By CHARLIE
BERNSTEIN
JagNation.com
Editor
Oakland Raiders (6-6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)
Everbank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sunday, December 12th, 1:00 p.m.
Kickoff Temperature: 64 degrees, 60 percent chance of precipitation
Line: Jaguars by 4; Over/Under- 42.5
Series history: Jaguars lead 3-1; Jacksonville has won the last three meetings.
The Jaguars will try to stay in sole possession of first place in the AFC South as they take on the Oakland Raiders. Both teams come in hot as Jacksonville has won four of their last five games and Oakland's won four of their last six.
Keys to a Jaguars victory:
1. Stop the run. Oakland is similar to the Jaguars offensively as both team's are very one-dimensional. If the Jaguars can stop the Raiders running game, it's not likely that Jason Campbell will be able to expose the Jacksonville secondary.
2. Stay in positive down and distance situations. The Raiders have as fierce of a pass rush as any team in the league and the Jaguars must stay in make-able third down situations to keep David Garrard from taking abuse and making mistakes.
3. Ground and pound. The Jaguars have imposed their will on the ground over the last five weeks and they need to maintain that dominance on Sunday. The Oakland defense is ranked 23rd against the run and the Jaguars need to run Maurice Jones-Drew to his sixth-consecutive 100-yard game.
4. Win special teams. The Raiders have very good special teams units perennial Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler and strong-legged kicker Sebastian Janikowski. They also have an elite return man in rookie Jacoby Ford. The Jaguars need to make the Raiders special teams units look ordinary by shutting down Ford and breaking off some big returns of their own.
5. Get off the field on third down. The Raiders are among the league's worst offenses in converting third downs as they move the chains just 34 percent of the time. The Jaguars defense is fifth-worst in the league in third down percentage as they allow teams to convert on 42 percent of their opportunities. The winner of third down may just win this game.
Bold predictions:
1. MJD doesn't get 100. There's no running back in the league playing better than Jones-Drew right now, and the Raiders defense is below average against the run. Conventional wisdom says that Jones-Drew will have a big game but what in the NFL has been conventional this season?
2. Kirk Morrison has a big game. Morrison may have said all the right things about playing his former team, but he will be ultra-motivated and up for revenge. Look for Morrison to play huge and lead the team in tackles.
3. Marcedes Lewis will score. The Jaguars outstanding tight end should have favorable matchups against the Oakland linebackers, which should lead to red zone opportunities.
4. Good day for Zach Miller(s). Both teams have one, and both are talented players. Look for some big plays.
5. The Jaguars remain in first place. Oakland has played poorly traveling east this season and Jacksonville is a tough matchup as the Jaguars excel in the areas the Raiders are weakest. Barring a meltdown from the quarterback position, Jacksonville should come out with a victory.
