Jaguars, Steelers Switch Roles

Jacksonville Is A Trendy Pick for Playoff Success

It wasn't that many weeks ago that the Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the next-best team in the AFC, the club that perhaps could challenge the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts for conference supremacy and maybe, just maybe, was capable of going into Foxborough, Mass., on a cold January day and using its powerful running game and hard-nosed defense to beat the so-far-unbeatable Patriots.

But that was before the two-week stretch last month in which the Steelers went to Foxborough and lost to the Patriots by three touchdowns, then were upended at home by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was before the run of injuries that cost the Steelers a speedy tailback and a rugged defensive end and forced Coach Mike Tomlin to juggle his offensive line. So now, as the NFL playoffs begin, it's not the Steelers but their opponent in a first-round game tonight at Heinz Field, the Jaguars, that is the trendy pick as the sleeper team in the AFC postseason field.

Many observers believe that the Jaguars, after going 11-5 in the regular season but being relegated to a wild-card berth because they trailed the Colts by two games in the AFC South, can go to Pittsburgh tonight and beat the Steelers at their own game, relying on a run-first offense and a sturdy defense, and then give the Patriots a competitive game if they go to New England for a conference semifinal. But the Jaguars aren't getting carried away and say they know they're facing a solid team in the Steelers, the champions of the AFC North.

"We expect a good, tough, hard-fought football game," Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio said during a midweek news conference. "These are two physical football teams."

Del Rio made one of the top coaching moves of this NFL season even before it began, releasing starting quarterback Byron Leftwich and handing the job to backup David Garrard. While Leftwich toiled in Atlanta, sharing playing time for the pitiable Falcons, Garrard threw only three interceptions all season and was the league's third-rated passer behind the Patriots' Tom Brady and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.

Still, the Jaguars are looking for their first playoff triumph in five seasons under Del Rio. They lost at New England, 28-3, at the end of the 2005 season in their only previous postseason appearance with Del Rio as their coach.

"Certainly you learn from experience. . . . I think there's been a different feel all year," Del Rio said. "I think every year is different. I do feel it's different. Now we're gonna see."

The Steelers went 10-6 during the regular season and limp into the playoffs after losing tailback Willie Parker to a broken leg and defensive end Aaron Smith to a torn biceps muscle in recent weeks. The league's top-ranked defense hasn't looked quite the same without Smith, and now a shortage of offensive tackles has left Tomlin scrambling this week.

"A lot of things are of concern [but] I tend to take the approach of what lies ahead," Tomlin said this week. "What lies ahead is an enormous playoff game versus a great football team at our place, so that is our focus. We have to prepare ourselves. We have some guys that understand the gravity of this moment. If there is any hesitation, they better quickly get over it because the ball is going to be kicked off here shortly."

Najeh Davenport has taken over for Parker and the Steelers likely will have to trust the passing of Roethlisberger as they try to avenge their 29-22 defeat to the Jaguars on Dec. 16, their only loss at home during the regular season.

"I hope January football is enough motivation," Tomlin said. "But no doubt losing to this team, being the only loss that we had this year at Heinz Field, has been motivation for us. But they are a good football team and this is playoff football. If you can't get up to play at Heinz Field in the playoffs in January, then you've got a problem. I don't think any of our guys have got that problem."