Sunday, November 26, 2000, 4:15 p.m. EST
ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
THIS WEEK: The Jacksonville Jaguars will try to get their first home win since September and also end a five-game losing streak to the arch-rival Titans when they host Tennessee at 4:15 p.m. EST Sunday at ALLTEL Stadium.
It will be the 100th game in Jaguars history (including postseason) and the first of three straight home games to close out the year at ALLTEL Stadium, where the Jaguars are 1-4 this season, having lost their last four games.
The Jaguars are coming off a 34-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in their finest performance of the season. They are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this year, as they cling to hopes of making a late run to the playoffs like they did in 1996. The game is the second of three straight intradivision games for the Jaguars, who are now 4-7 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 40-19 record in that time is three games behind Minnesota (43-16). Jacksonville also has the fourth-best home record in the last four years (29-8, two-and-a-half games behind Green Bay) and their road record of 20-12 since 1996 is half a game better than Minnesota.
TELEVISION BROADCAST: The Jaguars-Titans game will be televised regionally by CBS and locally by WJXT Channel 4, with Kevin Harlan calling the play-by-play, Daryl Johnston adding analysis and Beasley Reece as the sideline reporter.
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.
THE OPPONENT: The Tennessee Titans were AFC champions in 1999, when they had a new name, a new logo, new uniforms and a new stadium. The Houston Oilers were a charter member of the American Football League, starting play in 1960. They won the first two AFL championships behind the passing of George Blanda to Charlie Hennigan, then lost the 1962 AFL title game. Behind the running of future Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell, the Oilers advanced to conference championship games in 1978 and '79. They struggled again for a number of years, then advanced to the playoffs every season from 1987 to '93, though losing in the first round of the playoffs five times and then falling to 2-14 in 1994. In 1995, they rebounded to a 7-9 record under coach Jeff Fisher, and were 8-8 for three straight seasons before their 13-3 mark last year. The Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 and played in Memphis for a season before moving to Nashville and playing at Vanderbilt in 1998. Last season they finished 13-3 during the regular season and in second place in the AFC Central Division, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1993. They beat Buffalo, Indianapolis and Jacksonville in the postseason before losing to St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXIV. This season they are 9-2, having lost only to Buffalo and Baltimore.
THE SERIES: The Titans have a 6-5 lead in the series and have won the last four games, as well as last season's AFC Championship game. The two teams had won four of the five games in the other's team's home heading into this season when Tennessee won at home. Every game in the series but two have been decided by eight or fewer points. The Oilers won 10-3 in the Jaguars' inaugural game in 1995, and then the Jaguars got their first win in franchise history on October 1, 1995 by a score of 17-16 in the Astrodome. In 1996, the Oilers won 34-27 in Jacksonville and 23-17 in the Astrodome. In '97, Jacksonville won 30-24 in Memphis' Liberty Bowl on November 2, and two weeks later won 17-9 at ALLTEL Stadium. The Jaguars won 27-22 on September 27 at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998, and then lost to the Oilers 16-13 on December 13 later that year in their only home loss of 1998. The Titans won both of last season's games, 20-19 on September 26 at ALLTEL Stadium and 41-14 on December 26 at Adelphia Coliseum. The Titans won the AFC Championship game at Jacksonville 33-14 on January 23, 2000, and they won the first meeting this year 27-13.
THE LAST TIME: The Jaguars lost their fourth straight game 27-13 to the Tennessee Titans on October 16 on "Monday Night Football" at Adelphia Coliseum to fall to 2-5 for the season. In a rematch of the 1999 AFC Championship game, Jacksonville jumped out to a 3-0 lead, converting on a 23-yard field goal by Mike Hollis after failing to reach the end zone following a 71-yard run by Fred Taylor. But the Titans scored the game's next 24 points in winning their 11th game at home without a loss since moving to Adelphia in 1999. Taylor rushed 20 times for 112 yards, but Tennessee's Eddie George was even better, gaining 165 yards on 30 carries and scoring one touchdown. TE Frank Wycheck continued to haunt Jacksonville, as he led his team with five catches and a TD. The Titans scored their first two touchdowns on passes that were bobbled and caught by receivers on their backs in the end zone, the first a 4-yard pass to Wycheck in the first quarter, and then a 22-yarder to Derrick Mason in the second quarter. Just before halftime, the Jaguars drove inside Titans territory and Keenan McCardell caught a pass over the middle but fumbled the ball into the end zone when he was hit on the one-yard line while trying to score. After being held to two field goals in the first 59 minutes of the game, the Jaguars scored a touchdown on their final possession, with Anthony Johnson running for a touchdown from two yards out. It marked the first touchdown drive led by Mark Brunell in 14 quarters. Mike Hollis converted both of his field goal attempts in his return to the lineup after missing four games with back surgery. Tennessee gained 407 yards and converted 6 of 12 third downs while controlling the clock for 33:07 in winning its fifth straight victory over the Jaguars.
A JAGUARS VICTORY OVER THE TITANS WOULD: Give the Jaguars their second consecutive win for the first time this season and a 5-7 record. It would be only their second win at home this season and give them a split of the series against the Titans this year and a 6-6 record in the series.
INJURY UPDATE: There were no major injuries suffered in the Pittsburgh game. Four players missed the game with injuries: MLB Hardy Nickerson (knee), LB Lonnie Marts (groin), CB Aaron Beasley (back) and OT Leon Searcy, who has missed the first 11 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 (53-38 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).
Last season, Jeff Fisher guided the Tennessee Titans to a club-record 13 victories, ending a six-year playoff drought and earning the franchise's first AFC Championship and Super Bowl appearance. His Titans came within one yard of a touchdown on the final play of a 23-16 loss to the Rams. Fisher had guided his team to three consecutive 8-8 seasons, despite the distraction of relocating the franchise from Houston to Tennessee. He was named head coach for the final six games of the 1994 season, after starting that year as Houston's defensive coordinator, and he built the AFC's top pass defense in 1994. Fisher coached defensive backs for the San Francisco 49ers (1992-93) and was defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams (1991). He was with the Philadelphia Eagles (1986-1990), coaching defensive backs (1986-88) before becoming the youngest defensive coordinator in the NFL in 1989. Fisher played defensive back for the Chicago Bears from 1981 to '85. He holds club records for punt-return yards in a season (509 in 1981) and punt returns in a season (58 in 1984). His 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in 1981 was the Bears' longest in 39 years. Fisher played at Southern California (1977-1980) with Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith. He has a career record of 54-43 in the regular season and 3-1 in the postseason.
JACKSONVILLE-TENNESSEE CONNECTIONS: Jaguars DT Gary Walker played for the Oilers from 1995 to '98 … G Aaron Koch was signed from the Titans' practice squad earlier this season … FS Rayna Stewart was a fifth-round draft choice of the Oilers in 1996 and played with them for two seasons … LB Lonnie Marts played for the Oilers in 1997 and '98 … Titans LB Eddie Robinson started 28 games for the Jaguars in 1996 and '97. … Three Jaguars have ties to the state of Tennessee: QB Jonathan Quinn (Nashville, Middle Tennessee State), C/G Jeff Smith (Decatur, University of Tennessee) and CB Fernando Bryant (Murfreesboro, Riverdale High) … Seven Titans have ties to the state of Florida: PK Al Del Greco (Coral Gables), DE Kenny Holmes (Vero Beach, University of Miami), TE Erron Kinney (University of Florida), CB Samari Rolle (Miami, Florida State), C Kevin Long (Florida State), DE Jevon Kearse (Ft. Myers, University of Florida) and G Zack Piller (Tallahassee, University of Florida). … Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin and special teams coordinator Frank Gansz were on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff with Titans strength and rehabilitation coach Steve Watterson in 1984 and '85 … Jaguars secondary coach Perry Fewell was the assistant head coach/secondary coach at Vanderbilt from 1995 to '97 ... Jaguars defensive coordinator Dom Capers coached at the University of Tennessee (1980). Capers also coached with Titans receivers coach Steve Walters and Jaguars DL coach John Pease while with the New Orleans Saints from 1986 to '91 ... Jaguars defensive quality control coach Lane Kiffin coached at Fresno State (1995-97) when Titans QB Billy Volek started for the Bulldogs … Titans assistant head coach/offense George Henshaw coached at Florida State from 1976 to '82. … Players who were college teammates include: Jaguars LB Kevin Hardy and Titans OT Brad Hopkins at Illinois, Jaguars G/OT Todd Fordham, DT Larry Smith and Titans CB Samari Rolle, C Kevin Long at Florida State, Jaguars RB Fred Taylor and Titans G Zack Piller, TE Erron Kinney and DE Jevon Kearse at the University of Florida, Jaguars WR Alvis Whitted and Titans WR Chris Coleman at North Carolina State, Jaguars OT/G Zach Wiegert (on I.R.), G Brenden Stai and Titans CB Michael Booker at Nebraska, Jaguars MLB T.J. Slaughter and Titans S Perry Phenix at Southern Mississippi, Jaguars TE Kyle Brady and Titans LB Terry Killens at Penn State, Jaguars SS Donovin Darius, OT Mark Baniewicz (on I.R.) and Titans LB Keith Bulluck at Syracuse, Jaguars LB Erik Storz and Titans LB Frank Chamberlin at Boston College, Jaguars RB Shyrone Stith and Titans G Genarro DiNapoli at Virginia Tech and Jaguars S Mike Logan and Titans DT John Thornton at West Virginia. … Jaguars QB Mark Brunell (1993-94) played at Green Bay with Titans P Craig Hentrich in 1993 and '94 … Jaguars OT Leon Searcy and S Carnell Lake (on I.R.) played at Pittsburgh with Titans WR Yancey Thigpen and QB Neil O'Donnell (1992-95) when Dom Capers was the Steelers' defensive coordinator.
JAGUARS VS. TITANS: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell has eight starts (4-4) and 10 finishes in the series and has completed 152 of 250 passes (60.8 percent) for 1,660 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In addition, Brunell completed 19 of 38 passes for 226 yards, one TD and two interceptions in the 1999 AFC Championship game. ... Titans QB Steve McNair is 119 of 204 (58.3 percent) for 1,636 yards, 11 TDs and seven interceptions. He has also rushed 38 times for 219 yards and no TDs. McNair was 14 of 23 for 112 yards, one TD and an interception in the 1999 AFC Championship game ... Titans backup QB Neil O'Donnell, who has started four games against the Jaguars with three different AFC Central Division teams (1995 Pittsburgh, 1998 Cincinnati, 1999 Tennessee), has completed 76 of 134 passes (56.7 percent) for 904 yards, six TDs and two interceptions. O'Donnell did not play in the 10/16/00 game. … In four regular-season games, Fred Taylor has rushed 81 times for 314 yards and three TDs and had 110 yards on 19 carries in the 1999 postseason game. … Titans RB Eddie George has 170 carries for 797 yards and five touchdowns (one TD was on a reception). George carried 25 times for 86 yards and had 3 receptions for 19 yards in the AFC Championship game. … Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has 44 catches for 670 yards, two touchdowns and four 100-yard games. ... Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell has 39 receptions for 489 yards, three TDs and one 100-yard game. Together, Smith and McCardell had 11 catches for 159 yards in the AFC Championship game. ... In nine games vs. the Jaguars with Pittsburgh and Tennessee, Titans WR Yancey Thigpen has 48 catches for 858 yards, seven touchdowns and three 100-yard games. In addition, Thigpen had a nine-yard TD catch in the AFC Championship game. ... Titans TE Frank Wycheck has 39 catches for 417 yards and three TDs. He had 12 yards receiving in the AFC championship game. … Jaguars PK Mike Hollis has played in all 11 games in the series, making 18 of 21 field goal attempts and all 21 extra point tries for 75 points. He had no field goal attempts in last year's AFC Championship game, but he was 2 for 2 on extra points. ... Titans PK Al Del Greco is 21 of 27 on field goals and 23 of 23 on extra points for 86 points. He was a perfect 4 for 4 on extra points and 1 for 1 on his field goal attempt in the AFC Championship game.
LAST GAME: Fred Taylor rushed for a team-record 234 yards and scored four touchdowns, as the Jaguars won their third road game of the season 34-24 over the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final trip to Three Rivers Stadium. Taylor's rushing performance was the 12th best in a game in NFL history and only 44 yards from the league's single-game record. He scored three touchdowns rushing and one on a pass reception, just one touchdown shy of the Jaguars' single-game record of 278 by Corey Dillon. His yardage is the most ever by a running back against the Steelers, topping O.J. Simpson's mark of 227 yards in 1975, and his four scores tied the mark held by Jim Brown vs. the Steelers. Jacksonville scored 17 points in each of the second and third quarters, getting their first points in the third period since Week 2, and they took a 34-10 lead into the fourth quarter before the Steelers scored their final two touchdowns on scrambles by Kordell Stewart. Taylor rushed for more than 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game and became the first Jaguar to eclipse the 200-yard mark rushing. Mark Brunell passed for 190 yards and one touchdown, as the Jaguars relied on Taylor's running and a strong defensive performance. The Jaguars had five takeaways and five sacks - both season highs - and scored 24 points off Pittsburgh turnovers. The Steelers jumped out to a 7-0 lead, capitalizing on a fumble by Brunell that led to a TD pass from Stewart to Hines Ward. On its other four drives, Jacksonville was forced to punt every time until getting on track early in the second quarter and scoring on six straight possessions. Mike Hollis added field goals of 36 and 33 yards.
NOTES FROM THE STEELERS GAME: The two teams met in prime time for the fourth straight season, and the Jaguars have won all four games. … The Jaguars' victory was only the third for a road team in the 12-game series, and all three have come in the last two seasons. … The Jaguars outgained the Steelers by 111 yards (417 to 306), had more first downs (20 to 15) and more time of possession (34:20 to 25:40). … They converted 6 of 14 third downs (43%) to Pittsburgh's 5 of 12 (42%). … The Jaguars' 240 yards rushing was the most in team history (previous: 214 on 9/19/99 at Carolina). … Fred Taylor's four TDs fell one short of the team record of five (James Stewart on 10/12/97 vs. Philadelphia). His 234 yards broke his team record of 183 yards on 12/6/98 vs. Detroit. Taylor's 7.8-yard average per carry was the second most in team history (record: 8.5 by Taylor on 10/31/99 at Cincinnati). It was his 14th 100-yard game in 29 starts (48.3%) in the regular season. … Jimmy Smith led the team with six receptions for 85 yards. He had a 15-yard TD catch overturned by instant replay. Smith has had at least one reception in 82 consecutive games in which he has played. The streak is the seventh longest among active players. … Kyle Brady added five catches for 62 yards. … Mark Brunell completed 17 of 31 passes for 190 yards, one TD and one interception. … The Jaguars had a season-high five sacks, one each by Gary Walker (third of season), Renaldo Wynn (2.5 for season), Joel Smeenge (third of season, giving him 32.5 as a Jaguar), Mike Logan (first of his career) and Brant Boyer (first of season). They allowed three sacks. …Donovin Darius had his second interception of the season and sixth of his career, and Kevin Hardy had his first of the year and fifth of his career. … Four players tied for the team lead with seven tackles each: LBs Kevin Hardy and Brant Boyer and Ss Donovin Darius and Mike Logan. … Bryan Barker punted five times for a 42.8-yard average, with a long of 47, one inside the 20 and no touchbacks. He had four kicks returned for 28 yards. … Every player who dressed played except QB Jamie Martin and CB Shad Criss. Friday's inactives were: CB Aaron Beasley, MLB Hardy Nickerson, SLB Lonnie Marts and OT Leon Searcy; Sunday inactives were: OT Reggie Nelson, TE Ryan Neufeld, DE Paul Spicer and QB Jonathan Quinn (third QB). … Jaguars captains were DE Renaldo Wynn, OT Tony Boselli and LBs Kevin Hardy and Brant Boyer.
TAYLOR'S RUSHED FOR 12TH MOST YARDS EVER: Fred Taylor rushed for 234 yards in the Jaguars' 34-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is the 12th-most yards ever in a game in NFL history.
FROM COACH TOM COUGHLIN ON THE STEELERS GAME: "We came here expecting to win. We looked each other in the eye and said we are going to give our best effort. I was real proud of the way in which we played, and I think it's a good sign for us in the remainder of the season. It was a real solid football game against a good football team on the road. I hope we can build on it again."
"In this series, we are the only team to win two games in one year, and we didn't want that to happen this year to Pittsburgh. The way we executed, the way we performed, I was pleased. We got manhandled in the game in Jacksonville and we came in here tonight and played physical, and the offensive line deserves a lot of credit. The objective coming in was to be physical. We wrote the script knowing that to be a more physical team here we had to rush the football and stop the run. Interestingly enough, they made a good run by staying in the no-huddle offense. I give them credit for that, but I was really proud of our team in all three phases. Our kickoff coverage team did an outstanding job. Our rushing game, what can you say about our offensive line and Fred Taylor's performance? I was really pleased. Defensively, we played outstanding. We stopped them on a number of occasions. We knew coming in here that everybody had to perform in their role to win, and we did."
(on Fred Taylor) "Fred got a chance to get going. He made some huge cutback runs. He was outstanding that way. I thought our blocking, even at the perimeter, was superb. It took us a while to get going tonight; in the first quarter there wasn't a whole lot going on. Once we started to roll, it turned into momentum, and our whole team rallied around that. Fred did a great job of not only rushing for a lot of yards, but he put the ball in the endzone."
(on scoring in the third quarter) "We haven't been very good in the second half, so we knew coming out that we would have to do something about that. We had been in that spot many times before, with a seven-point lead at the half. We came out and stopped them right away, then we took the ball down and scored."
FROM QB MARK BRUNELL: "The victory says a lot about this team. It says we are not going to give up, we are not going to fold. When things get rough, we are not just going to lay down till next year. We have five more games this year, and we are going to keep fighting. This could be a boost for us. It would be really nice to end up 9-7."
(on Fred Taylor) "Fred was incredible. That is one of the finest performances we have ever had at that position, and it was probably Fred's finest game. You hand the ball off and you watch him work. He is fun to watch."
(on rushing for 240 yards against the Steelers defense) "It is a very good defense. If you would have told me that we would have that kind of performance, it would have been hard to believe. They are very physical and they have very good talent over there, and I know Fred would say the same thing. Give credit to the offensive line - they did a great job tonight."
FROM RB FRED TAYLOR: "We wanted to come in and play a mistake free-game. We wanted to run the ball. We got Kyle Brady open down the middle with a big catch that put us in scoring position. Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell kept them honest on the outside. We felt pretty good to keep them off balance. The offensive line did a good job, Rock (Daimon Shelton) did a great job at the fullback position."
(on the record yardage against Pittsburgh) "I haven't thought about it. I just wanted to get the win. Other people may have thought about it. It was a happy day."
(on not quitting on the season) "Never. I enjoy what I do every time I step on the field. I just love to play every chance I get, since overcoming the injuries."
(on his cutback runs) "Pittsburgh is an aggressive team. Anytime you have an aggressive team, the cutback will be there. I wasn't trying to cutback on every play, but that was the look that they were giving us."
MILLER LITE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Jaguars' nominee for the Miller Lite Player of the Week Award is RB Fred Taylor, who had the 12th best rushing performance in NFL history when he gained 234 yards on 30 carries (7.8-yard average) and scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in the Jaguars' 34-24 victory at Pittsburgh. It marked the most yards ever allowed rushing by the Steelers.
NEXT WEEK: The Jaguars will host the Cleveland Browns at 4:15 p.m. EST Sunday, December 3 at ALLTEL Stadium. The Jaguars have never lost to the Browns, having beaten them twice in 1995 before the team moved to Baltimore, and all three times since the Browns returned as an expansion franchise in 1999. The Browns are 3-9 so far this season, having defeated Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and New England.
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 40 of their last 59 regular-season games (they also won their final five games in 1996).
. . . WITH THE FOURTH-BEST RECORD AT HOME . . . The Jaguars went 7-1 at ALLTEL Stadium each of the last four seasons and are 1-4 so far this season, giving them a 29-8 record, the fourth-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 30 of their last 38 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 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 19-12 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 tied for fourth (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 461 career receptions, while Smith has 446.
... 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 seventh.
SMITH'S STREAK REACHES 82 GAMES: Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has caught at least one pass in 82 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. 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.
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 15 of his 16 attempts, giving him an accuracy mark of 82.68 and falling behind Miami's Olindo Mare on October 29. Mare held the No. 1 position for two weeks until being passed by Ryan Longwell.
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 fifth-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 48 passes for 570 yards. His previous career bests were set in 1999, when he caught 32 passes for 346 yards.
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.
The Jaguars' seventh-rounders are:
Pick Overall Player Summary
7a 236 S Erik Olson Regular on special teams, making 5 tackles
7b 241 DE Rob Meier Regular on special teams, making 5 tackles, plus 9 tackles on defense
7c 243 RB Shyrone Stith Reserve running back, fourth-leading kickoff returner in AFC
7d 245 LB Danny Clark Regular on special teams, making 15 tackles, plus 4 tackles on defense
7e 247 OT Mark Baniewicz Reserve offensive tackle; active for 3 games, then placed on I.R.
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 99 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), Ernest Givins (3), Cedric Tillman (3), Fred Taylor (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).
JAGUARS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: After 12 weeks, the Jaguars are 8th in the NFL in total offense (18th rushing, 7th passing), and they are 14th in defense (18th rushing and 18th passing). … The Jaguars have scored 220 points, an average of 20.0 per game. … The Jaguars' offense is sixth in the AFC and 12th in the NFL with 218 first downs. The Jaguars are fourth in the AFC and ninth in the NFL in third down percentage (68 of 162, 42.0 percent), and the defense is sixth in the AFC and 10th in the NFL in opponent's third-down conversions (48 of 137, 35.0 percent). … The Jaguars are minus-1 on the turnover table. … The Jaguars rank 13th in the AFC and 26th in the NFL with a 37.1 percent rate on scoring touchdowns inside the red zone (13 of 35). … Despite missing four games with a back injury, PK Mike Hollis is 12th among AFC kickers in scoring with 62 points. … QB Mark Brunell is seventh in the AFC in passing with a 82.1 rating. His 2,624 passing yards is fourth in the AFC and eighth in the NFL. … WR Keenan McCardell is fifth in the AFC and tied for fifth in the NFL with 69 receptions, and Jimmy Smith is sixth in the AFC and seventh in the NFL with 65 receptions despite missing nearly three full games. … Smith is sixth in the AFC with 859 receiving yards, and McCardell is seventh with 851 yards. … Kyle Brady has 48 receptions, tied for 16th in the AFC and fifth among NFL tight ends. His 570 yards is 16th in the AFC. … Despite missing three full games, Fred Taylor is eighth in the AFC with 815 rushing yards. His rushing average of 4.8 yards is tied for third among AFC running backs… Bryan Barker is eighth in the AFC with a 43.3 gross punting average and he is ninth with a 36.3 net average. However, only six punters have more inside-the-20 kicks than Barker, who has 17 on his 52 punts. … Shyrone Stith is fourth in the AFC with a 25.3-yard average on kickoff returns. … The Jaguars' defense has recovered 14 fumbles, second most in the NFL behind Baltimore (15).
2000 STATS AND SUCH: Mark Brunell is 48-31 as a starter in regular-season games, 52-35 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 72 consecutive regular-season games in which he has played (and all eight in the playoffs). He has 638 points in his six years with the Jaguars. … Of the Jaguars' 245 completed passes, 154 have been to wide receivers, 42 to running backs and 49 to tight ends. … 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 10 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 11 games, and the defense has had a different starting lineup in 10 of the 11 games. … The Jaguars have 18 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. … Jaguars opponents have begun 31 possessions inside their own 20 and they have scored on five of those drives (3 TDs, 2 FGs). The Jaguars have begun 24 possessions inside their own 20 and scored on five of them as well (3 TDs, 2 FGs). On 35 drives inside the opponent's 20, the Jaguars have scored 13 TDs and 12 FGs (and 10 drives with no points). Their touchdown percentage of 37.1 inside the red zone ranks 26th in the NFL. Their opponents have 30 trips inside the red zone and have scored on all of them, with 22 TDs and 8 FGs. … The Jaguars used turnovers to score 56 points, while their opponents scored 83 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, 15-7 in November, 12-7 in December and 1-0 in January. … This season, the Jaguars have outscored their opponents in the first (46-45) and second quarters (94-83) and have been outscored in the third (30-54) and fourth quarters (44-78).
The average age of the 53-man roster as of November 20 is 26.59 years old. There were 25 players 25 or younger, 17 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 19 players who are new to the team this year, and 34 who were with the team before this year. In addition to the 10 rookies, the other nine new players are: MLB Hardy Nickerson and QB Jamie Martin (unrestricted free agents); RB Anthony Johnson, C/G Jeff Smith and TE Ryan Neufeld (veteran free agents); G Brenden Stai (trade); and DE Paul Spicer, CB Shad Criss 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 99 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 (44), followed by OT Tony Boselli (30). … Seven players have played in 100 or more games during their careers: MLB Hardy Nickerson (194), P Bryan Barker (162), RB Anthony Johnson (155), DE Joel Smeenge (151), LB Lonnie Marts (147), OT Leon Searcy (126) and WR Keenan McCardell (111). … Nickerson has 171 career starts, followed by Searcy (111) and Marts (108). … OT Tony Boselli has started 82 games for the Jaguars, followed by QB Mark Brunell (79), WR Keenan McCardell (72) and OT Leon Searcy (63).
