| RB Rashad Jennings will have a chance to get his first 100-yard game of the season against the Colts. (US Presswire) |
Colts at Jaguars -- Week 8
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. (grass, outdoors)
When: Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Spread: Colts by 3
Forecast: Temperatures starting in the mid-50s and dropping into the high 40s in the second half; partly cloudy
Records: Colts (overall: 5-3, AFC South: 1-1); Jaguars (overall: 1-7, AFC South: 1-1)
Past results: Three most recent meetings -- Sept. 23, 2012: Jaguars 22, Colts 17; Jan. 1, 2012: Jaguars 19, Colts 13; Nov. 13, 2011: Jaguars 17, Colts 3. Series record: Colts lead the series 15-8.
What matters: The Jaguars have been bad overall this season. But they’ve been extremely inept when playing at home, allowing opponents to outscore them 126-34 in the not-so-friendly confines of EverBank Field. The Jags are coming off another frustrating 31-14 defeat to the Lions on Sunday and they’ll have a short week to turn around and prepare for the Colts, the only team they’ve beaten this year -- a 22-17 upset on Sept. 23. The teams’ seasons have gone in different directions since that day. The Colts have won four of their last five, while the Jaguars have dropped five straight.
Who matters: Whoever is in the secondary matters for Jacksonville. Injuries have made that a revolving door on a weekly basis. CB Derek Cox, perhaps the team’s best overall player in coverage, has been playing through back pain. S Dwight Lowery (ankle) and CB Rashean Mathis (groin) might have to sit again this week with their respective injuries. That leaves a patched-up secondary to take on Colts QB Andrew Luck and rejuvenated WR Reggie Wayne. They lead a passing offense that is ranked sixth in the NFL with an average of 285 yards per game through the air.
Key matchups: RB Rashad Jennings, who is filling in for the injured Maurice Jones-Drew (foot), hasn’t put up huge numbers (63 carries, 194 yards) thus far. He’ll have a chance to put up his first 100-yard game since 2010 against a Colts defense that allows an average of 130.8 yards on the ground per game.
Injuries of note: The injuries to Jones-Drew (foot), Cox (back), Mathis (groin) and Lowery (ankle) are the most serious. Jones-Drew has been ruled out, Mathis and Lowery don’t look promising and Cox will likely play, albeit at less than 100 percent. QB Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) remains on the official injury report, but there’s little doubt that he will play.
Inside stuff: Limiting opponents’ No. 1 WR has been especially hard for the Jaguars. Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (7 catches, 129 yards), Cincinnati’s A.J. Green (6 catches, 117 yards) and Chicago’s Brandon Marshall (12 catches, 144 yards) are among the elite WRs who have feasted on the Jaguars secondary. That could mean a big day for WR Reggie Wayne on Thursday. He had eight catches for 88 yards in the first matchup, and if the trend continues, he could have more this time.
Connections: Jaguars DE George Selvie and WR Laurent Robinson will be reunited with Colts WR Donnie Avery. The trio played together for the St. Louis Rams at various times in 2009 and 2010.
Stat you should know: Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts had been targeted a combined 22 times against Oakland and Green Bay the previous two weeks. With Robinson back from a concussion against Detroit last week, Shorts was only targeted four times.
Looking ahead: It doesn’t get any easier next week with a trip to the division-leading Houston Texans. At least the Jaguars will have an extra-long weekend to rest and prepare for that one.
Prediction: Colts 31, Jaguars 21
For more Jaguars news and analysis follow Daniel Lewis @CBSJags