Jaguars-Lions Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Are Lions finally primed for first win?The Jaguars were stunned by a previously winless Bengals club last week in Cincinnati. In Detroit, Jacksonville faces another team gunning for its first victory of the season -- and the Jags' playoff hopes now seem very slim. The Lions have kept things close against a few opponents this year, but they have a nasty habit of crumbling late in tight games. With one team facing long odds to salvage its season and the other trying to find any light at the end of the tunnel, this doesn't appear to be a very compelling matchup.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
JAC	5-11	302	367	2-6	3-5	2-4	3-9
DET	0-16	268	517	0-8	0-8	0-6	0-12
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 61.8 2303 8 6 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Detroit Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Staffo... 55.2 1911 11 14 Culpep... 56.5 384 1 2

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 194 926 4.8 13 Garrar... 50 218 4.4 2

Detroit Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Smith 162 560 3.5 3 Morris 38 141 3.7 1

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 47 694 14.8 6 Holt 38 516 13.6 0

Detroit Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Johnso... 39 597 15.3 2 Pettig... 29 334 11.5 2

Full Player Stats: Jacksonville | Detroit

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	JAC	319.0
	DET	268.0
Yards Passing	JAC	208.3
	DET	185.0
Yards Rushing	JAC	110.9
	DET	83.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	JAC	330.9
	DET	404.4
Pass Yds Allowed	JAC	224.1
	DET	232.3
Rush Yds Allowed	JAC	106.8
	DET	172.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Jacksonville leads 2-0
Nov 14, 2004	JAC 23, @DET 17

This stretch of games was supposed to help the Jacksonville Jaguars gear up for a postseason run. Instead, they're falling further out of the AFC playoff picture.

After losing to a previously winless team their last time out, the Jaguars look to avoid a similar fate Sunday when they visit the 0-8 Detroit Lions, who might start recently signed Daunte Culpepper at quarterback.

Jacksonville (3-5) advanced to the AFC divisional playoff round last season, but its postseason hopes this season are looking bleak. The Jaguars trail undefeated Tennessee by five games in the AFC South, and have failed to take advantage of a seemingly easy portion of their schedule.

Following a 23-17 loss to struggling Cleveland on Oct. 26, Jacksonville fell to Cincinnati 21-19 last Sunday as the Bengals won their first game of the year.

"We find ourselves in a tough spot," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "This is not what we had envisioned, but it is what we have earned. What is most important to me is how we respond.

"First and foremost, we have to stick together. There's not going to be anybody from the outside coming in and giving us a hand."

Jacksonville hopes it can turn a corner Sunday against the league's only winless team. The Lions are off to their worst start since opening a franchise-worst 0-12 in 2001, and have lost 15 of 16 overall.

Detroit appeared to be in good position for its first victory Sunday in Chicago, but the Bears overcame a 23-13 halftime deficit and won 27-23.

It was another heartbreaking loss for the Lions, as they've had opportunities to win their last four games after getting blown out in their first four. The four most recent defeats have come by an average of 5.3 points after they dropped their first four by an average of 27.0.

"If we execute better and do those things we have to do then things will work out for us," Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said.

The Jaguars have also been involved in close contests, as they're the only team in the league that has had all of its games decided by seven points or fewer this season.

Last Sunday, David Garrard directed an 11-play, 73-yard drive that was capped by Maurice Jones-Drew's 1-yard run with 1:17 to go, bringing Jacksonville within two points. Garrard's pass to Jerry Porter on the 2-point conversion try fell incomplete, though.

"I know we're a good team, so to be behind the 8-ball like this is unbelievable," Jaguars defensive lineman Reggie Hayward said. "Getting upset won't stop the pain."

Jacksonville again failed to get its ground game going Sunday, as Jones-Drew was limited to 33 yards on 10 carries. The running game has been key for the Jaguars, as they're averaging 176.7 rushing yards in their wins, but 70.0 running yards in their losses.

"We're not functioning with a high level of confidence," Del Rio said. "We're missing a spark, and we're trying to find it. It hasn't been good enough."

Jacksonville hopes it can solve its rushing problems Sunday. The Lions are second-worst in the league in run defense, allowing 161.8 yards per game, and allowed Chicago to rush for 117 yards during the second half last week.

Dan Orlovsky threw for 292 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against Chicago, but also sprained his right thumb, giving Culpepper a chance to make his first start of the season.

The Lions signed the formerly retired Culpepper to a two-year deal Tuesday, and the former Pro Bowler practiced Wednesday. Orlovsky said Friday he may need thumb surgery for two fractures and a torn ligament, so it's unlikely he will return until later in the season.

The only other option at quarterback for Detroit is second-year player Drew Stanton, who has never appeared in an NFL game, though Marinelli said earlier in the week he wanted to keep the Jaguars in the dark about who might be starting.

"I don't see any reason to help our opponents by giving them one quarterback to plan for," Marinelli said. "Everyone will find out on Sunday."

Culpepper had career highs in passing yards (4,717), touchdowns (39) and passer rating (110.9) in 2004 with Minnesota, but a knee injury the following year ended his career with the Vikings. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Culpepper started 10 games over the 2006-07 seasons with Oakland and Miami, throwing seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Culpepper threw for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his only career start against Jacksonville on Nov. 28, 2004, a 27-16 Minnesota victory.

In the last meeting between the Lions and Jaguars on Nov. 14, 2004, Garrard made his second career start and threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in Jacksonville's 23-17 win.

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