The Crystal Ball 2009 Week 15 Thursday Night Special

Welcome to week 15 of the NFL season, where we converge on exciting Jacksonville! Yes, I said it. Come on Jacksonville is exciting. They have Tim Tebow and……Tim Tebow.

For tonight’s game, the City of Jacksonville and a group called “Touchdown Jacksonville-Revive the Pride” will be hosting a Tealgate party. The aim is to get the local fans involved, engaged and excited about the Jaguars and having an NFL team in their fair city.

Something tells me this is like fighting a fire with a slow running spigot and a sippy cup. Tonight will mark the first time this season the Jaguars will NOT be blacked out in their local market. That’s right. Even though the NFL gave the team permission to cover a large portion of their seating to create the illusion of selling out the stadium, they still cannot. Even though the team is decent and better than say half of the remainder of the NFL, the locals really do not care. Oh, I’m sure there’s a feverish group dedicated to the team. But the majority would rather watch the Gators.

If the Jaguars leave town, would anyone care? Ask me in two years when we’re rooting for the Los Angeles or London Jaguars.

On Tap Tonight

Indianapolis (13-0) at Jacksonville (7-6)

I know, the word on the street is the upset is looming. Jacksonville, fighting for their playoff lives, will be set to topple Peyton and company. The Colts will rest their dinged up starters and risk losing for the first time this season to get healthy for the playoffs. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I say meh to it. If Jacksonville had all that much fight in them, then tell me why they crapped the bed, at home, last week to Miami? Oh, they had the opportunity, but not the execution. What makes you think they will on a short week against one of the best teams in the NFL? Yes, you can sit around and tell me stats about how the Colts have just squeaked by in some of their wins, and how well Jacksonville did in their last match up. But you know what? I’m not buying it. Yeah, there’s a good chance the Jags could come out and do a number on Indianapolis’ back ups. But I’d rather back Peyton for 2 quarters or less than David Garrard for an entire game.

Colts over Jaguars