Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF and Thursday Night Football coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.
Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.
With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.
Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Turkey Chili
Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse
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Thursday Night Football Preview
Indianapolis Colts (13-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6)
- Colts-Jaguars Date: Thursday, December 17
- Colts-Jaguars Kickoff Time: 8:20
- Colts-Jaguars TV Network: NFLN
- Colts-Jaguars Announcers: Bob Papa and Matt Millen
- Colts-Jaguars Point Spread: Colts -3
- Colts-Jaguars Over-Under Odds: 42.5
- Colts-Jaguars Spread Pick by Jerod: This is a very difficult game to handicap without knowing exactly what the Colts will do with their starters. From all of the reports I’ve read this week, it sounds like the starters will play as normal this week. Regardless, I like the Jags to at least cover, and possibly win, this game. Jacksonville always plays Indianapolis tough and clearly is the team with more riding on this game. Indy is obviously a better team, and would demolish Jacksonville if this were the playoffs, but the Jags have always proven to be a tough regular season foe and the Colts will undoubtedly be in for a Thursday night road dogfight. Colts-Jaguars free pick: Jaguars +3
Colts-Jaguars Analysis
I attended the Colts record-breaking win over Brandon Marshall and Denver this past Sunday. And while Indy is still 13-0 and getting little respect from the media as compared to New Orleans, Minnesota, Arizona, San Diego and even New England, the Colts looked suspect for over half of their 28-16 win versus the 8-5 Broncos.
Blitzed most of the day, and hurrying passes (three of them picked), Peyton Manning looked flustered at times, but as the AP game recap noted, “he demonstrated how an undefeated team survives the perfect storm.” Though the Broncos missed all kinds of scoring opportunities, and arguably outplayed Indianapolis, the Colts have prevailed in these kinds of situations/games week after week this season (and last), which is the mark of a great team.
Now, on a short week, Indy takes their 22 game regular season winning streak to the banks of the Saint Johns River to take on a Jaguar team who was in sole possession of the last playoff spot four days ago. Yet after a semi-surprising home loss to in-state rival Miami, Jacksonville now finds itself tied with numerous teams at 7-6, desperate for a win — and desperate to keep the franchise away from Los Angeles and still in north Florida.
If there’s ever a great chance to make a statement for Jack Del Rio’s team, and win back their fans, this would be it. The Jags aren’t out of it if they lose by any means, and the Colts, home field clinched, have little to play for other than perfection.
Again, the stars seem aligned for a big night from the Jags. They generally play the Colts tough at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, destroying them in 2006 during the Indy’s super bowl run season ago. But while in that game, Maurice Jones-Drew ran to the moon, lately, he’s been less than stellar, failing to reach 100 yards four games in a row. The Colts run defense is also as good as it’s been this decade — a decade in which Indianapolis has won 114 games, also a record.
As one local analyst wrote , “Gone are the days when you can write an article praising the Colts and talk only about Peyton Manning and the offense. The Larry Coyer-led defense has been very special this season.” Others have echoed such sentiments too.
Colts-Jaguars Prediction
[Note: I am predicating this on the Colts playing their regulars for at least the first half, maybe into the 3rd and possibly the entire game, despite reports to the contrary. Recall in 2005, the Colts clinched the No. 1 seed Dec. 11Â and rested. Their next meaningful game was Jan. 15, a home playoff loss to Pittsburgh. In 2007, the Colts clinched their playoff spot Dec. 23, and basically shut it down. They didn't play full-go again until Jan. 13, a home loss to San Diego.]
Will their injuries — offensive, defensive and special teams — finally doom Indy? Does Jacksonville get an early week 14 jump on the rest of the wild card contenders and put get to the same win total (8) as current wild card leader Denver?
No and no.
The Colts are just too good. And Jacksonville, who’s overachieved in 2009, really took a major step back on Sunday, inducing a hangover that very well may carry into Thursday night.
Again, it’ll be close, but the Colts will find a way to win and cover the spread.
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* – Jack Del Rio photo credit: Chris Gardner / U.S. Presswire via ESPN.com
* – Jim Caldwell photo credit: Dexter’s Vantage Point
This week’s Thursday Night Football post is also sponsored by 1-800-Plumber, with locations across the country (like their Naples plumber and Atlanta plumber franchises) ready to help you with your plumbing needs.
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