JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-7) vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-10)
Sunday, December 3, 2000, 4:15 p.m. EST
ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
THIS WEEK: The Jacksonville Jaguars will seek their third consecutive victory and hope to keep their playoff hopes alive when they host the Cleveland Browns at 4:15 p.m. EST Sunday at ALLTEL Stadium.
It is the second of three straight home games to close out the year at ALLTEL Stadium, where the Jaguars are 2-4 this season. The Jaguars are coming off a last-second 16-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans and have won three of their last four games. They are looking to win three straight games for the first time since December 1999, when they had an 11-game winning streak. The game is the third of three straight intradivision games for the Jaguars, who are now 5-7 and still in fourth place in the AFC Central Division.
In the last four seasons, the Jaguars have the second-best record in the NFL. Their 41-19 record in that time is three games behind Minnesota (44-16). Jacksonville also has the fourth-best home record in the last four years (30-8, two games behind Green Bay) and their road record of 20-12 since 1996 is the best in the league (tied with Minnesota).
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are still available for $40, $50, $65 and $90 per ticket. Fans can call 1-888-397-0100 or buy tickets on the Internet at www.jaguars.com
TELEVISION BROADCAST: The Jaguars-Titans game will be televised regionally by CBS and locally by WJXT Channel 4, with Don Criqui calling the play-by-play and Steve Tasker adding analysis.
RADIO BROADCAST: All of the Jaguars' games are broadcast on WOKV (690 AM), WBWL (600 AM) and WKQL (96.9 FM) and the Jaguars Radio Network. Brian Sexton calls the play-by-play, former NFL quarterback Matt Robinson adds analysis and Dan Hicken is the sideline reporter. Sexton and Robinson are in their sixth season together. Robinson, Jennifer Candelino, Vic Ketchman and Cole Pepper handle the pre-game show, and Pepper and ex-Oakland Raider Pete Banaszak do the post-game show. A total of 18 affiliates in three states on the Jaguars Radio Network will also broadcast the game. The radio broadcast is also simulcast live worldwide on the Jaguars' Official Website, jaguars.com, and on nfl.com.
JAGUARS BROADCASTING: The Jaguars produce more than 14 hours of television and radio broadcasting each week during the NFL season. Television shows include "Monday Night Live" at 7:00 p.m. Mondays on NBC12, "The Tom Coughlin Show" at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC12, and the "Jaguars Pregame Show" at 11:30 a.m. Sundays on NBC12. Normal game radio broadcasts begin three hours prior to kickoff on WOKV/WBWL/WKQL, with the postgame show immediately following the game. During the week, "Monday Evening Quarterback" airs at 6:00 p.m. Mondays on WOKV, "Jaguars This Week" is at 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays on WBWL, "The Tom Coughlin Show" airs at 6:00 p.m. Thursdays on WOKV, and "Countdown to Kickoff" is at 6:00 p.m. Fridays on WBWL.
THE OPPONENT: The Browns were formed in 1946 and won every championship in the four-year history of the All-American Football Conference. They entered the NFL in 1950 and won three more championships in the next six seasons, playing in the NFL title game every year. The Browns also won the 1964 NFL title, then lost the NFL championship three times in the next five years. In 1994, they advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1988 with a record of 11-5. Several days after the October 22, 1995 game against Jacksonville, Browns owner Art Modell announced that the team would move to Baltimore for the 1996 season. The new Cleveland Browns re-entered the league as an expansion franchise last season, when they went 2-14. They are 3-10 so far this year.
THE SERIES: The Browns and Jaguars have played five times, with Jacksonville having won all five meetings. In 1995, before the original Browns' franchise moved to Baltimore, the Jaguars swept the series, winning 23-15 on October 22 in Cleveland and 24-21 on December 24 in Jacksonville. In 1999, the Jaguars won 24-7 on October 7 at home and 24-14 on December 19 at Cleveland. And in this year's season opener, Jacksonville won 27-7.
THE LAST TIME: The Jaguars won their season opener for the fifth straight year by defeating the Cleveland Browns 27-7 on the road on September 3. It marked the 50th win in franchise history, even though the Jaguars had seven players sidelined with injuries. Cleveland managed only nine first downs and 249 yards on offense. Jaguars QB Mark Brunell had the 17th 300-yard passing game of his career, as he hit on 24 of 34 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown. WR Keenan McCardell caught nine passes for 115 yards against his former team, Kyle Brady tied his career high for receptions and set a personal best for receiving yards (both marks have since been broken), and Jimmy Smith scored his first touchdown of the season. The Jaguars even managed 119 yards rushing behind backup RBs Stacey Mack and Chris Howard, each of whom scored their first career touchdowns.
A JAGUARS VICTORY OVER THE BROWNS WOULD: Give the Jaguars their third consecutive win and a 6-7 record for the season. It would be their third win in seven home games this season and give them a 6-0 record against the Browns.
INJURY UPDATE: Injured in the Tennessee game were SLB Erik Storz (thumb) and S Erik Olson (leg). Three players missed the game with injuries: MLB Hardy Nickerson (knee), LB Lonnie Marts (groin) and OT Leon Searcy, who has missed the first 12 games with a quadriceps injury suffered early in training camp. The status of all players will be updated during the week.
THE COACH: Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin (54-38 in regular season, 4-4 in postseason) has led the Jaguars to two consecutive AFC Central Division championships and two appearances in the AFC Championship game. The Jaguars have made the playoffs each of the last four seasons - a first for an NFL expansion team and one of only two teams in the NFL to do so (along with Minnesota). In 1999, the Jaguars had the best record in the NFL (14-2), advancing to the conference championship game before losing to Tennessee. In 1998, Coughlin guided them to their first AFC Central Division championship with an 11-5 record. They defeated the New England Patriots in a Wild-Card game before losing to the New York Jets in the Divisional playoffs. In 1997, the Jaguars were 11-5 and finished second in the AFC Central, and they were defeated by Denver in the Wild-Card playoffs. In their second season in 1996, the Jaguars advanced all the way to the AFC Championship game, finishing the regular season in second place in the division with a 9-7 record. In the playoffs, the Jaguars upset the Bills and Broncos on the road before losing at New England. In 1995, the Jaguars finished with four victories in their inaugural season. Coughlin became head coach of the Jaguars on February 21, 1994 following three successful seasons as head coach at Boston College. He compiled a record of 21-13-1 from 1991 to '93 at Boston College, and had two appearances in bowl games and a ranking of 13th in the final AP poll of 1993. A veteran of 30 years of coaching, he was previously an NFL assistant coach with the New York Giants (wide receivers, 1988-90), Green Bay Packers (wide receivers and passing game coordinator 1986-87) and Philadelphia Eagles (wide receivers, 1984-85).
Chris Palmer is in his second season with the Browns, who returned to the NFL in 1999 by going 2-14. Palmer served as offensive coordinator for the Jaguars and helped the team to the playoffs in 1997 and '98. Prior to joining the Jaguars, Palmer spent four seasons with the New England Patriots. He coached the team's wide receivers from 1993 to '95 and the quarterbacks in 1996 when the Patriots won the AFC title. Palmer was wide receivers coach for the Houston Oilers in 1990-92. He was an assistant for the Canadian League's Montreal Concordes in 1983-84 and quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator for the USFL's New Jersey Generals in 1985. Palmer was a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State (1968-1971). He began coaching at the University of Connecticut, serving as defensive line and wide receivers coach from 1972-74. Palmer became the wide receivers coach at Lehigh in 1975, before becoming offensive coordinator at Colgate (1976-1982). Palmer's first head coaching job was at New Haven University (1986-87). He was the head coach at Boston University in 1988-89. He has a record of 5-24 as the Browns' head coach.
COUGHLIN RANKED AMONG LEAGUE'S TOP COACHES: With every regular-season victory, Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin moves up on two lists when compared to other active NFL head coaches. In 2000, Coughlin has four victories in eight games vs. AFC Central teams and two win in six home games. Coughlin has the fourth-best record of all current NFL coaches in division games and the sixth record in home games (minimum of 16 home games).
JACKSONVILLE-CLEVELAND CONNECTIONS: Browns head coach Chris Palmer was the Jaguars' offensive coordinator in 1997 and '98 … Browns offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was the Jaguars' WR coach from 1995 to '98 and held the same position under Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin at Boston College (1991-93). … Two former Jaguars are now with the Browns: G Steve Zahursky (1998 training camp) and DT Mike Thompson (1995). … Three former Browns are now Jaguars: WR Keenan McCardell (1992-95), C Quentin Neujahr (1994) and QB Jamie Martin (1999). … Jaguars defensive coordinator Dom Capers was born in Cambridge, Ohio, and coached at Ohio State from 1982 to 83 … Assistant strength coach Greg Finnegan was born in Toledo … TE coach Fred Hoaglin was born in Alliance and played center for the Browns from 1966 to '72 … RB coach Jerald Ingram was born in Dayton … ILB coach Steve Szabo coached at Ohio State from 1979 to '81 ... Jaguars video director Mike Perkins is the son of Browns RB coach Ray Perkins … Six Browns have ties to the state of Florida: DB Corey Fuller (Florida State, Tallahassee), DB Earl Little (Miami, University of Miami), RB Errict Rhett (Florida, West Hollywood) (on I.R.), DT Orpheus Roye (Florida State, Miami), LB Rahim Abdullah (Fletcher High, Jacksonville) and WR Bobby Brown (Ft. Lauderdale). … Players who were college teammates include: Jaguars DE Tony Brackens and Browns PK Phil Dawson at Texas, Jaguars WR R. Jay Soward and Browns CB Daylon McCutcheon at Southern California, Jaguars DE Renaldo Wynn and Browns FB Marc Edwards at Notre Dame, Browns WR Kevin Johnson and Jaguars OT Mark Baniewicz (on I.R.) and SS Donovin Darius at Syracuse, Jaguars DBs Erik Olson and Jason Craft and Browns DB Raymond Jackson at Colorado State, Browns OT Roger Chanoine and Jaguars FB Stacey Mack (on I.R.) at Temple, and Jaguars G/OT Todd Fordham and DT Larry Smith and Browns DB Corey Fuller and DT Orpheus Roye at Florida State.
JAGUARS VS. BROWNS: In five games vs. the Browns (two in 1995, two in '99 and one in '00, 5-0 as a starter), Jaguars QB Mark Brunell has completed 90 of 143 passes (62.9%) for 1,116 yards and four TDs, and he has rushed 22 times for 138 yards and two TDs … PK Mike Hollis is 10 for 12 on field goal attempts and 10 for 11 on extra points for a total of 40 points ... In five games vs. the Browns, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has caught 22 passes for 275 yards and one touchdown ... In the two 1999 games vs. the Browns and one in '00, Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell caught 24 passes for 287 yards ... Jaguars TE Kyle Brady scored his first TD as a Jaguar on a pass from Jay Fiedler (10/17/99) and had 5 catches for 85 yards in the 9/3/00 game ... In only one game vs. the Browns (he has missed two with injuries), Jaguars RB Fred Taylor had 26 carries for 136 yards … For the Browns, WR Kevin Johnson has 11 receptions for 155 yards in the three games ... With the Browns this year, RB Errict Rhett had 64 yards on 14 carries; with the Ravens from 1996 to '99 vs. the Jaguars, he had three TDs, five receptions for 52 yards and 193 rushing yards on 60 carries. And in 1995 with Tampa Bay, Rhett ran 24 times for 100 yards and two TDs vs. Jacksonville.
LAST GAME: The Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans for the first time in two years with a last-second 16-13 win at ALLTEL Stadium. Mike Hollis kicked a 38-yard field goal for the victory, as the Jaguars won at home for the first time since September and improved to 5-7 on the season, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Titans. Hollis' field goal was his third of the game, and it capped a 10-play, 61-yard drive that followed a missed 28-yard field goal by Tennessee's Al Del Greco with 3:08 to play. Fred Taylor rushed for 104 yards - his sixth consecutive 100-yard game - and scored the Jaguars' only touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Mark Brunell in the first quarter. The Jaguars held the Titans' Eddie George to 69 yards on 24 carries, though George did set a career high with 109 yards on seven receptions. Jacksonville opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal by Hollis on their opening drive, and then Tennessee responded with a seven-yard TD run by George prior to Taylor's scoring reception. The two teams then alternated field goals, concluding with Hollis' game-winner with no time left on the clock.
NOTES FROM THE TENNESSEE GAME: The Jaguars snapped a five-game losing streak to the Titans by the same score in which the streak began on December 13, 1998 … The win evened the series at 6-6. … Statistics in the game were almost identical. Both teams gained 334 yards, with Tennessee outrushing Jacksonville 117 to 111 but Jacksonville getting more passing yards, 223 to 217. Tennessee had one more first down (17-16) and more time of possession (30:41 to 29:19). Both teams converted 6 of 14 third downs (43 percent). … The Jaguars won a game in which they lost the turnover battle for the first time since 12/19/99 at Cleveland. Mark Brunell threw two interceptions, and the Jaguars did not have any takeaways. … Brunell completed 15 of 25 passes for 237 yards and one TD. His touchdown pass to Fred Taylor was his 100th career touchdown pass. He entered this season with 86 and now has 14 touchdown passes on the season. … Taylor extended his team record with his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game, marking his 15th 100-yard game of his career in the regular season. He how has 15 100-yard games in 30 career starts in the regular season (he also has three 100-yard games in four postseason games). Taylor also led the team with four receptions for 22 yards. WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell and TE Kyle Brady had three catches each. Smith has had at least one reception in 83 consecutive games in which he has played. The streak is the seventh longest among active players. … R. Jay Soward's 45-yard reception was his career-long. … Mike Hollis' 28-yard field goal with no time left was the fourth game-winning kick of his career. His previous game-winners were: 12/24/95 vs. Cleveland, 11/24/96 at Baltimore and 12/13/99 vs. Denver. … The Jaguars made two sacks, a solo by Tony Brackens (giving him 4.5 for the season) and a shared sack by Kevin Hardy and Larry Smith (the first of the year for both players). They allowed three sacks. … LBs Kevin Hardy and Brant Boyer led the team with nine tackles each. … Bryan Barker punted three times for a season-high 53.7-yard average, with a long of 59, two inside the 20 and no touchbacks. He had two kicks returned for 46 yards. … Every player who dressed played except QB Jamie Martin. Friday's inactives were: MLB Hardy Nickerson, SLB Lonnie Marts, OT Leon Searcy and DE Paul Spicer; Sunday inactives were: CB Shad Criss, OT Reggie Nelson, TE Ryan Neufeld and QB Jonathan Quinn (third QB). … Jaguars captains were OT Tony Boselli, LBs Kevin Hardy and Brant Boyer, and DE Renaldo Wynn.
FROM COACH TOM COUGHLIN ON THE TITANS GAME: "We won the 'Battle of ALLTEL.' It's was a great divisional game, a very, very well-played football game. We knew a battle was going to take place today at ALTELL. Many thought Tennessee was the best team in football, and without a doubt they are extremely good, very physical. In order to beat them, you have to be powerful and physical for four quarters. We did that. We hung in there, we made the plays on defense at the end and forced them to attempt a field goal rather than go for a touchdown. And then we had the ability to come back down the field with two huge plays and let Mike (Hollis) take the game from there, which was really a fun and exciting way for this game to end."
(on the two-minute drill at the end of the game) "One of the better things about this whole night is that we weren't in that offense a whole lot. That means the game is close, and despite the fact that we did turn it over twice, and they got six points off turnovers, we still won the game. That drive at the end was critical. We hadn't taken any time off the clock, and Mark (Brunell) scrambles out and makes the throw to Keenan (McCardell) for a huge first down, and the play to Jimmy (Smith) was a critical situation for us. We're trying to get the ball inside the 25-yard line, we struck and Jimmy came powering out of there and got the first down around the 20-yard line. From there it was just clock management."
(on Al Del Greco's missed field goal) "That was not a gimme. And Mike Hollis' was not a gimme, and that was critical. No question I was confident in Hollis."
FROM QB MARK BRUNELL: "This is big for obvious reasons. All we've heard about the last couple of years has been the Tennessee Titans. For us to win at home and the way we did, guys were very physical and very tough. The defense was tremendous and we made the plays we had to make to win. Anytime you play a team like the Titans, a 9-2 team, you just have to keep fighting, and we did that tonight. It showed a lot of heart, I thought. Certainly a weight has been lifted. We're excited about the win. We're going to enjoy this."
"In the NFL, you throw out the records on game day. The best team on game day wins. Everybody kept their confidence throughout the game. Nobody gave up. We kept fighting and fighting. It was going to be a smashmouth game and you just keep fighting now matter what happens. Bad things happen, adversity is going to come in every football game. How you respond to that is what our coaches talked about all week, and that was fun."
(on the play of the Jaguars' offensive line) "They've played very well the last month and a half; they have gotten better and better. I've been really impressed. They haven't played a lot together, but they're improving each week and I'm excited about it. That's a great group in front of me and I'm proud to stand behind there because I have confidence in them. I know they'll do the job."
FROM OT TONY BOSELLI: (on what it means to finally beat the Titans) "I've been on the other side of it and I know it's good to get a win. It will also get you guys in the media off of our back more than anything and we don't have to hear about it."
(on the play of the offensive line) "The whole line is really jelling. Brad Meester and Todd Fordham, they're stepping up and they're playing excellent football right now. On the last drive we just said, 'Hey, we're in this thing, let's go win.' "
FROM TE KYLE BRADY: "It feels really good to get this one under our belt. It has been a long time since this team has beaten the Titans. I mean even before I got here. That's too long. You can't have a team in your division doing that to you every time, so we're happy to get the win."
(on the Jaguars' playoff hopes) "Stranger things have happened. I don't think anyone is making plans for Christmas yet."
MILLER LITE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Jaguars' nominee for the Miller Lite Player of the Week Award is PK Mike Hollis, who kicked three field goals - including the game-winner with no time left on the clock - in the Jaguars' 16-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. Hollis scored 10 of the team's 16 points, with an extra point and field goals of 27, 20 and 38 yards.
NEXT WEEK: The Jaguars will host the Arizona Cardinals at 1:00 p.m. EST Sunday, December 10 at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville's final home game of the season. It will be the first meeting ever between the two teams (which will leave the San Diego Chargers as the only team the Jaguars have never played). This season, the Cardinals are 3-9 and in last place in the NFC Eastern Division. They are coached by Dave McGinnis, who replaced the fired Vince Tobin after the seventh game of the season.
THE TEAL IS REAL . . . In the last four seasons, the Jaguars' record is the second best in the NFL, three games behind the Minnesota Vikings. The Jaguars have won 41 of their last 60 regular-season games (they also won their final five games in 1996).
. . . WITH THE THIRD-BEST RECORD AT HOME . . . The Jaguars went 7-1 at ALLTEL Stadium each of the last four seasons and are 2-4 so far this season, giving them a 30-8 record, tied for the third-best mark at home since the start of the 1996 season. The Jaguars have lost only seven home games since the second week of the 1996 season and have won 31 of their last 39 home games dating back to December 24, 1995, in their inaugural season.
. . . AND THE BEST RECORD ON THE ROAD . . . The Jaguars have the best road record in the NFL (tied with Minnesota) and they are one of only four NFL teams with a better than .500 mark on the road dating back to November 24, 1996. The Jaguars have a 20-12 record away from home during that time (they have also won two postseason road games since 1996). Their 7-1 road record last season was the best in the league and they have now won 16 of their last 24 games away from home. The Jaguars' all-time regular-season road record is 22-24.
SMITH IS NFL'S LEADING RECEIVER SINCE 1996 ... Since the start of the 1996 season, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has the most receptions in the NFL and teammate Keenan McCardell is fifth (Smith missed one game and most of two others). The two receivers are close friends, with McCardell nicknamed "Thunder" and Smith called "Lightning." Smith was the NFL leader last year with 116 receptions - the sixth most in a season in NFL history - and he easily broke the team record of 85 set in 1996 and '97 by McCardell. McCardell has a total of 464 career receptions, while Smith has 449.
... AND SMITH LEADS ALL RECEIVERS IN YARDAGE: Over the last four-plus seasons, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has amassed more receiving yardage than any receiver in the NFL, and teammate Keenan McCardell is eighth.
SMITH'S STREAK REACHES 83 GAMES: Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has caught at least one pass in 83 consecutive games played, a streak that is the seventh longest among active players.
LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: Jimmy Smith's performance of 15 receptions and 291 yards on September 10 at Baltimore is the fifth-most receiving yards ever in a game in NFL history and tied for the sixth-most receptions.
SMITH AND McCARDELL SET NFL RECORD: Jaguars WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell set an NFL record in the November 12 game vs. Seattle when they both had 100 yards receiving in the same game for the eighth time (the record has since been tied by Minnesota's Cris Carter and Randy Moss). That broke the league mark they shared with Don Maynard and George Sauer of the New York Jets, who combined for 100-yard games seven times in the 1960s.
TAYLOR HAS 15 100-YARD GAMES IN HIS FIRST 30 STARTS: Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has rushed for more than 100 yards in 15 of his first 30 NFL starts, a pace that is ahead of other NFL star running backs.
Player 100+
Fred Taylor 15
Walter Payton 14
Barry Sanders 11
Eddie George 11
Terrell Davis 10
For the season, Taylor has six 100-yard rushing games, tied for second with Edgerrin James behind Minnesota's Robert Smith, who has seven. Taylor is the only player who has six straight 100-yard games. The next best is Smith with a current streak of four straight.
BRADY CATCHING A BUNCH: Jaguars TE Kyle Brady has set career highs for both receptions and receiving yards in a game this season, and he is now the fourth-leading receiver among tight ends in the NFL. On October 22 vs. Washington, Brady caught eight passes for 111 yards, and on October 29 at Dallas, he caught 10 passes for 134 yards and his first TD of the season. For the season, Brady has caught 51 passes for 598 yards. His previous career bests were set in 1999, when he caught 32 passes for 346 yards. In last week's game vs. Tennessee, Brady set team records for catches and yards by a tight end, breaking marks set by Pete Mitchell in 1996 (52 catches for 575 yards). Here are the five-leading receivers among tight ends this season:
PLAYER TEAM REC YDS
Tony Gonzalez Kansas City 63 828
Shannon Sharpe Baltimore 57 720
Freddie Jones San Diego 56 629
Kyle Brady Jacksonville 51 598
Frank Wycheck Tennessee 50 482
HOLLIS IS NFL'S THIRD-MOST ACCURATE FIELD GOAL KICKER EVER: Jaguars PK Mike Hollis is the third-most-accurate field goal kicker in NFL history in the regular season (he is also the second-most accurate in the postseason). This season, Hollis has been successful on 18 of his 19 attempts, giving him an accuracy mark of 82.97, although he fell behind Miami's Olindo Mare on October 29. Mare held the No. 1 position for two weeks until being passed by Ryan Longwell.
SEVEN IS HEAVEN FOR JAGUARS: The Jaguars had five selections in the seventh round of the 2000 college draft (four on compensatory picks), and all five players made the team's 53-man roster. In fact, only six of 15 players chosen leaguewide on compensatory picks in the seventh round are still in the NFL, and four of those six players are Jaguars.
Only eight of the last 19 players drafted this year made opening day rosters, five of them Jaguars. In all, the Jaguars had 11 draft choices in 2000, and all 11 are still with the team - nine on the 53-man roster, one on injured reserve (OT Joe Chustz) and one on the practice squad (WR Emanuel Smith).
Brunell's TOUCHDOWN TARGETS: Mark Brunell has thrown 100 TD passes in six seasons in Jacksonville. Here are the 17 players who have caught them: Jimmy Smith (29), Keenan McCardell (19), Damon Jones (10), Willie Jackson (10), Pete Mitchell (7), James Stewart (5), Fred Taylor (4), Ernest Givins (3), Cedric Tillman (3), Andre Rison (2), Alvis Whitted (2), Derek Brown (1), Ty Hallock (1), Desmond Howard (1), Natrone Means (1), R. Jay Soward (1) and Kyle Brady (1).
BRUNELL ON CENTRAL TIME: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell has the NFL's best division record as a starter among active quarterbacks. Since joining the Jaguars in 1995, Brunell has compiled a 29-13 (.690) record as a starter against the AFC Central.
JAGUARS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: After 13 weeks, the Jaguars are 8th in the NFL in total offense (17th rushing, 9th passing), and they are 16th in defense (19th rushing and 18th passing). … The Jaguars have scored 236 points, an average of 19.7 per game. … The Jaguars' offense is tied for fifth in the AFC with 234 first downs. The Jaguars are fourth in the AFC in third down percentage (74 of 176, 42.0 percent), and the defense is eighth in the AFC in opponent's third-down conversions (54 of 151, 35.8 percent). … The Jaguars are minus-3 on the turnover table. … The Jaguars are last in the AFC and 30th in the NFL with a 35.9 percent rate on scoring touchdowns inside the red zone (14 of 39). … Despite missing four games with a back injury, PK Mike Hollis is 11th among AFC kickers in scoring with 72 points. … QB Mark Brunell is seventh in the AFC in passing with a 81.4 rating. His 2,861 passing yards is third in the AFC and fifth in the NFL. … WR Keenan McCardell is fifth in the AFC and fifth in the NFL with 72 receptions, and Jimmy Smith is sixth in the AFC and eighth in the NFL with 68 receptions despite missing nearly three full games. … McCardell and Smith are tied for seventh in the AFC with 904 receiving yards each. … Kyle Brady has 51 receptions, 15th in the AFC and fourth among NFL tight ends. His 598 yards is 16th in the AFC. … Despite missing three full games, Fred Taylor is seventh in the AFC with 919 rushing yards. His rushing average of 4.7 yards is fourth among AFC running backs… Bryan Barker is seventh in the AFC with a 43.9 gross punting average and he is ninth with a 36.4 net average. Barker has 19 inside-the-20 kicks among his 55 punts. … Shyrone Stith is fifth in the AFC with a 24.6-yard average on kickoff returns. … The Jaguars' defense has recovered 14 fumbles, second most in the NFL behind Baltimore (17).
2000 STATS AND SUCH: Mark Brunell is 49-31 as a starter in regular-season games, 53-35 overall. He has won more games under head coach Tom Coughlin than any current NFL quarterback under his head coach. … PK Mike Hollis has scored in 73 consecutive regular-season games in which he has played (and all eight in the playoffs). He has 648 points in his six years with the Jaguars. … Of the Jaguars' 260 completed passes, 161 have been to wide receivers, 52 to tight ends and 47 to running backs. … The Jaguars are 2 for 8 on fourth-down conversions this season; their opponents are 4 for 6. … A total of eight players (five on offense and three on defense) have started all 12 games this year: WR Keenan McCardell, OT Tony Boselli, Gs Brad Meester and Brenden Stai, QB Mark Brunell, DE Tony Brackens, LB Kevin Hardy and S Donovin Darius. … The offense has used eight different starting lineup combinations in 12 games, and the defense has had a different starting lineup in 11 of the 12 games. … The Jaguars have 21 plays of 30 or more yards so far this season. They had 23 plays of 30-plus yards in 1999, 29 in 1998, 22 in 1997, 26 in 1996 and 12 in 1995. … On 39 drives inside the opponent's 20, the Jaguars have scored 14 TDs and 15 FGs (and 10 drives with no points). Their touchdown percentage of 35.9 inside the red zone is last in the AFC and second-to-last in the NFL. Their opponents have 34 trips inside the red zone and have scored on 33 of them, with 23 TDs and 10 FGs. The TD percentage of Jaguars' opponents this year is 67.6, worst in the NFL. … Jaguars opponents have begun 36 possessions inside their own 20 and they have scored on six of those drives (3 TDs, 3 FGs). The Jaguars have begun 27 possessions inside their own 20 and scored on five of them (3 TDs, 2 FGs). … The Jaguars used turnovers to score 56 points, while their opponents scored 89 points off turnovers. … In six seasons, the Jaguars are 12 for 18 on two-point conversions (0 for 0 this year), while their opponents are 5 for 19 (2 for 3 this year). … In six seasons, the Jaguars have a .500 or better record in every month except October. They are 1-0 in August, 12-11 in September, 12-13 in October, 16-7 in November, 12-7 in December and 1-0 in January. … This season, the Jaguars have outscored their opponents in the first (56-52) and second quarters (94-86) and have been outscored in the third (33-54) and fourth quarters (47-81).
The average age of the 53-man roster as of November 27 is 26.61 years old. There were 23 players 25 or younger, 19 players between 26 and 29 years old, and 11 players 30 or older. The youngest player is RB Shyrone Stith (22 years, 7 months). … There are nine rookies on the roster, including eight of the 11 draft choices (WR R. Jay Soward, G Brad Meester, MLB T.J. Slaughter, CB Kiwaukee Thomas, S Erik Olson, DE Rob Meier, RB Shyrone Stith and LB Danny Clark) and G Aaron Koch. … More than half of the players (29) have four years or less of NFL experience, and nine players are in their eighth season or more. … There are 20 players who are new to the team this year, and 33 who were with the team before this year. In addition to the nine rookies, the other 11 new players are: MLB Hardy Nickerson and QB Jamie Martin (unrestricted free agents); RB Anthony Johnson, C/G Jeff Smith, TE Ryan Neufeld and FB Jermaine Williams (veteran free agents); G Brenden Stai (trade); and DE Paul Spicer, CB Shad Criss, OT Reggie Nelson and PK Jim Tarle (first-year free agents). … The Jaguars have nine players who were first-round selections in the college draft, including seven of their own picks: OT Leon Searcy (1992, Pittsburgh), OT Tony Boselli (1995, Jaguars), TE Kyle Brady (1995, N.Y. Jets), LB Kevin Hardy (1996, Jaguars), DT Renaldo Wynn (1997, Jaguars), RB Fred Taylor (1998, Jaguars), S Donovin Darius (1998, Jaguars), CB Fernando Bryant (1999, Jaguars) and WR R. Jay Soward (2000, Jaguars).
In six seasons, only one Jaguar has played in all 100 games (regular season and postseason) in franchise history: P Bryan Barker (WR Jimmy Smith and PK Mike Hollis had their streaks ended this year). … The longest streak of consecutive starts is held by WLB Kevin Hardy (45), followed by OT Tony Boselli (31). … Seven players have played in 100 or more games during their careers: MLB Hardy Nickerson (194), P Bryan Barker (163), RB Anthony Johnson (156), DE Joel Smeenge (152), LB Lonnie Marts (147), OT Leon Searcy (126) and WR Keenan McCardell (112). WR Jimmy Smith will play in his 99th game this week. … Nickerson has 171 career starts, followed by Searcy (111) and Marts (108). … OT Tony Boselli has started 83 games for the Jaguars, followed by QB Mark Brunell (80), WR Keenan McCardell (73) and OT Leon Searcy (63).
