Jaguars vs. Falcons: Atlanta D Will Shut Down Maurice Jones-Drew in Georgia Dome

The NFL's leading rusher through 14 weeks, Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) running back Maurice Jones-Drew will find yards tough to come by against the league's fifth-ranked rushing defense on Thursday night in Atlanta (8-5). 

Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense really stepped up in the second half last week in Carolina, scoring 24 points, but the same Atlanta D that gave up 23 points to Cam Newton and the Panthers in the first half last week is the one that the Falcons will ride to victory in Week 15, and eventually into the postseason.

For all of its shortcomings in the passing game (22nd), the Falcons defense has been strong and sturdy on the ground, allowing less than 100 yards rushing by the opposition per week, 95.2 to be exact.

With talented D-liners like Jonathan Babineaux and Corey Peters stopping backs from getting going before they even start, beast ends John Abraham (five sacks) and Ray Edwards (three sacks) can take more risks getting after the passer.

It will no doubt be a long, long night for Jaguars' rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert under the Georgia Dome lights, but it could be even tougher for the former UCLA Bruin, Jones-Drew.

The 5'7" bowling ball of a back has been Jacksonville's go-to-offense all season long, carrying the ball 277 times for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns thus far. He also has 348 yards and three touchdowns receiving on 35 catches in 2011.

Jones-Drew is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Tampa Bay last week, and will surely be clicking coming into Week 15's matchup with the Falcons, but he's still overmatched.

The Falcons are still in the hunt for the NFC South crown that they claimed last season, and their defense is well aware of that. 

If the Jaguars are going to win another game all season, it will be because Jones-Drew played out of his mind, like last week when he helped Jacksonville snap a three-game losing skid.

The Atlanta D is tough at home, but Thursday night they play a mediocre offense that won't threaten them through the air like Green Bay or Carolina. 

Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jags are playing to the Falcons' strengths.