Oct. 5--Last week Fred Taylor was asked if he feels like the Jaguars own the Steelers.
He laughed.
"Like I'm their daddy?" Taylor said. "No way, man, I don't feel like that. I mean, every year's a different challenge. You can't disrespect any opponent like that."
The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) are very familiar with each other and the Jaguars have had the upper hand lately.
Jacksonville won twice in Pittsburgh near the end of last season.
The Jaguars have also won the teams' last four meetings dating back to 2005, three of those on the road.
The next chapter comes to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium tonight at 8:15 as the Jaguars play host to the Steelers in the teams' third meeting in the Jags' last 10 games.
"We know that we're not the same team we were the last time we played them and we assume they're not," Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said. "So we're preparing to play this 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars team with the 2008 Steelers. Of course, from a matchup standpoint there is some familiarity. There's a recent history which makes it interesting for the fans."
What's changed for both teams has a lot to do with injuries.
The Jaguars offense spent the first month of the season working to overcome injuries at nearly every position.
The Jaguars defense struggled last week, missing two starting defensive backs for most of the game and a starting linebacker for all of it. Jacksonville will play without cornerback Drayton Florence and safety Reggie Nelson tonight.
That's bad news for a defense that ranks 24th in pass defense. And though the Steelers haven't passed much this season, they may have to this week.
