Last week, I split my picks for the AFC South division. The Cleveland Browns surprised me with a 14-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but I did correctly predict that the Atlanta Falcons would win a close one over the Tennessee Titans. Here is a look at how I think the teams in this division will do in week 12.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers:

The Carolina Panthers were up 24-7 against the Detroit Lions last week only to lose 49-35 while the Colts are coming off a much needed bye-week. A couple of weeks ago, I said that I would quit picking the Panthers to win, but being that they are facing a winless team, it seems like they will be a safe bet this week.

I came across a stat recently that mentioned how Cam Newton has struggled playing indoors, throwing only one touchdown and seven interceptions. In spite of this information, I still say the Panthers should win behind Newton and Steve Smith.

Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars:

The good news is the Texans currently lead the division by two games over the Tennessee Titans. The bad news is that quarterback Matt Schaub will be out for the rest of the season. Two factors that should favor the Texans are the return of Andre Johnson along with the ground attack of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Foster already has multiple games this season where he has caught and ran for over 100 yards. That being said, I expect him to have a big day against the Jaguars’ defense and the Texans to win big in this one.

Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

This one is difficult to pick because the outcome could go either way. Both of the teams need a win in order to order to stay in playoff contention and neither team has played too well over the last few weeks. The Titans have lost two of their last three games and are currently 5-5, while the Buccaneers have dropped their last three, falling to 4-6. While Matt Hasselbeck is less than 100 percent and Chris Johnson has not had the year that most people thought he would have, I still feel that the Titans should win this one.

James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area who has been an NFL fan for over 20 years. James is also a fan blogger on Yahoo Sports and NJFFL Dynasty. For interesting discussions about the NFL, NBA and MLB, follow him on Twitter @jtillman9693.

Sources:

NFL Predictions and Picks Week 12

The cheat sheet, Mark Potash, Chicago Sun-Times　

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play the
rest of the season with several backups on defense, and things could get worse.

The Jaguars placed cornerback Derek Cox(notes) on injured reserve Friday with a
knee injury, the third defensive starter lost in the last two weeks.

Linebacker Clint Session(notes) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday following a
second concussion this season. The team also lost cornerback Rashean Mathis(notes) to a
season-ending knee injury nearly two weeks ago.

Making matters worse, defensive linemen Terrance Knighton(notes) and Matt Roth(notes) have
been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Houston. Aaron Kampman(notes) also is
questionable because of a hamstring injury. Knighton said Friday he is waiting
to hear from doctors whether he will play again this season.

“With some of the guys that we’re going to play, we’ll find out how well
we’ve done in developing some of these guys, how much attention they’ve been
paying,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “It is a healthy process to have, where guys
understand that they can get that opportunity with hard work and commitment to
the team. You hate to have this many guys (injured), but that is the way we
approach it as coaches.”

Backup cornerbacks Will Middleton and Ashton Youboty(notes), who was signed off the
street 10 days ago, are expected to start against the Texans.

The Jaguars (3-7) now have 17 players on IR. Most of the early ones were
backups. Recently, it’s all been starters. Knighton and Kampman could be next,
especially if Jacksonville officially gets eliminated from the postseason race.

Del Rio said he was hopeful Knighton and Kampman would return.

“Just remain hopeful on that,” Del Rio said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

The team signed quarterback Dan LeFevour(notes) off Indianapolis’ practice squad to
take Cox’s roster spot.

LeFevour, a sixth-round draft pick by Chicago in 2010, was claimed off
waivers by Cincinnati in September 2010 and spent the entire season on the
Bengals’ 53-man roster. He was inactive for every game as the No. 3 quarterback.
LeFevour spent the 2011 preseason with the Bengals before being waived in final
cuts. He was signed to the Colts’ practice squad on Nov. 9.

“We studied him coming out,” Del Rio said. “That’s obviously more of a
future, develop a guy, as opposed to a guy that’s expected to come in and
play.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play the rest of the season with several backups on defense, and things could get worse.

The Jaguars placed cornerback Derek Cox on injured reserve Friday with a knee injury, the third defensive starter lost in the last two weeks.

Linebacker Clint Session was placed on injured reserve Tuesday following a second concussion this season. The team also lost cornerback Rashean Mathis to a season-ending knee injury nearly two weeks ago.

Making matters worse, defensive linemen Terrance Knighton and Matt Roth have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Houston. Aaron Kampman also is questionable because of a hamstring injury. Knighton said Friday he is waiting to hear from doctors whether he will play again this season.

“With some of the guys that we’re going to play, we’ll find out how well we’ve done in developing some of these guys, how much attention they’ve been paying,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “It is a healthy process to have, where guys understand that they can get that opportunity with hard work and commitment to the team. You hate to have this many guys (injured), but that is the way we approach it as coaches.”

Backup cornerbacks Will Middleton and Ashton Youboty, who was signed off the street 10 days ago, are expected to start against the Texans.

The Jaguars (3-7) now have 17 players on IR. Most of the early ones were backups. Recently, it’s all been starters. Knighton and Kampman could be next, especially if Jacksonville officially gets eliminated from the postseason race.

Del Rio said he was hopeful Knighton and Kampman would return.

“Just remain hopeful on that,” Del Rio said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

The team signed quarterback Dan LeFevour off Indianapolis’ practice squad to take Cox’s roster spot.

LeFevour, a sixth-round draft pick by Chicago in 2010, was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati in September 2010 and spent the entire season on the Bengals’ 53-man roster. He was inactive for every game as the No. 3 quarterback. LeFevour spent the 2011 preseason with the Bengals before being waived in final cuts. He was signed to the Colts’ practice squad on Nov. 9.

“We studied him coming out,” Del Rio said. “That’s obviously more of a future, develop a guy, as opposed to a guy that’s expected to come in and play.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed cornerback Derek Cox on injured reserve with a knee injury, the third defensive starter lost in the last two weeks.

The Jaguars made the move Friday, three days after linebacker Clint Session was placed on IR following a second concussion this season. The team also lost cornerback Rashean Mathis to a season-ending knee injury nearly two weeks ago.

The team signed quarterback Dan LeFevour off Indianapolis’ practice squad to take Cox’s roster spot.

Cox, who has 16 tackles and 10 passes defended this season, is the 17th player the Jaguars (3-7) have placed on IR this season.

Making matters worse for Jacksonville, which hosts Houston on Sunday, is both defensive linemen Terrance Knighton and Matt Roth have been ruled out. Aaron Kampman is questionable.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed cornerback Derek Cox on injured reserve with a knee injury, the third defensive starter lost in the last two weeks.

Cox played his high school football at J.H. Rose in Greenville.

The Jaguars made the move Friday, three days after linebacker Clint Session was placed on IR following a second concussion this season. The team also lost cornerback Rashean Mathis to a season-ending knee injury nearly two weeks ago.

The team signed quarterback Dan LeFevour off Indianapolis’ practice squad to take Cox’s roster spot.

Cox, who has 16 tackles and 10 passes defended this season, is the 17th player the Jaguars (3-7) have placed on IR this season.

Making matters worse for Jacksonville, which hosts Houston on Sunday, is both defensive linemen Terrance Knighton and Matt Roth have been ruled out. Aaron Kampman is questionable.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play the rest of the season with several backups on defense, and things could get worse.

The Jaguars placed cornerback Derek Cox on injured reserve Friday with a knee injury, the third defensive starter lost in the last two weeks.

Linebacker Clint Session was placed on injured reserve Tuesday following a second concussion this season. The team also lost cornerback Rashean Mathis to a season-ending knee injury nearly two weeks ago.

Making matters worse, defensive linemen Terrance Knighton and Matt Roth have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Houston. Aaron Kampman also is questionable because of a hamstring injury. Knighton said Friday he is waiting to hear from doctors whether he will play again this season.

“With some of the guys that we’re going to play, we’ll find out how well we’ve done in developing some of these guys, how much attention they’ve been paying,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “It is a healthy process to have, where guys understand that they can get that opportunity with hard work and commitment to the team. You hate to have this many guys (injured), but that is the way we approach it as coaches.”

Backup cornerbacks Will Middleton and Ashton Youboty, who was signed off the street 10 days ago, are expected to start against the Texans.

The Jaguars (3-7) now have 17 players on IR. Most of the early ones were backups. Recently, it’s all been starters. Knighton and Kampman could be next, especially if Jacksonville officially gets eliminated from the postseason race.

Del Rio said he was hopeful Knighton and Kampman would return.

“Just remain hopeful on that,” Del Rio said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

The team signed quarterback Dan LeFevour off Indianapolis’ practice squad to take Cox’s roster spot.

LeFevour, a sixth-round draft pick by Chicago in 2010, was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati in September 2010 and spent the entire season on the Bengals’ 53-man roster. He was inactive for every game as the No. 3 quarterback. LeFevour spent the 2011 preseason with the Bengals before being waived in final cuts. He was signed to the Colts’ practice squad on Nov. 9.

“We studied him coming out,” Del Rio said. “That’s obviously more of a future, develop a guy, as opposed to a guy that’s expected to come in and play.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More: Aaron Kampman (DE – JAC), Guy Whimper (OT – JAC), Matt Roth (DE – JAC), Clint Session (LB – JAC), Brian Robiskie (WR – JAC), Derek Cox (CB – JAC), Terrance Knighton (DT – JAC), Tyson Alualu (DT – JAC), Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off their loss to the Cleveland Browns a bit banged up on the defensive side of the football. Starting linebacker Clint Session was placed on injured reserve yesterday, suffering his second concussion of the season. Defensive end Matt Roth also left the Browns game with a “head” injury, presumed to be a concussion. The Jaguars were also without defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, still dealing with an ankle injury. On the practice field today, both Knighton and Roth were held out of practice.

Two other Jaguars defensive players were limited today as well, in defensive tackle Tyson Alualu and cornerback Derek Cox. Alualu has been dealing with a knee injury and his been limited every Wednesday of the season. Cox, was listed as having a knee injury he likely suffered during the game against the Browns.

Defensive end Aaron Kampman (hamstring), wide receiver Brian Robiskie (hamstring), and offensive tackle Guy Whimper (thigh) were also all limited in practice.

For more on the Jaguars, please visit Big Cat Country, SB Nation’s Jaguars blog. For more on the Texans, please visit Battle Red Blog, SB Nation’s Texans blog.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have place linebacker Clint Session on injured reserve following his second concussion this season.

Session sustained a concussion in the preseason and in Sunday’s loss at Cleveland. He also dealt with hand and elbow injuries during the season.

The Jaguars signed linebacker Kevin Bentley to take Session’s spot on the roster. Russell Allen is expected to replace Session in the starting lineup Sunday against Houston.

Bentley is in his 10th season and has spent time with Cleveland, Seattle, Houston and San Diego. Bentley, a fourth-round draft pick in 2002, has 233 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two sacks and an interception in 132 career games.

Bentley spent the past three seasons in Houston. He was with San Diego in the preseason before being released in final cuts.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have place linebacker Clint Session on injured reserve following his second concussion this season.

Session sustained a concussion in the preseason and in Sunday’s loss at Cleveland. He also dealt with hand and elbow injuries during the season.

The Jaguars signed linebacker Kevin Bentley to take Session’s spot on the roster. Russell Allen is expected to replace Session in the starting lineup Sunday against Houston.

Bentley is in his 10th season and has spent time with Cleveland, Seattle, Houston and San Diego. Bentley, a fourth-round draft pick in 2002, has 233 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two sacks and an interception in 132 career games.

Bentley spent the past three seasons in Houston. He was with San Diego in the preseason before being released in final cuts.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

By Brendan Porath

– Newsdesk contributor

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Nov 15, 2011 – Coming off their first road win of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Cleveland this week to face a struggling and injured Browns team on the shore of Lake Erie. After starting the season 2-1, the Browns have been one of the worst offensive teams in the league under first year coach Pat Shurmur. Quarterback Colt McCoy has had difficulty carrying the offense with both running backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty out injured. Both Hillis, as well as impressive second year safety T.J. Ward, have already been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Jags.

While the Jags managed to avoid the embarrassment of losing to the lowly Colts, the Browns suffered an embarrassing loss at home to the previously 1-7 St. Louis Rams. Cleveland botched a game-winning chip shot field goal with just seconds remaining, losing their third straight game. This week is a golden opportunity for the Jags to get their second straight road win, and fourth of the year, against a Cleveland team that certainly looks to be on the downslide.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns

Sunday, November 19th, 1:00 on CBS

For more on the Jaguars’ opponent this week, visit SB Nation Cleveland and SB Nation’s Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature.

Read More: Peyton Hillis (RB – CLE), Montario Hardesty (RB – CLE), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), T.J. Ward (DB – CLE), Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the healthiest teams in the league over the first 10 weeks of the season.

No starters on injured reserve. Only a few backups out for the year. It one was one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season.

It all changed Monday. The Jaguars placed cornerback Rashean Mathis, guard Eben Britton and backup linebacker/special teams standout Kyle Bosworth on injured reserve because of injuries.

Mathis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday’s 17-3 win at Indianapolis and will have season-ending surgery. Britton, who missed the last four games, developed an infection following back surgery in training camp. Bosworth broke his left hand against the Colts.

“It’s life in the NFL,” coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. “It’s a tough business. It was nice to get a win. Tough for a couple guys to get news that they’re going to go on IR, but as a football team we’re going forward doing the best we can.”

Losing Mathis is the biggest setback for the Jaguars (3-6), and it could mean he has played his last game in Jacksonville. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Mathis is in the final year of his contract. It’s unclear whether the team will give the 31-year-old defender who has missed games in four of the last five seasons a new deal.

Mathis was playing arguably his best football, with 12 passes defended and an interception this season. He injured his knee while planting to cover Colts receiver Pierre Garcon.

“It’s unfortunate,” Del Rio said. “He’s a good football player. He’s having a good year for us and so obviously, as we do, we move on as a team.”

Mathis has started 125 games — every one he’s played since being drafted in the second round in 2003 — made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and was the leader of the team’s revamped secondary. Without him, Will Middleton will move into a starting role.

“That’s a huge loss,” defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. “That’s a veteran voice we need out there. We’ve got guys that have to step in and pick up where he left off and grow up, hopefully do the same thing he did.”

Despite Mathis’ injury, Jacksonville won for the second time in three games and kept alive slim hopes of winning the AFC South. The Jaguars dominated the Colts, scoring points on one of Curtis Painter’s two interceptions and turning backup Dan Orlovsky’s fumble into a late touchdown that sealed the game.

But injury news kept the Jaguars from celebrating.

Mathis had X-rays in Indianapolis and tests Monday revealed the severity of the knee injury.

“With us being a young defense, a lot of players look up to him for guidance, just for the type of ability that he has,” cornerback Drew Coleman said. “When we come to the sidelines, we discuss things and it’s kind of like he has the last say on how we do certain things during certain plays. …

“The confidence is there within our group that we’ll pick it up and replace him. In this league, you’re always one play away from being a starter. Now that that opportunity is there, we’ll step up and fill that role. We won’t miss a beat, but we’ll miss his leadership. We’ll miss looking up to him for guidance. We’ll truly miss him, but we have young guys who are ready to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The Jaguars expect to work out several cornerbacks Tuesday.

The team also signed second-year tight end Fendi Onobun off Washington’s practice squad and added tight end Colin Cloherty to the practice squad. The team also waived rookie tight end Schuylar Oordt from the practice squad.

The moves left Jacksonville with two open roster spots, which could be used to replace Britton and Bosworth.

Bosworth was one of the team’s top special teams tacklers.

Britton missed the entire preseason and the opener because of a herniated disk in his back. He started three games, but his back tightened up the morning of the Oct. 16 game at Pittsburgh and he hasn’t played since.

“The complications he’s having, they’re not structural, but it’s going to require some time and so he’s not going to be available for us,” Del Rio said. “So another unfortunate situation with him being a good football player and a guy that we were hoping to get back. But he’s not going to be able to make it and so he’ll go on IR as well.”

Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 114 yards and a
touchdown, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 17-3 victory over the still-
winless Indianapolis Colts.

Blaine Gabbert threw for 118 yards with a score for the Jaguars (3-6), who won
on the road for the first time in five games this season.

The Colts (0-10), meanwhile, have been unable to win anywhere. The are 0-5 at
home and 0-5 on the road heading into their bye week. Indianapolis is winless
after 10 games for the first time since the 1997 team also lost its first 10
on the way to a 3-13 record.

That was pre-Peyton Manning. With the four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion
sidelined by a neck injury, the Colts hardly resemble an NFL team.

Curtis Painter was lifted in the fourth quarter after throwing his second
interception of the game and Dan Orlovsky turned the ball over on his second
throw, leading to Jacksonville’s game-sealing touchdown.

“Obviously, the turnovers were the big factor today. We can’t have those,”
Painter said.

The Colts totaled just 212 yards of offense. Painter completed 13-of-19 passes
for 94 yards and Orlovsky finished 7-of-10 for 67.

Jacksonville snapped a 3-3 tie and reached the end zone first with an 86-yard
march that ate up more than 9 1/2 minutes of the third quarter. A 17-yard pass
from Gabbert to Deji Karim converted 3rd-and-9 early in the series and a
penalty against Indianapolis’ Tyler Brayton negated a third-down sack that
would have forced a punt.

Instead, the Jaguars were given a fresh set of downs and Gabbert took
advantage by hitting Jarrett Dillard with an 11-yard pass for the score to
make it 10-3 with just 1:49 left in the third.

The Jaguars appeared to come up with a turnover on the next series when
William Middleton picked off Painter. However, during the timeout on the
change of possession, the Colts challenged that Jacksonville had 12 men on the
field and the correct reversal allowed Indianapolis to keep the ball. But not
for long, as Painter was intercepted three plays later by Paul Posluszny at
the Jacksonville 21.

Indianapolis got the ball back at its own 13 with just under six minutes
remaining and Orlovsky under center in place of Painter. It didn’t help.

Orlovsky’s arm was hit on his second pass attempt and the ball fluttered into
the waiting arms of Jacksonville lineman Tyson Alualu. The play was ruled a
fumble, setting up Jones-Drew’s three-yard touchdown run to seal the contest.

Jones-Drew carried 25 times and added three catches for 23 yards. Gabbert
completed 14-of-21 passes with an interception and hit nine different
receivers.

“It’s nice to get a win in the division on the road to start the second half
of the season,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said.

The game’s first two possessions ended in interceptions. Painter was picked
off by Drew Coleman, giving the Jaguars a first down at the Indianapolis 18,
but Jerraud Powers returned the favor with an interception of Gabbert inside
the 10.

After a series of punts, Josh Scobee connected from 44 yards away to put the
Jaguars on the board late in the first quarter. The Colts responded in the
first minute of the second period with a 42-yard kick from Adam Vinatieri on
the ensuing series.

The Jaguars had a chance to move in front just before the intermission, as a
19-yard pass from Gabbert to Dillard set up Scobee for a 45-yard try, but he
missed wide right and the teams went to the break knotted at 3-3.

Game Notes

Donald Brown led the Colts with 53 yards on 14 carries and caught four passes
for 12 yards…The Jaguars managed only 251 yards of offense…Jacksonville
cornerback Rashean Mathis left the contest in the second quarter with an
apparent knee injury…The Jaguars improved to 8-9 after a bye.

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