team's linebacking corps. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett (10 tackles) had two interceptions on the evening, while weak side backer Cato June intercepted an Anthony Wright pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. That duo also helped hold the Baltimore rushing game in check, as the Ravens totaled just 77 ground yards on the night. Up front, tackle Corey Simon (2 tackles) made his presence felt in his first game as a Colt, and Tripplett (7 tackles) was productive as well. Tripplett (knee) is listed as questionable for this week, as is former starting tackle Montae Reagor (groin), who missed the opener.
COLTS OFFENSE VS. JAGUARS DEFENSE
Peyton Manning (21-of-36, 254 yards, 2 TD) had a slow start against the vaunted Ravens defense on Sunday night, but eventually broke through for a couple of touchdown passes. Manning found trusty Marvin Harrison on a 28-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter, and later in the frame hit tight end Ben Utecht with a 26-yard strike. Utecht, whose score was also his first NFL catch, was playing in place of the injured Dallas Clark (concussion). Clark is listed as questionable on this week's injury report. Harrison (6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD) had an impact on the game as did other frequent Manning targets Reggie Wayne (4 receptions, 50 yards) and Brandon Stokley (7 receptions, 83 yards). Manning was not sacked against Baltimore, and rarely faced serious pressure.
Charged with the task of dealing with Harrison, Wayne, and Stokley will be a Jacksonville secondary group that allowed Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck to throw for 246 yards but also goaded him into three interceptions a week ago. Cornerbacks Rashean Mathis (5 tackles) and Kenny Wright (6 tackles) both held up against the Hawks, with Wright turning in a solid effort in his first game as a Jaguar. Free safety Deon Grant had an interception in the contest, as did defensive end Paul Spicer. Strong safety Donovin Darius had a quiet day with two tackles in the win. Jacksonville struggled to get much of a pass rush last season, but both outside linebacker Akin Ayodele and defensive end Bobby McCray recorded sacks against Hasselbeck. Offseason acquisition and end Reggie Hayward had just one tackle in his first game as a Jaguar, and ex-Cowboy Marcellus Wiley played but did not post any statistics.
Edgerrin James carried 23 times for 88 yards in his 2005 debut, also catching three balls for 26 yards out of the backfield. James has never rushed for 100 yards in seven career outings against the Jaguars. Usual backup Dominic Rhodes did not play last week due to a foot injury, and is questionable for this Sunday. Fullback James Mungro and first-year player Ran Carthon were James' backups last week, but neither garnered an offensive touch.
The Jaguars are known as one of the top run-stopping groups in the NFL, and true to form, the unit shut down Shaun Alexander last week. Alexander, who came within one yard of winning the NFL rushing title last season, had just 73 yards on 14 carries and did not find the end zone. Apart from a 36-yard rush, Alexander averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt. Defensive tackles Marcus Stroud (3 tackles) and John Henderson (3 tackles) were a big part of that effort. Linebackers Daryl Smith and Mike Peterson combined for nine tackles, with Smith also recording an interception from his outside spot.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Jaguars were not intimidated by the Colts when they came into the RCA Dome and won last season, and they won't be pushed around this time either. Like Baltimore, Jacksonville has the defensive personnel necessary to stick around in the game. But unlike the Ravens, the Jaguars also have an offensive gameplan that will keep the Colts on their toes.I don`t look for a SU win here by the Jags, but Del Rio and company will give them a battle for four quarters and cover the 9.
BET ID=121474129
Straight Wager 09/16/05 01:03 ET
100.00/95.24 Result: Pending
Jaguars(Jacksonville)
Colts(Indianapolis) 09/18/05 (13:00 ET)
Jaguars(Jacksonville) +9 (-105)
*ADDING THE VIKINGS*
Minnesota surprised many pundits by playing an atrocious game in Week 1, but that effort will probably be viewed as but a blip on the radar in the long run. Culpepper was working with a host of new personnel and against the Buccaneers' confusing zone defensive scheme, which has foiled many a talented quarterback before him. Against the Bengals' more vanilla defensive look, Culpepper should bounce back. As for Cincinnati, the Bengals are going to struggle to play the type of mistake-free football they did against Cleveland while facing a much more talented opponent. Palmer and company will move the ball, but won't be able to match Minnesota score-for-score in the endgame. The Vikings will rebound with a win, and the faithful at Paul Brown Stadium will return home unhappy.
LOVE THE VIKES AGAINST AN OVERRATED BENGALS SQUAD THAT GOT A WIN OVER THE HAPLESS BROWNS.
BET ID=121888785
Straight Wager 09/18/05 00:17 ET
100.00/100.00 Result: Pending
Vikings(Minnesota)
Bengals(Cincinnati) 09/18/05 (13:00 ET)
Vikings(Minnesota) +3 (Even
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