By Mark Curnutte
Cincinnati Enquirer

Quarterbacks

Mark Brunell's passing game isn't what it used to be, but he had to notice that Rodney Peete put up 319 yards against the Bengals pass defense last week. Brunell doesn't make bad plays. Jon Kitna can play no better football, and still he can get no job security. Kitna's has made several of his teammates (Chad Johnson) better and provided leadership in difficult times.

Edge: Even

Running Backs

Fred Taylor and Stacey Mack have rushed for a combined 1,495 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Jaguars are going to run right at the league's 30th ranked rush defense. Some of the blame goes to his line, but Corey Dillon has not gone over 100 yards rushing for four consecutive games. He could conceivably go for 170 today against weak Jaguars defense.

Edge: Jaguars

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Jimmy Smith is still one of the league's top wide receivers, and he has torched the Bengals over his career. Watch out for tight end Kyle Brady and his 10.3-yard average. Five Bengals players have 30 or more catches. Matt Schobel needs eight to make it six players. Peter Warrick's health is a concern. Chad Johnson needs Warrick's underneath threat.

Edge: Jaguars

Offensive Line

The interior - guards Brad Meester and Chris Naeole and center John Wade - has started all 13 games. Protection is improving. Mike Pearson is one of two rookie left tackles starting in this game. Last week's game at Carolina was a poor one for the Bengals' line. Guards Matt O'Dwyer and Mike Goff and center Rich Braham need to be strong against an aggressive pair of D-tackles.

Edge: Bengals

Defensive Line

Tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson have combined for 12 sacks. End Marco Coleman has four. The Jaguars have had problems against the run, but not as many as the Bengals. The losses of tackle Oliver Gibson and end Vaughn Booker have hurt, for sure, but this group has not stopped the run consistently all season. The Jaguars pose a big problem.

Edge: Jaguars

Linebackers

Leading tackler Wali Rainer and the front seven have to do a better job on Corey Dillon than the last two weeks, when the Steelers and Browns combined to rush for 392 yards on 73 attempts. OK, just imagine if the Bengals decide not to match a free agent offer for Takeo Spikes. In that case, only two more home games remain to watch Spikes and Brian Simmons work together.

Edge: Bengals

Defensive Backs

The coaching staff is taking blame for a bad defensive call on Tim Couch's Hail Mary touchdown. Free safety Marlon McCree could be best DB on field with six interceptions. The Bengals desperately need a somewhat healthy cornerback Artrell Hawkins, their best pass defender, who is battling a thigh injury. This group is hurting across the board.

Edge: Jaguars

Coaching

There are 25 new players on the roster, and the Jaguars - like the Ravens - have rebounded from a salary-cap purge. Like him or not, Tom Coughlin has a plan and high standards. Dick LeBeau's loyalty to the organization is both a thing of beauty and a painful thing to watch. Hard to imagine him being 11-31 if he'd had the chance to choose his own staff of assistant coaches.

Edge: Jaguars

Overall

The weather conditions will be a mild 45 degrees, which will help Jacksonville. No more sand box field, like in 2000. Jacksonville simply is a better team. LeBeau's taking the bullet for the Travis Dorsch punting experiment and will take another one if Mike Brown wants to play Joe Germaine.

Edge: Jaguars

Curnutte's prediction

Expect a high-scoring shootout. Bengals special teams gaffe could decide today's outcome. Jaguars 34, Bengals 31

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