Jags could do damage in playoffs <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Pro Bowl voters didn't send any Jaguars to Honolulu. But that's not the only city where head coach Jack Del Rio's players should feel unwelcome. Neither Pittsburgh nor San Diego wants the Jags coming to town. Jacksonville clinched a wild-card berth Sunday with a 49-11 rout of visiting Oakland. As the AFC's No. 5 seed, the Jaguars are assured a first-round road game against the Steelers (10-5) or Chargers (9-5). Jacksonville (11-4) has already beaten both teams while winning six of its past seven games. Judging by their play Sunday, the Jaguars are capable of doing it again. "I think they're going to go a ways in the playoff," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "I just love their style. They're extremely physical. They run the ball and stop the run. They don't turn it over. That, to me, is how you win games in the playoffs." The Jaguars used that formula to dispatch the hapless Raiders (4-11). Fresh off his Pro Bowl snub, running back Fred Taylor zigzagged for a 62-yard touchdown on Jacksonville's first offensive snap. Oakland didn't reach the end zone until six seconds remained. By that point, Raiders rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell was intercepted three times in a 7-of-23 outing. Jags starters had long since joined Oakland's Warren Sapp as spectators. Sapp, though, earned his rest in an unprofessional way. The boisterous defensive tackle was ejected just before halftime for bumping the field judge. Afterward, Sapp wasn't around to explain what triggered his action and two other unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for jawing with officials. But Jaguars quarterback David Garrard said Sapp may have intentionally gotten tossed. "Putting all their anger right at the refs ... It just looked like (Raiders defenders) were trying to get thrown out of the game," Garrard said. Sapp's actions can't be justified but his frustration is understandable. Oakland was headed toward its worst regular-season loss since 1961 — which predates Al Davis' franchise ownership — and is just 15-48 since Sapp's arrival in 2004. Still, several Jacksonville players said the Raiders are the kind of opponent that previous Jaguars teams may have taken too lightly. "We call it not laying goose eggs — not winning a big game and then coming back and losing one we're supposed to win," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "We haven't lost two or three consecutive games. That's huge for this team. It just shows how we've matured." Linebacker Brent Hawkins says Jaguars players "are buying into the coaches more." They should, especially with Del Rio's intuition proven right. Del Rio's shocking decision to cut former starting quarterback Byron Leftwich in favor of Garrard at the end of the preseason has paid dividends. Garrard isn't particularly flashy but he doesn't need to be with Jacksonville fielding a fierce rushing attack that produced 201 yards and three touchdowns Sunday. He rarely commits turnovers, with Garrard's second-quarter interception just his third this season compared to 18 touchdown passes. Garrard also has emerged as a locker-room leader. "It's a different team," said Garrard, who helped guide Jacksonville to at least 24 points for a franchise-record ninth consecutive game. "Guys are focused. Their minds are on winning, not on anything else. The coaches are doing a great job of keeping us dialed in each week no matter who we're playing. To make it feel like everybody is the Patriots, that's a good way to do it because it keeps us on our toes." Del Rio was asked about the perception that AFC playoff teams don't want to face the Jaguars. He responded by saying, "How the hype meter goes from week to week is not part of our process." Del Rio has good reason for not getting carried away. Jacksonville finished the 2005 regular season at 12-4 before suffering a 28-6 first-round playoff loss at New England. But that squad had only 13 players with postseason experience. The 2007 Jaguars have 30, including 25 holdovers from two seasons ago. "We've still got that sour taste in our mouth from getting beat in the first-round knowing we're better than that," Taylor said. "Guys can now say they've been there and know what to expect." The Jaguars also know what to expect from their first playoff opponent. Jacksonville was the last team to defeat San Diego, posting a 24-17 home victory on November 18. Plus, last Sunday's 29-22 victory at Pittsburgh gave the Florida-based team confidence it can win in cold weather. "We know we might have to go in the snow and play again," Mathis said. "Our minds are prepared for that." So is everything else.</div>
Tonight is huge as far as playoff positioning. Neither Pittsburgh or San Diego wants the 4th seed and a playoff game against Jacksonville. Go Broncos.
Every team should be worried about a possible meeting with them in the playoffs. I think they're more dangerous for the Pats, than say the Colts.
