The Tampa Bay Rays and Jacksonville Jaguars haven't impressed ESPN's panel of power rankings voters lately, and each dropped in the rankings this week. The idle Bucs--indeed, they fell despite not playing--dipped to No. 19, two spots lower than they stood a week ago. But the news isn't all bad. Mike Sando, who blogs the NFC West for ESPN, puts a positive spin on the Bucs' 4-3 season to date:
The Bucs haven't hit their stride, but they're lurking a half-game back in NFC South with a 2-0 division record.
That division record includes an impressive victory over the New Orleans Saints, who continue to lead the NFC South.
The Jaguars, however, have not fared nearly as well as Tampa Bay. Jacksonville has lost six of its last seven games, including Sunday's 24-14 defeat against the Houston Texans. Only the winless Indianapolis Colts are keeping the Jags from the AFC South cellar. Paul Kuharsky, who covers that division for ESPN, offers this comment on the Jaguars:
Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert is not throwing interceptions, but he's not getting the Jaguars into the end zone, either.
Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, is completing just 45.7 percent of his passes, with five touchdowns and four interceptions through six games.