Photo: JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 13: David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to pass during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on December 13, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The fog is back. A few weeks ago, the same morning fog crept over Jacksonville after a crunch-time win over the Buffalo Bills and seemed to cloud the Jaguars’ future. Now, after a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Dolphins, in front of the biggest crowd Jacksonville Municipal Stadium has seen all year, the fog is back, and the Jaguars’ future and view of the playoffs is more clouded than ever.

With a record of 7-6, the Jaguars now find themselves tentatively at the top of a four-way logjam of teams, all vying for the AFC’s sixth playoff seed:  The Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins, and the New York Jets. It’s been made clear that if the Jaguars hope to get themselves into the postseason without any outside help, they will have to win the remainder of their games, which include this week’s Thursday night home finale against the Indianapolis Colts (13-0), then visits to the New England Patriots (8-5) and Cleveland Browns (2-11).

Win out, and you’re in.

This has caused many people to say that the Jaguars “control their own destiny.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve always disliked that phrase. To suggest that the future is predetermined, and at the same time that you are somehow able to change it seems a little contradictory. It’s either one or the other, isn’t it?

I’d much rather leave destiny out of it and say that the Jaguars control themselves. Or at least, they will need to.

The Jaguars’ offense, in particular, will need to regain its focus after experiencing massive failures on Sunday. After being given several golden opportunities by the defense, the Jaguars failed to score any points in the second half. Against the Dolphins, the Jaguars only converted three of 14 third down attempts and went three-and-out six times. David Garrard played one of his worst games of the season completing only 11 of 26 passes for only 139 yards and a passer rating of 59.6. Maurice Jones-Drew was ineffective and held to just 59 yards on 18 carries.

With Peyton Manning and the Colts coming to town this Thursday night, the Jaguars cannot afford to squander offensive opportunities like they did against the Dolphins. The Colts aren’t likely to be as generous as Miami in giving the Jaguars chances to score. At 13-0, the Colts don’t find ways to lose. They finds ways to win.

With the postseason on the line, the Jaguars must shake off whatever affected their play on Sunday and rise to the occasion of Thursday night. With the whole world watching, David Garrard must play better, and his offensive line, including rookie tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, must give him the time he needs to be efficient. If the Jaguars hope to keep the pass rush hounds at bay, against one of the league’s best tandems of defensive ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, they will also have to establish some semblance of a running game against the league’s 19th ranked rush defense.

So the stage is set for the biggest spectacle of the season. The Jaguars versus the Colts. An upstart rebuilding team fighting for a playoff spot versus a team that has won 22 consecutive regular season games and has locked up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

David versus Goliath.

The question is, does David have the control to hit Goliath where it counts, when he has the chance? Anything’s possible, but one thing’s for sure: The Jaguars are definitely going to need more stones.

Gil Samson writes articles about the Jacksonville Jaguars. When Gil is not writing, he is riding motorcycles and planning his next tattoo. Gil is regularly cited on ESPN's AFC South Blog.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 10:02 am and is filed under Jaguars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.