There is still a logjam atop the NFC North standings and the Minnesota Vikings are right in the thick of the race. Minnesota will have to put its road woes aside this Sunday, however, when it pays a visit to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars.
The Vikings (5-5) are just 1-4 on the road this season and wasted a golden opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the NFC North after last weekend's loss at Tampa Bay. They completely broke down over the final 30 minutes of a 19-13 setback to the Buccaneers and must avoid a trap game against the Jaguars with division-rival Chicago looming the following week.
Minnesota is tied with Green Bay and Chicago in the division standings and will be trying to reach the .500 mark before returning home to host the Bears at the Metrodome. Chicago defeated the Vikings earlier in the season to take the upper hand in a tie-breaking scenario.
The Vikings have dropped two in a row as the visitor and are in the midst of playing four of five games on the road.
With three losses over its last four games, Jacksonville is in a world of hurt and pretty much out of the playoff picture right now in the AFC.
The Jaguars (4-6) had the unbeaten Tennessee Titans on the ropes at halftime last week, leading 14-3 at the break, but imploded in the second half to suffer a heart-breaking 24-14 loss to their AFC South rivals. Head coach Jack Del Rio is starting to feel the heat, and last year's 11-5 mark and a trip to the second round of the playoffs may not save him.
Del Rio already got under the skin of some players on the team, most notably middle linebacker Mike Peterson, with his stickler ways and tough approach. The former NFL linebacker, who signed a four-year contract extension in the offseason for over $20 million, also hasn't been getting much lately from quarterback David Garrard.
Garrard was practically mistake-free in 2007, but this year has been a complete aberration of what he is capable of accomplishing. Like Del Rio, he also signed a big contract in the offseason and hasn't lived up to the big bucks. Maybe showing him the money was premature, as evidenced by his 83.4 passer rating compared to last season's 102.2 quarterback classification.
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings own a 2-1 leads in their all-time series with the Jaguars, breaking a deadlock in the series with a 27-16 home win in the most recent meeting, during the 2004 campaign. Jacksonville won the previous meeting, a 33-3 road rout in 2001. Minnesota will be visiting Jacksonville for the first time in team history.
Del Rio is 0-1 as a head coach against the Vikings, for whom he played from 1992 to 1995. Minnesota's Brad Childress will be meeting both Del Rio and the Jaguars for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
Vikings veteran quarterback Gus Frerotte (1,757 passing yards, 11 TD, 11 INT) played it safe against a stingy Tampa Bay defense last weekend by throwing for a season-low 138 yards and a touchdown. Frerotte ended with his second rating of more than 100, but has thrown eight interceptions to go along with eight touchdown passes over his past four games. The Vikings are only 21st in passing this season and will face a talented Jacksonville defensive backfield on Sunday. Frerotte, who has won five of eight starts this season, won his only start against the Jaguars back on September 28, 1997 as a member of the Washington Redskins. He was able to pass for 244 yards and three touchdowns that day. Many years have passed since then, and Frerotte's top targets now are Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade. Berrian (33 receptions, 667 yards, 4 TD) leads the team in receiving yards and had three catches for 43 yards at Tampa Bay. In his first season with Minnesota, Berrian has a touchdown catch in four of his last five games and produced three 100-yard performances over that span. Wade (38 receptions, 1 TD) leads the team in 38 catches and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (23 receptions, 4 TDs) is even with Berrian for the team lead in touchdown receptions.
Jacksonville's 18th-rated pass defense was exposed to extreme measures in Sunday's loss, as Titans quarterback Kerry Collins shredded the unit with 230 yards and three touchdown passes in the loss. Safety Reggie Nelson (24 tackles, 1 INT) came away with his first pick of the year last week to no avail. The Jags have a talented secondary with Nelson, safety Brian Williams and cornerbacks Rashean Mathis and Drayton Florence. Mathis (31 tackles, 3 INT) leads the team with three interceptions this season, including two returned for scores. He missed some practice time this week because of a foot injury, but should be ready to go versus Minnesota. Williams (49 tackles, 2 INT) is among the team leaders in tackles, while offseason addition Florence (21 tackles) is having a solid first year in Jacksonville. Each defender matches up well with Berrian, Wade and any other receiver Childress throws their way.
Barring any major injury, off the field problems or trade, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be a mainstay in the Minnesota backfield for the next decade or so. Perhaps the best running back in the NFL, Peterson (1,100 rushing yards, 7 TD) is quick and has power that is very deceiving to defenders. The chiseled Oklahoma product nicknamed "All Day" for his love of running has six 100-yard rushing games already this season. He has 648 yards and four touchdowns in the past five weeks, an average of 129.6 yards per game. Peterson has been fortunate enough to run behind a cohesive offensive line and is posting an NFL-high 101.7 rushing yards per contest since entering the league only a year ago. He has rushed for five scores in five road games in 2008. Backup running back Chester Taylor (222 rushing yards, 1 TD) will fill in when necessary. One lineup change taking place this week involves the line, where Artis Hicks is expected to take over for Ryan Cook, who has been ineffective the past two games at right tackle.
The Jaguars were faced with the improbable task of shutting down Tennessee's running back tandem of LenDale White and Chris Johnson on Sunday, and passed the test despite coming up short in the points department. Tennessee ran for just 114 yards on the day, thanks to a strong push up front from the Jacksonville defense which was playing without top defensive tackle John Henderson (26 tackles, 2 sacks), who has missed the last two games because of a knee injury. Henderson returned to practice this week and could play as soon as Sunday. Tackle Rob Meier (21 tackles, 2 sacks) finished with six stops against the Titans, while rookie defensive end Derrick Harvey (10 tackles, 1. 5 sacks, 1 INT) has been taking time from veteran Paul Spicer. Sunday's job doesn't get any easier with Peterson coming to town, so the Jacksonville linebackers must play another strong game. Daryl Smith (46 tackles, 2.5 sacks) started for Peterson in the middle against the Titans and had five stops. Linebacker Justin Durant (41 tackles) finished with six tackles and Peterson (54 tackles, 1 sack) added five in a reserve role. Peterson also played special teams and it is unclear whether he will get his starting job back.
WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL
Garrard (2,144 passing yards, 8 TD, 6 INT) passed for a season-low 135 yards last week versus Tennessee with no touchdowns and an interception. In his defense, Garrard was sacked four times and has been taken down 11 times over the last four weeks. Granted that the Titans defense is tough, but Garrard could have done better than a 13-for-30 passing performance. He has enjoyed success throughout his career versus the NFC, going 7-0 as a starter. Garrard is also dealing with a bunch of less than stellar receivers. Offseason acquisitions Troy Williamson (4 receptions, 1 TD) and Jerry Porter (7 receptions, 1 TD) have been busts so far, and ex-Viking Williamson was in the recent news for challenging his former head coach Childress to a fight stemming from his time in Minnesota. Matt Jones (50 receptions, 2 TD) has been Garrard's favorite target all season and leads the team in receiving yards (586) and receptions. He missed the Tennessee game with a thigh injury, but was back at practice on Wednesday. The Jags will need Jones back in the lineup, since the Vikings will force them to throw a lot. He has five or more catches in eight of nine games this season.
The Vikings allowed Jeff Garcia of the Bucs to pass for 255 yards a week ago, but did not surrender a touchdown or record an interception. They had just one sack of Garcia and will be facing an Jacksonville offensive line that has given up many this season. Star defensive end and sack leader Jared Allen (29 tackles, 8 sacks) will be geared up for this matchup. He was fined this week for a hit on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this season, but avoided a suspension. Allen, who owns six sacks in the past five games, has played the past two weeks despite a sprain of his right shoulder. The Vikings are 21st against the pass this season and have several talented players in the secondary. Cornerback Cedric Griffin (61 tackles) is second on the team in stops and fellow cornerback Antoine Winfield (53 tackles, 2 INT) leads the team with a pair of interceptions. Strong safety Darren Sharper (39 tackles) is a savvy veteran who will help out against the deep threat. Free safety Madieu Williams (15 tackles, INT) played Sunday despite a shoulder injury and was limited in practice this week.
Jacksonville is 11th in rushing offense this season with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor in the backfield. Jones-Drew (499 rushing yards, 11 TD) has been streaky and owns just two 100-yard rushing games on the year. He has no more than 70 yards on the ground over the past four weeks, but has reached the end zone in three consecutive games and scored six times over that span. Jones-Drew will have a tough time against Minnesota's mammoth front line which has helped the Vikings to the second-best run defense in the league. Taylor (416 rushing yards) is still without a touchdown this season and has reached the century mark in rushing just once in 2008. Garrard can also throw his weight around and is third on the Jaguars in rushing with 210 yards this season. He had 48 yards and a score on 10 scrambles last week, but may not be doing much of that on Sunday.
The biggest concern for Minnesota's defensive line was the playing status of defensive tackles Kevin Williams (42 tackles, 7 sacks) and Pat Williams (31 tackles). The two run-stuffers have reportedly tested positive for a weight- loss diuretic that is currently on the NFL's list of banned substances. The players recently met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but no official word on suspensions will be passed down for at least another week. If both players were ineligible to play at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sunday, the Vikings would have been in trouble against Jones-Drew and Taylor. The Bucs had a hard time running the football on the Vikes last weekend despite losing top running back Earnest Graham. Kevin Williams is second on the team with seven sacks, while Pat Williams is still searching for his first. Linebacker Chad Greenway (82 tackles, 4 sacks) leads the team in stops and finished with 16 tackles, a sack and an interception against Tampa Bay. He has a sack in three straight games.
FANTASY FOCUS
Neither quarterback has done enough this season to warrant a starting position. Peterson is the best of any player in this matchup and has been a reliable option ever since he was drafted in 2007. The muscular back has the speed to blow past defenders and the strength to run through them. Give Berrian a shot this week against a Jacksonville defense that seems lifeless over the past few games. Jones-Drew and Taylor deserve a nod as usual, since owners never know who will break out or who will flake out when the Jaguars play. If Jones is healthy enough to return from a thigh injury, insert him into the starting lineup, since he has been Garrard's top target this season.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Both teams desperately need a win this Sunday, and while the media and fans have dragged Childress through the mud lately, it will be Del Rio facing the most scrutiny this weekend. The Vikings are a better team right now and still have a chance to win a division title, as they sit atop the NFC North with Green Bay and Chicago. The Jaguars are only third in the AFC South standings because of a subpar effort, and another loss will be the final nail in the coffin. They will have a tough time establishing the run against a stingy Minnesota defense, the 2008 version of the "Purple People Eaters" of the 1970's. If the Jacksonville offense is left in the hands of Garrard, which is the most likely scenario, and Peterson shreds the Jaguars for at least 75 yards, Childress and company will move one step closer to a playoff berth.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 24, Jaguars 17
