Week 10 of the 2001 NFL season finds the Jaguars in Pittsburgh. Here's what happened in past year's week-10 games. They're ranked in the order of their prominence in Jaguars history. The Jaguars were in their bye weeks in week 10 in 1995, '96 and 2000.
Jaguars 30, Oilers 24 (11-2-97)
This classic in the Liberty Bowl will be forever remembered for the Jaguars' goal-line stand.
Fresh off an overtime loss in Pittsburgh that left quarterback Mark Brunell with a dislocated finger on his passing hand, the Jaguars went out to a 24-10 lead by halftime, thanks to a 32-yard touchdown return of an Eddie George fumble by safety Chris Hudson, and thanks to some gritty play by Brunell.
Brunell had an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Darryll Lewis that gave the Oilers a 7-0 lead, but Brunell recovered to throw for a touchdown and run for another before halftime.
The verdict was on the line late in the game, when the Oilers drove to the Jaguars two-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, quarterback Steve McNair shoveled a pass to tight end Frank Wycheck, but Wycheck was dropped for a two-yard loss by veteran defensive end Jeff Lageman.
Lageman sniffed out the play before it began, having been tipped off by the body language of offensive tackle Brad Hopkins. Of course, the Jaguars had lost in overtime in Pittsburgh on a shovel pass from Kordell Stewart to Jerome Bettis.
The Jaguars left Memphis 6-3 and would move into a first-place tie with the Steelers following their loss to the Chiefs the following night. On the negative side, the Jaguars lost offensive tackle Tony Boselli for an extended period of time. Boselli suffered a high-ankle sprain late in the game.
Jaguars 6, Ravens 3 (11-14-99)
It was a dream game for those who love good defense, as the number one and two defenses in the league met at Alltel Stadium.
The Ravens defense held the Jaguars to a franchise-low 132 total yards (47 rushing and 85 passing), but the top-ranked Jaguars defense was equal to the task.
Defensive tackle Gary Walker made the big play of the game when, with the Ravens at the Jaguars 34-yard line late in the game, Walker sacked quarterback Tony Banks on fourth down.
Punter Bryan Barker placed a team-record eight punts inside the Ravens 20-yard line.
The Jaguars held their opponent to 10 points or fewer for the sixth consecutive game, and the Jaguars' 79 points allowed through nine games was the best in NFL history in a 16-game season.
The Jaguars' cause was hampered when running back Fred Taylor re-aggravated a season-long hamstring injury and had to leave the game in the first quarter.
At 8-1, the Jaguars owned the best record in the league.
Jaguars 24, Bengals 11 (11-8-98)
The Jaguars continued their drive to their first-ever division title by cruising to a 24-0 lead at halftime at Cinergy Field.
Rookie running back Fred Taylor rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, Mark Brunell threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Smith, and cornerback Aaron Beasley returned a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown that represented a franchise-long defensive score.
Brunell, who was nursing a groin injury, played only the first half. He was a mere five of 12 for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Jamie Martin effectively mopped up in the second half.
The defense kept the Bengals at arm's length in the second half, and the Jaguars left Cincinnati 7-2.
