Week 1: Jacksonville Jaguars @ Minnesota Vikings 1PM E.T.

[iPwn]

Week One: Hope Springs Eternal/Return of Epic Game Day Threads!

Your Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0)


@

The Minnesota Vikings (0-0)


Matchups to watch for:

2. Eugene Monroe vs Jared Allen: This is the premier matchup of the game And I forgot it when I did the write up. Allen is almost universally accepted as the top defensive end in football today. Eugene Monroe is an ascending left tackle that appears poised to make his way into the top ten at his position this season. Can Monroe keep Gabbert's blindside clear?

2. Blaine Gabbert vs a game planning defense: We've seen the strides that Gabbert has made in the offseason, but are they enough to carry over into the regular season? He gets his first chance to show that he isn't just another offseason wonder. His first test is against last year's worst pass defense. If Gabbert is to prove his detractors wrong, he will need to show that he can feast on these defenses when he has the chance. Yes, the Vikings have a new defensive coordinator and should be improved, but there will be no excuses made for Gabbert.

3. Justin Blackmon vs Antoine Winfield/Chris Cook: Justin Blackmon signed his rookie deal, and then immediately made an impact on the field throughout preseason, amassing 10 catches, 136 yards and a TD in what was the equivalent of one game. How will the rookie first round pick play in his first glimpse of regular season action?

Normally we only get three, but yay football!

4. Jaguars Secondary vs Christian Ponder: Last year, just like Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder stepped in as a rookie for an ineffective starter, and struggled. Last year, our secondary was much improved and looks poised for a repeat performance this season. Can the Jaguars defense feast on the inexperienced Ponder?

5. Rashad Jennings vs Adrian Peterson or Toby Gerhart: Not a direct matchup, but these two starting backs for the game each have some questions to answer that will begin with this game. Could Rashad have carried the run game for this team had MJD not reported? Is Adrian Peterson fully healed from his injury or will he be sitting out as many are expecting?

6. Jeremy Mincey vs Matt Kalil: The fourth overall pick for the Vikings gets his first professional start against Mr. Mince, who lit it up in the preseason after getting a new deal this offseason. Can the rookie keep Ponder's blind side protected or will Mincey be knock-knocking on Ponder all day long?

Key Questions for the Game:

How well has Mike Mularkey prepared this team for the season?

Will Blaine Gabbert and Laurent Robinson get on the same page?

How will Maurice Jones-Drew look coming back after his hold out? Is he the same MJD?

Last Year's Comparison:


Important Links:
Jaguars Injury Report
Vikings Injury Report
Vikings GDT
Weather
NFL Gamecenter
Jaguar's Website
Coverage Maps


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[Its A Sabotage]

From what I am hearing, AP doesn't sound like he is playing...So battle of the backups:

Rashad v. Gerhart
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[iPwn]

[Its A Sabotage]

[iPwn]

[KhanYouDigIt]

I'm stoked.

Hopefully Blaine continues to look like a starting NFL QB. We are playing to his strengths, like getting the ball out of his hand quick. So hopefully that minimizes the impact Jared Allen is going to have on the game. You're going to see a lot of 3 step drops.

Having Jennings/MJD is going to be extremely nice.

Feed the ball to Blackmon. The guy is a monster and I don't think anyone in the Vikes secondary will stop him.

Starting O-Line should be Monroe/Britton/Meester/Uche/Bradfield and I'm very confident in that O-Line.


Only question mark on defense will be Derek Cox and I don't expect him to play.

It's going to be a tough environment to play in, that's for sure.


Won't predict a score. I'll just say I'm excited for Sunday.
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[Its A Sabotage]

[Conrad Buff]

I predict that Jones-Drew, Jennings, and Blackmon all have TDs.
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[Its A Sabotage]

Like I said in the Vikings roster.

The game will be won as followed:
Allen v. Monroe
Mincey/Branch v. Kalil
Blackmon v. Back 7
Harvin v. someone that can please slow him down

Uche sounds like he is out, means our line is:
Monroe-Britton-Meester-Brewster-Bradfield

Monroe back since camp will start against Allen...reigning sack leader...Brewster will go up against one of the big boy DTs.

Going to be a close game
24-21 Jaguars
We win if we can get Rashad or Blackmon going (I don't think their back 7 can take him 1 on 1). We lose if Harvin breaks open.
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[Conrad Buff]

[KhanYouDigIt]

[Its A Sabotage]

[Jaguarfan]

I predict:
24-14 Win for Jags.
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Kempes on the sig

[McMorrow_922]

Canttt waitttttt
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Adopt a JAGUAR

Laurent Robinson-

Marcedes Lewis-

[Yfz01]

Hello everyone. Here are some keys to the game from the Minnesota Vikings fan perspective.

Vikings new secondary vs new look Jags WR's - Blackmon is likely the best of the bunch, but the Vikings starting corners are good at tackling and physical. Neither Cook or Winfield are particularly fast though, so guys like Robinson could give them trouble. With a lot of young players like Josh Robinson, Harrison Smith, and Mistral Raymond getting play time, I wouldn't be shocked if the Jags hit a couple wide open receivers for big plays.


Vikings D-Line pressure - On the dome turf, the Vikings defensive line dominated last year. With the loud crowd noise, Jared Allen, Brian Robison, and Kevin Williams applied relentless pressure. Even with a secondary consisting of the ever talented Cedric Griffin, Asher Allen, and Benny Sapp, the team put up 50 sacks on the year.

Rookie kicker - Blair Walsh has great range, but he's been inconsistent during the preseason. It wouldn't shock me if a missed field goal ended up losing the game for Minnesota.
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Lil Uno with the sig.