Keys 2 Sunday
Week 8 Previews
Jacksonville @ Dallas
After losing their starting quarterback (likely for the rest of the regular season) and dropping their 3rd straight game to fall to 1-5, most teams would be left for all but dead. Such may be the case for the Cowboys and their 2010 season, but at least for one more Sunday there may be some light left at the end of their tunnel.
Today the Jags are in town and if the Cowboys hope to generate any kind of positive momentum and earn their first home win of the 2010 season, they will need to lean heavily on the ground game today. In order for Kitna to be effective in the pass game and take advantage of play-action, the Cowboys must put the ball in the hands of running back Felix Jones. Jones is averaging over four yards per carry this season and has shown great hands out of the backfield with 21 receptions this season. With great speed Jones also has big play capability and today he faces a run defense that has been victimized with five runs of 20 yards or more.
If the Cowboys are going to be victorious today, they will need to be proficient with ball security and move the chains on the ground. Quarterback Jon Kitna is a very capable back-up and will have to make a few throws today, but if the Cowboys can get the running game going this will open up play action and lead to success through the air.
Defensively the Cowboys will need to contain the Jaguars run game and force quarterback David Garrard to have to throw in 3rd and long situations. The Cowboys have not had great success this season slowing down the run, but if nose-tackle Jay Ratliff and the Cowboys defensive line can win some early battles this will give lineback DeMarcus Ware more opportunity to get to the quarterback.
This season the Jaguars have allowed 15 sacks and coughed up 11 interceptions through seven games. The Cowboys defense will need to bring lots of pressure and force Garrard and the Jaguars 23rd ranked passing offense into many mistakes. Pressure and takeaways will be key today for Dallas.
My Pick; Cowboys 27, Jaguars 17
Green Bay @ New York
Thus far this season, the Jets have been enjoying great success with a balanced attack and solid defense, but today they are going to have their hands full. With the Packers in town the secondary will be tested as will the Jets offensive line facing Clay Matthews and one of the league’s best pass rushes (22 sacks this season).
Fortunately for the quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Jets, they have the great pass rush neutralizer; their ground game. The Jets rank second in the league in rushing with nearly 160 yards rushing and over 32 rush attempts per game. If the Jets can find early success on the ground against the Packer’s 23rd ranked run defense, this will negate a lot of pressure from the Packers pass rush. When the Jets do have to throw protection will be a big key for success and so far this season the Jets “o” line has been solid only allowing nine sacks through six games.
Defensively the secondary is going to have its’ hands full with all the receivers the Packers possess. A big key for the defense will be watching for 1st down pass plays and shutting down the Packers run game (ranked 23rd). If the Jets can make the Packers offense one dimensional this is going to give head coach Rex Ryan a lot of liberties to bring a lot of pressure. The Packers are ranked 8th in passing this season with Rodgers under center, but his line has not been fail safe allowing 14 sacks this season. Pressure will be another key for the Jets success on defense.
The Jets should control a lot of clock with one of the best ground attacks in the league and touting one of the best run defenses they should be able to force the Packers into becoming more one dimensional. The Packers offense is too great to stop, but the Jets should be able to do enough to slow down their charge.
My Pick; Jets 28, Packers 21
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