LARGEST ATTENDANCE SINCE 2012

Tickets distributed for today's game were 66,198, the largest attendance at EverBank Field since December 23, 2012 against New England. 

* *

SEVEN ROOKIES IN THE STARTING LINEUP FOR THE JAGUARS

The Jaguars had seven rookies make starts today with six on offense and one on defense.  Quarterback Blake Bortles, wide receiver Allen Robinson, center Luke Bowanko, right guard Brandon Linder, tight end Nic Jacobs and wide receiver Allen Hurns all started on offense.  Rookie linebacker Telvin Smith made his first career start on defense. 

Ten of the 11 starters on offense today entered the game with 10 or fewer career starts.   The Jaguars had 12 first or second-year players in the starting lineup today including three of four players in the secondary.  The combined total starts of the Jaguars skilled position players (QB, WR, RB, TE) that started today was 22.

*  *

JAGUARS INCREASE SACKS TOTAL TO 16 IN FIVE GAMES

The Jaguars registered four sacks against the Steelers and increased their season total to 16 after five games.  The 16 sacks are the second-most in franchise history after the first five games (18, 1999).   The Jaguars have at least two sacks in each of the first five games and 35 sacks in the last 13 games dating back to 2013.

RED ZONE DEFENSE

Opponents have eight red zone possessions in the last two games but managed only one touchdown (Pittsburgh, second quarter) against the Jaguars defense.  The Jaguars did not allow a touchdown to San Diego in four red zone drives last Sunday and allowed only 10 points to the Steelers today on four red zone drives.

OFFENSE PUTS TOGETHER LONG FIRST DRIVE

Quarterback Blake Bortles engineered a 15-play, 53-yard drive on the club's opening possession that resulted in a 43-yard field goal by Josh Scobee.  It was the Jaguars' first points on their opening drive in five games and the longest drive for plays (15) of the season.  The Jaguars also had a 10-play drive to end the first half that ended with a 35-yard field goal by Scobee.  The Jaguars only had one 10-play drive in the first three games and two in each of the last two games.

CAREER-HIGH TWO SACKS FOR ABRY JONES

Second-year defensive tackle Abry Jones entered today's game with only a half sack in 12 career games.  The former Georgia standout had two sacks of Ben Roethlisberger including a sack/forced fumble early in the fourth quarter.  Jones also sacked Roethlisberger in the second quarter.

BORTLES THROWS FOR 191 YARDS

Rookie quarterback Blake Bortles completed 22 of 36 passes for 191 yards with two interceptions for a 52.0 rating.  Bortles, who had 14 yards on four carries, had four completions of 15-plus yards including a 20-yard pass to Toby Gerhart in the third quarter.

CLEMONS ADDS TO SACKS TOTAL; RECORDS 60TH OF HIS CAREER

Veteran defensive end Chris Clemons totaled his third sack of the season, taking down Ben Roethlisberger for no gain in the fourth quarter.  Clemons has 60 career sacks and has a sack in three of four career games against Pittsburgh.

POSLUSZNY LEADS DEFENSE WITH 12 TACKLES INCLUDING SACK

Linebacker Paul Posluszny had a game-high 12 tackles (nine solo) along with one sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed.  Posluszny has 11 career sacks after taking down Ben Roethlisberger for a two-yard loss in the second quarter.  Posluszny has recorded double-digit tackles in 40 of 52 games with the Jaguars including four of the first five games this season.

PRODUCTIVE DEBUT FOR ROOKIE STORM JOHNSON

2014 seventh-round draft pick Storm Johnson made his NFL debut today and wasted little time making an impact.  Johnson finished with four carries for a team-high 27 yards (6.8 avg.) including a 20-yard run.  His first carry for nine yards in the second quarter was negated by a holding call.

ROBINSON CONTINUES TO LEAD RECEIVING CORPS

Rookie Allen Robinson led the Jaguars with five catches for 51 yards (10.2) and he leads the team with 22 receptions for 243 yards (11.0) through five games.  He has at least five receptions in three straight games.

TIDBITS

• Defensive end Andre Branch recorded his second career fumble recovery and first since 2012.  The Jaguars have three fumble recoveries in the first five games.
• Second-year tackle Luke Joeckel registered his 10th career start, his sixth at left tackle.
• The Jaguars allowed a season-low one sack.
• Second-year wide receiver Ace Sanders made his 2014 debut and had two catches for 12 yards and returned three punts for a 4.7-yard average. 
• Second-year cornerback Demetrius McCray made his second career start and totaled four tackles and one pass defensed.
• The Jaguars allowed a season-low 17 points including only 10 offensive points.