At least the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles have something other than pride to play for in their respective season finales.
That's because Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is trying to hold off the Eagles' LeSean McCoy for the NFL rushing title. Although Jones-Drew (1,437 yards) leads McCoy (1,309) by a healthy 128-yard margin, both teams are cognizant of what's on the line.
A possible rushing crown for McCoy has been a topic of conversation among the Eagles, acknowledged offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who said the team has discussed getting the running back the title as long as it fits within the structure of the game.
Realistically, that means to expect a lot of McCoy, as long as he's healthy. McCoy participated in a limited portion of practice Thursday after sitting out the previous day because of an ankle injury, but he fully intends to play against the Washington Redskins, according to the Eagles' official website.
"I still think I can get it," McCoy told The Philadelphia Inquirer about the rushing title after practice. "It depends on what (Jones-Drew) does."
Health also is a concern for Jones-Drew, who has yet to practice this week because of an ankle injury. He's expected to start against the Indianapolis Colts, according to the Jaguars' official website, but has downplayed what the achievement would mean in light of losing games down the stretch.
"This is like the third year we've had a decent season running the ball, but we've had a losing record," Jones-Drew told the Jaguars' official website. "You kind of get tired of that. I'd rather have a horrible season rushing the ball and win than anything. That's something we're working on."
