AFC Playoff Gameday Preview: JAC @ PIT

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Heinz Field, Saturday, 5:00 p.m., NBC

Coaches' playoff records:
Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville, 0-1
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh, 0-0
Last meeting:
December 16, 2007 at Pittsburgh. Fred Taylor scored on a 12-yard run with 1:57 to play as the Jaguars held off a late comeback by Pittsburgh. David Garrard threw three touchdown passes as Jacksonville built a 29-22 lead after three quarters. Taylor rushed for 147 yards and Maurice Jones-Drew added 69 as the Jaguars ran at will and handed the Steelers their only home loss of the season.

Jaguars offense against Steelers defense ----------------------------------------
Key Matchups:
RB Fred Taylor vs. NFL's 3rd-ranked run defense
QB David Garrard vs. NFL's 3rd-ranked pass defense
WR Reggie Williams vs. CB Deshea Townsend
FB Greg Jones vs. SS Troy Polamalu
RB Maurice Jones-Drew vs. LB James Farrior

Jacksonville ran the ball down Pittsburgh's throat three weeks ago and there's little reason to believe it won't follow that blueprint. Taylor ripped off five 100-yard games to close the season, including a season-high 147 against the Steelers. Backfield mate Jones-Drew offers a nice change of pace from Taylor and is a touchdown machine, having reached the end zone 26 times in 29 career games. The ability to run opens up the passing game for quarterback David Garrard, who has been near-flawless this season with 18 touchdowns vs. just three interceptions. The Jaguars rotate a bevy of receivers who have delivered tremendous production toward the end of the season, combining for 12 touchdown receptions in the final four games.

Steelers offense against Jaguars defense ----------------------------------------
Key Matchups:
RB Najeh Davenport vs. NFL's 11th-ranked run defense
QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. NFL's 15th-ranked pass defense
WR Hines Ward vs. CB Rashean Mathis
TE Heath Miller vs. SS Reggie Nelson
RT Willie Colon vs. LE Paul Spicer

The season-ending injury to Willie Parker puts a serious dent in Pittsburgh's running game. Leading the league in rushing at the time of the injury, Parker ran for 100 yards on just 14 carries vs. the Jaguars on December 16. While Najeh Davenport is a solid between- the-tackles runner, he lacks the big-play capability of Parker. That will put more of a burden on the shoulders of Roethlisberger, who threw for 32 touchdowns in earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. Roethlisberger had a pair of fourth-quarter scoring passes to rally Pittsburgh in the last meeting vs. the Jaguars, and he'll probably air it out in this one to wide receivers Hines Ward, speedy Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington. If the Steelers choose that tact, they must provide better protection for their quarterback, who has been sacked 47 times.

Three keys to the game ----------------------
1) Take it on the run: Jaguars will hammer away at Pittsburgh's defense with a steady diet of Taylor's running mixed in with the short passing game of Garrard.

2) Airing it out: Without Parker, Roethlisberger should throw often against Jacksonville's suspect secondary.

3) Size matters: Jaguars wide receiver corps features 6-4 Reggie Williams, 6-4 Ernest Wilford and 6-6 Matt Jones against a backfield that includes 5-10 Deshea Townsend and 5-9 Tyrone Carter.