JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You could say it was the Jaguars of old, but as the saying goes, "you really can't go back again."
This 2008 version of the Jaguars is different than last year's clock-chewing, ground efficient version. This year's Jaguars should try to be like last year's, only better.
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"That game today looked exactly like Jaguar football and it was good to get back to it," quarterback David Garrard said in the winning locker room after the Denver victory.
Garrard was 25 of 34 for 276 yards but more than that he was accurate and solid throughout the game, hitting key third downs, completing drives and running when he needed to. The Jaguars are only the third team in the last nine years to win in back to back seasons in Denver.
"To come into somebody's house, and to have done it last year too, to come back knowing they want our blood, the way this team fought today was awesome," Garrard added.
Fred Taylor was hurt early in the game after a big hit but Maurice Jones-Drew picked up the load gaining 125 yards on 22 carries. Jones-Drew declined our invitation to come on the Monday night show "The End Zone" saying he was too tired and beat up. Hopefully he can recover quickly enough in the future because it's his running style that a lot of times makes a difference for the Jaguars. He does pound into the line with a vengeance that creates some space no matter what the situation.
"Very gratifying" is how Jack Del Rio put his feelings about the win. "To go into a situation where nobody thinks you can win and come away with a victory is something special."
It's doubly important for the Jaguars because going into the bye week at 3-3 is so much different than 4-2. "It's like the whole season starts over," Paul Spicer said on Monday night. "A week off, a little rest and the teams we play next better watch out. We're going to be a healthier Jaguars so we're coming after it."
After the bye week the Jaguars face Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit, games they'll be favored in. As I've said all along, this team is built to win in November and December but they have to get there somewhere around .500. It looks like they're on the way.
A wild card spot is the likely goal for the Jaguars unless the Tennessee Titans do a swan dive. We'll see as things progress but getting on a little roll here and moving to 6-3 as the weather changes will be the key for Jaguars post season.