Jaguars facing Patriots in AFC Championship game not a first-time experience
The Jaguars are just a win away from making their first Super Bowl appearance, but the five-time champion New England Patriots are standing in the way.
The Jaguars will get their shot in Sunday’s AFC Championship game to make history.
Twenty-one years ago, the Jaguars had the same opportunity.
Like now, they were a win away from reaching the Super Bowl in just their second year of existence.
Like now, they faced the Patriots in the AFC Championship game on the road.
But back then it didn’t go like they hoped that day.
In all, the Jaguars have played the Patriots four times in the playoffs.
Jacksonville’s lone victory came during the 1998-99 season when they beat Patriots 25-10 in the AFC Wild Card game in Jacksonville.
Now let’s take a trip back, when Tom Coughlin was coaching, when Fred Taylor was breaking long runs and the Jaguars were the talk of the town, just like they are now.
PATRIOTS 20, JAGUARS 6
Date: January 12, 1997
Playoff round: AFC Championship game.
Location: Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Records: Jaguars 11-8; Patriots 13-5.
Key statistics: The Jaguars turned the ball over four times, three occurred on three of their final four possessions and included a fumble returned for a touchdown. Jacksonville had 18 first downs compared to New England’s 13. The Jaguars’ defense held the Patriots to 73 yards rushing. Quarterback Mark Brunell passed for 190 yards and was intercepted twice. The Jaguars were 5 of 14 on third-down conversions; the Patriots 2 of 13.
About the game: In just their second season of existence, the Jaguars could not overcome mistakes despite their defense giving up only one offensive touchdown. New England’s Adam Vinatieri made field goals of 29 and 20 yards and Patriots defensive back Otis Smith recovered a James Stewart fumble and returned it 47 yards for the game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It was the only points scored by the Patriots after halftime. The Jaguars’ only points in the game came on a pair of field goals by Mike Hollis from 28 and 32 yards. The Patriots eventually lost to Green Bay 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.
JAGUARS 25, PATRIOTS 10
Date: January 3, 1999.
Playoff round: AFC Wild Card game.
Records: Jaguars 12-5; Patriots 9-8.
Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville.
Key statistics: Running back Fred Taylor rushed for 162 yards on 33 carries, the second-most in a postseason game in Jaguars’ history and his 33 carries were the most. He also scored on a 13-yard run in the second quarter. Jaguars’ Mike Hollis made four field goals, which extended his streak of consecutive field goals in the postseason to 12 and broke his single-game record.
About the game: Under Coughlin, the Jaguars hosted their first-ever home playoff game with quarterback Mark Brunell returning as a starter after missing three games with a high-ankle sprain. The Patriots were shut out in the first half and backup quarterback Scott Zolak was forced to start because Drew Bledsoe was injured. Besides Taylor’s touchdown run, wide receiver Jimmy Smith caught a 37-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. The Jaguars went on to lose in the AFC Divisional Round to the New York Jets, 34-24.
PATRIOTS 28, JAGUARS 3
Date: January 7, 2006.
Playoff round: AFC Wild Card game.
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Records: Jaguars 12-5; Patriots 11-6.
Key statistics: Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich completed 18-of-31 passes for 179 yards and was intercepted once. Jaguars running back Fred Taylor was held to 24 yards rushing on eight carries. The Jaguars failed to convert on 11 of 12 third-down plays. The Patriots had four fumbles but didn’t lose any. The Jaguars sacked Tom Brady four times. The Patriots had six sacks, 4.5 by outside linebacker Willie McGinest.
About the game: The Jaguars, who were coached by Jack Del Rio, returned to the postseason for the first time since 1999 but New England quarterback Tom Brady passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The Jaguars’ lone score came on Josh Scobee’s 36-yard field goal in the second quarter. The Patriots opened the second half with back-to-back touchdown drives to take a 21-3 lead.
PATRIOTS 31, JAGUARS 20
Date: January 12, 2008.
Playoff round: AFC Divisional Round.
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Records: Jaguars 12-6; Patriots 17-0.
Key statistics: Patriots’ Tom Brady completed 26-of-28 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. New England had 403 yards of total offense and running back Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries and scored on a 1-yard run. Jaguars quarterback David Garrard passed for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Fred Taylor rushed for 47 of the Jaguars’ 80 yards on the ground.
About the game: The Jaguars went 80 yards on nine plays on their opening drive of the game that ended on Matt Jones’ 9-yard touchdown catch. The Patriots-Jaguars ended the first half tied at 14-14. But Jacksonville unraveled in the third quarter when Brady threw two touchdown passes. The Patriots didn’t attempt their first punt until 31 seconds remained in the game. It was the Jaguars’ last playoff game until they returned to the postseason this season.
