JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While the 2014 Jaguars just earned their first victory, this week's Top 20 recognizes the top 20 wins in franchise history. Not all came on the field, and not all have happened yet, but in honor of the Jaguars 20th season, here's the moments that Jaguars fans were happiest.
At the top of the list is the playoff win on the road at Denver following the 1996 season. It remains the single best victory in franchise history, beating a heavily favored Broncos team that had at least three future hall of famers on the squad. Quarterback Mark Brunell said recently, "We were a young bunch of guys just having fun." That win put the Jaguars in the AFC Championship game for the first time where they lost a close game to New England. This year's team reminds me of the spirit the Jaguars had in 1996. Perhaps sometime soon that will translate into wins that would eventually be on this list.
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Second is the win at Buffalo in the same playoff run. The Bills had three future hall of famers on that squad as well but Natrone Means and Clyde Simmons showed how a hot team can make things happen in the post-season and a 30-27 victory in Buffalo stunned the Bills and their fans
Many people believe the win in the 1999 playoffs over Miami is the biggest home win in franchise history. A complete blowout from the opening snap, this game ended Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson's careers but propelled the Jaguars into the elite of the NFL, or so we thought, for years to come. Regrettably, salary cap issues and injuries kept that from happening but this was perhaps the high water mark in franchise history.
Although it happened on the road, the Jaguars first win in franchise history at Houston is in at number four. Partially because it seemed so improbable so early but it's the first time I ever saw Tom Coughlin smile from ear to ear.
Fifth is the win over Atlanta at home to put the Jaguars in the playoffs for the first time. It took a miss from one of the top field goal kickers in league history to get them there, but thanks to a Morten Anderson misstep, the Jaguars went on a memorable playoff run.
Sixth is an off the field win for the franchise, for Wayne Weaver and for the city of Jacksonville. Weaver admitted he rebuffed several offers from suitors who wanted to buy the Jaguars and move them to California but instead he sold the team to Shad Khan, a known quantity among NFL owners. Khan had tried to buy the St. Louis Rams and had been vetted by the league in preparation for that purchase. Instead he ended up as the Jaguars owner and as one administrator has said, "Wayne handed the baton to a faster runner." Khan has been great for the franchise and for the city and his commitment to keep the Jaguars here is what allowed Wayne to complete the sale. Big win.
Nobody beats the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but the Jaguars did that in 2007, the last playoff win for the franchise. David Garrard's running was the difference and as the last post-season win it's becoming a fond, albeit distant memory for Jaguars fans.
Gus Bradley's first win as a head coach last year in Tennessee is in at number eight. Under a new head coach you never know what might happen and after eight straight losses, a huge sigh of relief came when the Jaguars went to Nashville and came home with a victory.
Wayne Weaver admitted that firing Tom Coughlin was a mistake but beating Tom Coughlin as the head coach of the Giants on Monday night was very satisfying for many Jaguars fans. The same feeling washed over Jacksonville the first time the Jaguars beat the Steelers here. They were the gold standard in the league and certainly in the division so a win over Pittsburgh, especially at home in their first year was especially gratifying. Recently, Jaguars fans had that same feeling when Josh Scobee kicked that 59-yard field goal against the Colts in 2010 and when Mike Thomas caught that Hail Mary to beat Houston the same year.
The Monday night win over the Steelers when Bill Cowher looked like he was going to step on the field and punch Chris Hudson has made a lot of lists. It felt like Jacksonville was the center of the football universe that night, so it's in at 13.
In the year they drafted him, the Jaguars moved up to the 10th spot in the first round to get Blaine Gabbert. They thought he was the best player in the draft, bar none, and thought they stole him at number 10. Gabbert could never transfer his physical skills and practice prowess to the games and after a few years it was obvious he'd never be the franchise quarterback they envisioned. We thought everybody else knew that as well but somehow the Jaguars got a 6th round pick for Gabbert from San Francisco. That's a win in any scenario.
Their playoff win in 1998 over New England is in at 15 and the big rushing day against Indy in 2006 is at 16. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones Drew combined for 375 yards rushing in a 44-17 win over the Colts in the year Indianapolis went to the Super Bowl.
Gabbert threw one memorable pass in his career in Jacksonville, a last minute bullet to Cecil Shorts on a post pattern to beat the Colts for their first win under Mike Mularkey. After some bad luck and under-performance by free agents and draft picks, it looked like the Jaguars might not get a win in 2012 but pulled one out on the road at Indy. That was a bad roster and Mularkey never had a chance to try and rebuild it. But they didn't go winless.
When Weaver fired Jack Del Rio, the team was in turmoil but the right guy, Mel Tucker, was named as the interim head coach. Tucker was the Jaguars defensive coordinator and should get a shot at being a head coach in the league at some point. He used the term "servant leader" in his first press conference and proved to be the steady hand the Jaguars needed at the end of a turbulent season. The crushing 44-14 win at Tampa Bay seemed to come out of nowhere. Mel's one of the best people in the league and although mild mannered, the players like and respect him and he'd be a very solid leader on any team.
At 19, the win this week against the Browns gets into the Top 20. Gus Bradley is rebuilding the Jaguars with a different roster and a different culture. You can see them getting better, but as Bradley says, you have to earn wins in the NFL. This victory goes a long way to validate his approach for this young team.
Since the Jaguars made a commitment to play four home games in London they've become the UK's "home team." So a win there would make the top 20. Especially if it comes against the Cowboys this year!
Did we miss one? Let us know if you agree or disagree by contacting us on Twitter with the #Jagstop20 or email us at Sports@wjxt.com. We'll let everybody know what you think this week on Jaguars Friday Night.
1) At Denver 97 playoffs
2) At Buffalo 97 playoffs
3) vs. Miami 99 playoffs
4) First win at Houston
5) Morten Anderson miss in 96 head to playoffs
6) Shad Khan buying team
7) At Pittsburgh Playoff win 2007
8) at Tennessee last year... first win for Bradley
9) 2006 win over Giants on Monday night
10) Vs. Pittsburgh first season
11) Win over Indy with 59 yard FG 10/3/2010
12) Hail Mary vs. Houston November 2010
13) Monday Night win over Pitt/Cowher fake punch
14) 6th round pick for Gabbert
15) Playoff win over NE in 1998
16) 2006 win over Indy. Fred and MJD with 375 yards rushing. 44-17
17) 2012 win over Indy under Mularkey
18) 41-14 win vs. TB in 2011 under Mel Tucker
19) Beating the Browns 24-6 this year
20) Any win in London