Now we may be in trouble....

Around 3:35 pm ET today, the Jaguars were beating the Bills 16-10 and the Colts were trailing the Vikings 15-7, and it looked like we'd be traveling to Indy next week with a chance to go 2-1 while putting the Colts in an inescapable 0-3 hole. Within five minutes the Jaguars allowed the Bills to march down the field for a touchdown, and the Colts had drawn even against the Vikes. Now, we are in danger of being in that 0-3 hole next week. All preseason thoughts that the Jags would just pick up where they left off in Pittsburgh last January are gone. The team can't run the ball. In 2 games, we have rushed a total of 44 times for 131 yards and just one touchdown. While much of this can be blamed on injuries to the offensive line, that problem is not going to go away this season, and the Jaguars will need to find a way to manufacture points. Surrendering just 37 points in two games to teams who both look playoff-ready is no shame; however, when quarterbacks not named Vince Young have been in the game, they have gone 22-27 for 275 yards and a touchdown against us. Those numbers sound eerily similar to Tom Brady's line against us in the divisional playoff game. Drafting Groves and Harvey was supposed to fix the issue of the pass rush, but a total of four sacks in two games is not going to cut it in low-scoring defensive struggles when we are playing for field position and looking to force turnovers. 

Normally, I'd say that going 0-2 would be a disaster, but there is a bit of hope, only because this season has started so unusually. The Patriots are 2-0 but do not look invincible anymore without Brady. The Colts are 1-1 and we could still draw even with them after next week. Another favorite, the Chargers, are 0-2 as well; the Browns are on the verge of going 0-2 as I write this; the Jets, who look as capable of making the playoffs as anyone else, are 1-1 as well. None of these opponents are out of reach for us yet. The major problem are three contenders who were supposed to be trying to catch us all season, but instead have jumped out to 2-0 starts: the Titans, Bills, and Broncos. I hate to say it, but this game against Indy is a must-win. If we take it, we will be favored against the Texans at home the following week with a chance to be 2-2. This will be absolutely essential with games against Pittsburgh, Denver, and Cleveland to follow. We need to come out of that stretch at 4-3 at the very least.  Still, I have an unavoidable feeling that the remainder of the season is foredoomed.