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Jaguars open favorable stretch vs. Browns

Oct 21, 2008 - 10:43 PM CLEVELAND (2-4) AT JACKSONVILLE (3-3), 4:05 pm EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are well rested and poised to make a serious push in the AFC playoff race.

Coming off a bye week, the Jaguars host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in the first of an inviting three-game stretch.

Jacksonville headed into the bye week on a high note, getting 125 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Maurice Jones-Drew in a 24-17 victory at Denver.

Because the Jaguars already trail the unbeaten Tennessee Titans by three games in the AFC South, their best hope to reach the postseason likely will be via a wild card.

The schedule is certainly favorable for Jacksonville, which will visit a pair of winless teams, Cincinnati and Detroit, following Sunday's game against the Browns.

Quarterback David Garrard has rebounded from a shaky start to the season that saw him throw four interceptions in the first three games - one more than his entire total from last season.

In the past three games, Garrard has tossed three scoring passes and no interceptions while twice compiling passer ratings of more than 100.

The Browns, who opened the season 0-3, were denied a third consecutive victory in last week's 14-11 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Quarterback Derek Anderson was dreadful for most of the contest but nearly rallied the Browns, throwing a short scoring pass to pull Cleveland within three points with 2:44 to play.

Following a stellar performance in the previous week's 35-14 victory over the New York Giants, Anderson finished just 14-of-37 for 136 yards against Washington.

One positive for Cleveland has been the improved play of its defense, which has surrendered a total of 38 points in its last three games after giving up 66 in the first three.

However, the Browns could have a major distraction brewing after suspending tight end Kellen Winslow for one game on Tuesday.

The suspension came two days after Winslow complained about the team's treatment of his recent illness, which he disclosed was a staph infection - the second for Winslow and the sixth time in the last four years a Browns player has had one.