THE STORY: The Jacksonville Jaguars are clinging to hopes of winning the AFC South title – their only path to reach the playoffs. The Jaguars not only need to beat the Houston Texans (without injured quarterback David Garrard and likely minus star running back Maurice Jones-Drew), but they also have to hope that the Indianapolis Colts lose at home to fading Tennessee – not a likely scenario. Both coaches could be looking for employment elsewhere after this game.
TV: 4:15 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Texans -2.5, O/U 49.5
WEATHER: Dome.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (5-10): How do you spell underachievers? This was supposed to be the breakout season for Houston – and it started that way with a dominating win over Indianapolis in Week 1. A crushing loss to Jacksonville on a Hail Mary pass dropped the Texans to 4-5 and into a tailspin from which they never recovered. Houston has lost eight of its last night games despite having the league’s leading rusher (Arian Foster), a superstar receiver (Andre Johnson) and one of the top quarterbacks (Matt Schaub). The Texans are also one of four teams in the NFL that have surrendered more than 400 points.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (8-7): Jacksonville bounced back nicely from a 3-4 start to the season, winning three games in a row and five of six to take control of the AFC South and seemingly secure the job status of coach Jack Del Rio. But in a high-profile matchup against the Colts in Week 15, the Jaguars came out on the short end of a 34-24 decision. They followed that up with last week’s overtime home loss to Washington and are staring at the prospect of finishing the season with three straight defeats and a .500 record.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Houston’s Foster has been the biggest surprise of the season. He leads the league in rushing with 1,436 yards and also ranks first in yards from scrimmage with 2,300 – heady numbers for a player that was not drafted coming out of Tennessee. He also has scored 16 touchdowns, 14 coming on the ground.
Jones-Drew had led Jacksonville’s resurgence by ripping off five consecutive 100-yard games before he was limited to 46 yards by the Colts. A knee injury sidelined him for last week’s loss vs. Washington and he is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.
QUARTERBACKS: Garrard underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn ligament in his right middle finger and is done for the year. The leaves the Jaguars’ faint playoff hopes in the hands of Trent Edwards, who was claimed off waivers in September following his release by the Buffalo Bills. He has appeared in just one game with Jacksonville, throwing for 140 yards and two interceptions in a 30-3 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 18.
Schaub has thrown for over 300 yards for four straight games – and Houston has lost every one. He went over 4,000 yards for the second straight season, one of only 12 quarterbacks to surpass that mark in back-to-back years. Despite the presence of the NFL’s leading rusher, Schaub aired it out 106 times in Week 14 and 15.
RECENT HISTORY: The Jaguars have won five of the last seven meetings, none more memorable than last month’s matchup. Garrard heaved a Hail Mary pass into the end zone on the final play of regulation. Houston’s Glover Quin swatted it directly into the hands of Jacksonville’s Mike Thomas for a stunning 31-24 victory.
KEY INJURIES: Jaguars: Out – QB David Garrard (finger); Doubtful – RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee); Questionable – TE Zach Miller (head), LB Justin Durant (groin), QB Todd Bouman (finger); Texans: Doubtful – DB Sherrick McManis (hamstring); Questionable – WR Andre Johnson (ankle).
LAST WORD: The Texans need to sign a closer. In the second half of the season, they have either been tied or held the lead in the fourth quarter seven times in eight games. Their record in those games is … 1-6.