Friday, August 10, 2001, 7:30 p.m. EDT ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla. THIS WEEK: The Jacksonville Jaguars will open their 2001 preseason schedule when they host the Carolina Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at ALLTEL Stadium. The game marks the sixth time in seven years that the two 1995 expansion teams have met in the preseason, with the Jaguars holding a 3-2 lead in the exhibition series. The Jaguars had a 16-9 record in the preseason in their first six seasons. It will be the Jaguars' first game since a 28-25 loss to the New York Giants on December 23, 2000 - more than seven months ago. The Jaguars made a lot of personnel moves during the offseason but still retain the same core group of players that advanced to the AFC Championship game two seasons ago. In fact, the Jaguars still retain 16 starters from two seasons ago - seven on offense and nine on the defense that allowed the fewest points in the league in 1999. The Jaguars' coaching staff will get its first chance to evaluate the 2001 squad. The Jaguars enter the game with 43 new players - 10 draft picks, 20 undrafted rookies, six veterans and seven new first-year players. Jacksonville's 7-9 record during 2000 marked the team's first losing season since its inaugural year of 1995. Still, in the last four seasons, the Jaguars have the second-best record in the NFL. Their 43-21 record in that time is two games behind Minnesota (45-19) and tied with Denver. Jacksonville also has the third-best home record in the last four years (32-8, two games behind Green Bay), and their road record of 20-14 since 1996 is tied for the best in the league with Minnesota and Tennessee. TELEVISION BROADCAST: The Jaguars-Panthers game will be televised locally by WJXT Channel 4, with Sam Kouvaris calling the play-by-play, former Jaguars defensive end Jeff Lageman adding analysis, and ex-Jaguars center Dave Widell as the field reporter. The game marks the debut of Jaguars preseason football on WJXT. 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 and former NFL quarterback Matt Robinson adds analysis, with Jennifer Candelino serving as field reporter. Sexton and Robinson are in their seventh season together. Robinson, 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 19 affiliates in three states on the Jaguars Radio Network will also broadcast the game. THE OPPONENT: The Panthers were named the NFL's 29th team on October 26, 1993, five weeks before the Jaguars were born. Carolina went 7-9 in its first season, setting a record for most victories by an NFL expansion team, and they were 12-4 in 1996, becoming the first second-year franchise to win a division. In that season, Carolina advanced to the NFC championship game before losing to eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay. The Panthers slipped to 7-9 in 1997 and then 4-12 in '98. George Seifert was named head coach on January 4, 1999, and Carolina has finished 8-8 and 7-9 in two seasons under Seifert. THE SERIES: This is the sixth preseason meeting in seven years between the Jaguars and the Panthers, with Jacksonville holding a 3-2 edge. On July 29, 1995, the two teams played their first game ever in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, with Carolina prevailing 20-14. In 1997, the Jaguars won 23-9 in Jacksonville; in '98 the Panthers won 30-27 in Charlotte; in '99, the Jaguars won 35-10 in Jacksonville; and last year the Jaguars won 35-14 in Charlotte. The Jaguars and Panthers have also played twice during the regular season, with Jacksonville winning both games (24-14 at home on September 29, 1996, and 22-20 on September 19, 1999 on the road). THE LAST TIME: The last time the two teams played during the regular season was September 19, 1999, when the Jaguars defeated the Panthers 22-20 at Ericsson Stadium, stopping a two-point conversion try with 31 seconds remaining. James Stewart replaced an injured Fred Taylor and rushed for a then-career-high 124 yards and scored two touchdowns, and Mike Hollis added three field goals. The Jaguars dominated the game, outgaining the Panthers 414 yards to 283 and holding the ball for 38:09 (Carolina had the ball only 7:23 in the second half). However, in five possessions in the red zone, the Jaguars could manage only one touchdown and three field goals. Taylor was sidelined by a strained hamstring in the first quarter, but Jacksonville rushed for 214 yards on 46 carries, both team records. Jimmy Smith had his second straight 100-yard receiving game, catching 10 passes for 115 yards. The Jaguars also won the 2000 preseason opener 34-14 over the Panthers at Ericsson Stadium on August 4. Stacey Mack scored two touchdowns - one on a 94-yard kickoff return to open the second half - to lead Jacksonville to its third win over the Panthers in five preseason games. Quarterback Mark Brunell and RB Fred Taylor played only the first series, as the Jaguars marched 80 yards in five plays for a score, culminating in Brunell's 39-yard TD pass to Jimmy Smith. A JAGUARS VICTORY OVER THE PANTHERS WOULD: Give them a 17-9 preseason record in seven seasons and a 4-2 record vs. the Panthers in the preseason. It would also be the Jaguars' ninth victory in 10 games at home in the preseason, dating back to 1996. INJURY UPDATE: C John Wade (foot) is on the active/physically unable to perform list, and DT Marcus Stroud has a broken hand. Several players who are rehabbing from 2000 surgeries usually participate in one practice during the two-a-days. They include: OT Tony Boselli (ankle), S Carnell Lake (hamstring), TE Damon Jones (knee), LB Hardy Nickerson (knee), G/OT Zach Wiegert (knee) and OT Mark Baniewicz (knee). In addition, WR Jimmy Smith (abdomen) works only in individual drills and will not play in the preseason opener. THE COACHES: Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin (56-40 in regular season, 4-4 in postseason) has led the Jaguars to two AFC Central Division championships and two appearances in the AFC Championship game in six seasons as the only head coach in franchise history. The Jaguars made the playoffs all four seasons from 1996 to '99 - 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). Panthers head coach George Seifert ranks third all time among NFL head coaches with a .730 winning percentage (behind Vince Lombardi and John Madden) and reached both 50 and 75 victories faster than any head coach in league history. He is one of 11 coaches to win two or more Super Bowls. Seifert coached on all five of San Francisco's Super Bowl championship teams, serving as secondary coach (1981), defensive coordinator (1984, 1988), and head coach (1989, 1994). He ranks as the 49ers' all-time leader with 108 wins. Under his direction, the 49ers had the NFL's best record in 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1994. He guided the 49ers to a club-record five NFC Championship Games. He is 15-17 in two years as head coach of Carolina and 123-52 all-time. Seifert was a linebacker at the University of Utah (1960-62). He returned to Utah as a graduate assistant in 1964, after a six-month tour of duty in the U.S. Army. He was named head coach at Westminister College in Salt Lake City (1965). He was an assistant at Iowa (1966), Oregon (1967-1971), and Stanford (1972-74) and head coach at Cornell (1975-76). He joined Bill Walsh's staff at Stanford in 1977, helping the Cardinal to a two-year mark of 17-7. COUGHLIN RANKED AMONG LEAGUE'S TOP COACHES: With every regular-season victory, Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin moves up on two lists when compared to other active NFL head coaches. In 2000, Coughlin had five victories in 10 games vs. AFC Central teams and four wins in eight home games. Coughlin has the fourth-best record of all current NFL coaches in division games and the sixth-best record in home games (minimum of 16 home games). Records include all teams coached by an individual during the regular season.
RECORDS IN DIVISION GAMES RECORDS IN HOME GAMES
Rk. Coach W L T Pct. Rk. Coach W L Pct.
1. Jim Fassel 22 9 1 .703 1. Mike Holmgren 59 13 .819
2. George Seifert 47 21 0 .691 2. George Seifert 61 19 .763
3. Mike Shanahan 40 20 0 .667 3. Mike Shanahan 43 15 .741
4. Tom Coughlin 34 18 0 .654 4. Tony Dungy 29 11 .725
5. Mike Holmgren 46 26 0 .639 5. Steve Mariucci 23 9 .719
6. Jeff Fisher 32 19 0 .627 6. Tom Coughlin 34 14 .708
7. Bill Cowher 41 29 0 .585 7. Bill Cowher 51 22 .699
8. Steve Mariucci 19 14 0 .576
JACKSONVILLE-CAROLINA CONNECTIONS: The Panthers have two former Jaguars on their roster: DT Harry Deligianis (fourth-round draft choice in 1998) and RB Chad Dukes (two games in 2000) … The Jaguars have two players from the state of North Carolina: WR Alvis Whitted (Hillsborough and North Carolina State) and LB Troy Pelshak (Charlotte and North Carolina A&T) … The Panthers have 11 players from the state of Florida: RB Dee Brown (Lake Brantley), WR Anthony Bright (Starke, Valencia C.C., Jacksonville Tomcats), DE Derrick Chambers (University of Florida), C Jeff Mitchell (University of Florida), LB Dan Morgan (Coral Springs, University of Miami), LB John Reeves (Bradenton), LB Cameron Saulsby (Orlando), OT Chris Terry (Jacksonville, Ribault High School), WR Jim Turner (Jacksonville, Bishop Kenny High School), QB Chris Wienke (Florida State) and OL Louis Williams (Fort Walton Beach).
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: The Jaguars are in their second full week of training camp. Practice times this week are as follows: Monday: 8:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m.; Tuesday: 3:40 p.m.; Wednesday: 8:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m.; Thursday: closed walk-through at stadium. Player interviews are from 11:00 to 12:15 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel. Practices are held at Ferrell Practice Fields adjacent to ALLTEL Stadium. Check with the Jaguars' Communications office (633-6000) to schedule interviews.
NEXT WEEK: The Jaguars will make their first road trip of the 2001 preseason when they fly to New Jersey to face the New York Giants at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 16 at Giants Stadium. It will be the sixth preseason meeting between the two teams, with Jacksonville holding a 3-2 lead in the series. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and will feature for the first time the use of an overhead camera during the game. The Giants were the NFC champions in 2000 before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.
NEW FACES: Here's a quick look at the Jaguars' six new veteran players who are on the 2001 training camp roster:
CB Kory Blackwell- Second-year player who has spent time with the Giants, Browns, 49ers and Raiders, playing in five games for New York in 1998. He has also had two stints in the NFL Europe League.
G LeShun Daniels - A second-year guard, Daniels spent the second half of the 1997 season with the Vikings, was on their practice squad in '98 and has been allocated twice to the NFL Europe League.
WR Sean Dawkins - An eight-year veteran, Dawkins has started 106 games during his career, catching 435 passes for 6,057 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Colts, Saints and Seahawks. A former first-round draft choice, he provides the Jaguars with possibly their best No. 3 receiver in team history, as he will back up Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.
WR Damon Gibson - Signed to compete for the role of punt returner, Gibson was with the Jaguars during training camp a year ago. In 1998, he scored four touchdowns as a rookie for Cincinnati, three on receptions and one on a punt return.
LB Joe Wesley - A second-year player out of Louisiana State, Wesley spent the 1999 season and 2000 preseason with San Francisco. He played with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe along with Jonathan Quinn and James Watkins.
QB Ted White - A second-year player, White is the No. 4 quarterback on the Jaguars' roster. He was on Tampa Bay's practice squad all of the 2000 season and was a record-setting passer at Howard.
2001 POSITION ANALYSIS: Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Jaguars:
Quarterbacks (4) - Mark Brunell returns for his seventh season with the Jaguars. In 2000, he started all 16 games for the second time in his career. He completed 311 of 512 passes for 3,640 yards, numbers that were the second highest of his career, and passed for 20 touchdowns, tying his career high. The No. 6-ranked passer in NFL history, he is the only quarterback in the league who has rated among the top 11 in each of the last five seasons. He has a 51-33 record as a starting quarterback, the seventh-best percentage in the league. Vying for the No. 2 job are veterans Jamie Martin and Jonathan Quinn, who led the Berlin Thunder to the NFL Europe League title earlier this year. Martin was the Jaguars' backup in 2000, playing in five games and completing 22 of 33 passes for 307 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. Quinn started two games in 1998, his rookie season, but has not thrown a pass in a regular-season game since then. The three quarterbacks have combined for 95 of the 104 starts in franchise history (including playoff games). The fourth quarterback on the roster is Ted White, who spent last season on the Buccaneers' practice squad. Gone: Nobody.
Running Backs (8) - Fred Taylor is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, which is why Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin wants to keep Taylor healthy for a full season and in the lineup. In 2000, Taylor missed the first three games of the season with a knee injury, then went on to rush for 1,399 yards and score 14 touchdowns. His streak of nine consecutive 100-yard rushing games tied for the third-longest streak in NFL history but was snapped in the season finale when he was injured again. Now healthy again, Taylor holds 30 team records. Battling for the backup role are Stacey Mack and Shyrone Stith. Mack, a third-year pro out of Temple, started two games last season and rushed for 145 yards on 54 carries. Stith, who led the team in kickoff returns with a 23.8-yard average, played sparingly at running back as a rookie last year, gaining 55 yards on 22 carries. He was a seventh-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech who left college a year early. The fullback position is wide open, with three new players battling for the role as Taylor's lead blocker - Kevin Clemens (an Arena League player) and undrafted rookies Dustin McClintock and Patrick Washington. Gone: Daimon Shelton, Anthony Johnson
Wide Receivers (11) - Perhaps the deepest position on the team. Jimmy Smith, who has the most receptions (450) for the most yards (6,599) of any NFL receiver over the last five seasons, will start alongside Keenan McCardell, who has caught 406 balls for 5,283 yards in that time (ranking fifth and seventh, respectively). In 2000, McCardell led the team with 94 catches and his first 1,000-yard season since 1997, proving he still has a lot left. Smith had 91 receptions for a team-leading 1,213 yards in making the Pro Bowl for the fourth consecutive year. Sean Dawkins was the biggest veteran acquisition during the offseason. In eight years, the former first-rounder has caught 435 passes for 6,057 yards and 26 touchdowns. R. Jay Soward, the first-round draft choice a year ago, has had a stellar training camp so far but will miss the first four games of the regular season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. When he returns, he will compete for the No. 3 role, as well as return punts. Alvis Whitted had the finest season of his career in 2000, scoring three times on 13 receptions. A talented and speedy fourth-year player, he can also return kickoffs. Rounding out the competition are Damon Gibson, seventh-round draft choice Richmond Flowers, 2000 sixth-round draft pick Emanuel Smith, and undrafted rookie sleeper Randal Williams out of New Hampshire. Gone: Reggie Barlow
Tight Ends (5) - Kyle Brady realized his vast potential in 2000, when he doubled his career highs for both catches and yards (64 for 729). He is finally being recognized as one of the top tight ends in the league. Damon Jones, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury on the second play of the 2000 season, will slowly work back into the lineup as the No. 2 tight end. In 1999, he caught 19 balls for 221 yards and four TDs. Both Brady and Jones are excellent blockers, one reason why the Jaguars are the NFL's only team to rush for more than 2,000 yards each of the last three seasons. There is a battle for the third tight end between Ryan Neufeld, Lawrence Hart and Ryan Prince. Gone: Rich Griffith
Offensive Line (17) - When Fred Taylor was running for more than 100 yards in nine straight games last season, the offensive line was the key. A problem-area early in the 2000 season after being decimated by injuries, the line jelled over the second half of the season. Four starters return in 2000. Left tackle Tony Boselli has now completely healed from his 1999 ACL injury and is back in form as the NFL's best offensive lineman. He has been named to five straight Pro Bowls. Returning at left guard is Brad Meester, a 2000 second-round draft choice who started all 16 games and is being touted as a future Pro Bowler. Jeff Smith, who started the final 12 games at center last season, re-signed as an unrestricted free agent and mans the center position. An underrated sixth-year pro, he was a key to the team's resurgence in the second half of the 2000 season. The right side of the line isn't settled yet, depending on the development of second-round draft choice Maurice Williams, who is expected to start at right tackle. If that is the case - and Williams has played with the first unit all of training camp - veteran Zach Wiegert will start at right guard. Williams, the fourth offensive tackle drafted this year, is attempting to become the fourth Jaguar to start the opener on the offensive line (joining Boselli and Brian DeMarco in 1995 and Meester last year). Wiegert, a seventh-year pro who won the 1994 Outland Trophy at Nebraska, has started 20 games for the Jaguars over the last two seasons at both guard and tackle. He tore his left ACL in the eighth game last season and missed the rest of the year, but his rehab has gone well. Among the backups are tackles Gannon Shepherd and Mark Baniewicz and guards Aaron Koch and sixth-rounder Chad Ward, who has looked impressive in camp. Center John Wade, who has 22 starts in his first three seasons, suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in June and has been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list. He will be out until at least September. Gone: Leon Searcy, Brenden Stai, Todd Fordham, Quentin Neujahr
Defensive Line (14) - In the last five years, only three teams have allowed fewer than the 50 rushing touchdowns given up by Jacksonville, and the line should be improved this season with the addition of No. 1 draft pick Marcus Stroud, a defensive tackle from Georgia. Stroud is working with the second team in training camp but is expected either to start or see heavy play in the rotation with veterans Gary Walker and Seth Payne. Stroud was the 13th overall pick in this year's draft. Walker is a physical run-stopper who can also rush the passer, as evidenced by his 15 sacks in two seasons with the Jaguars. Payne has started the last two seasons, posting a career-high 74 tackles in 2000. At end, Tony Brackens and Renaldo Wynn return. Brackens is one of the top pass rushers in the game and had missed only five games in five seasons. The leading sacker in Jaguars history, he owns team records for forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and takeaways. Wynn had his finest season in 2000, once he was settled in at left end (he had started at the other three defensive line positions during his first three seasons). Wynn has 47 starts in his career and had a personal-best 3.5 sacks in 2000. Depth will be provided by youngsters Rob Meier and Paul Spicer, both of whom impressed Tom Coughlin in limited play in 2000. Third-year pro Larry Smith has moved from defensive tackle to end and will also see plenty of time in the rotation. Gone: Joel Smeenge, Emarlos Leroy
Linebackers (12) - The Hardy Boys - Kevin Hardy and Hardy Nickerson return, but there will be a new starter at weakside linebacker. Hardy, an All-Pro selection in 1999, has moved back to strongside linebacker, the position he held his first two seasons. The team's leading tackler the last three seasons, he has 23 sacks, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles in five years. Nickerson, a free-agent acquisition who played in only six games in 2000 because of hamstring and knee injuries, has vowed a complete return. One of the league's leading tacklers for the last decade, Nickerson did make 75 tackles in his six starts. He returns for his 15th season. There is a battle at weakside linebacker between T.J. Slaughter, who started six games at middle linebacker last year, and third-round draft choice Eric Westmoreland. Slaughter, a second-round pick a year ago, is one of only four Jaguars to make more than 100 tackles as a rookie and is a fierce tackler against the run. However, he has not played weakside linebacker since his sophomore season at Southern Mississippi. Westmoreland, who has been compared to former Minnesota Viking Ed McDaniel, was a three-year starter at Tennessee. The top backup at strongside linebacker is Danny Clark, who led the team in special teams tackles as a rookie in 2000. Gone: Lonnie Marts, Brant Boyer, Erik Storz
Defensive Backs (16) - Carnell Lake returns at free safety after missing the entire 2000 season with a stress fracture in his left foot. A five-time Pro Bowler and the leader of the Jacksonville secondary, Lake was voted to the Pro Bowl the last time he was healthy - 1999, his first season with the Jaguars. Donovin Darius will start at strong safety for the fourth season. He has led the team's secondary in tackles each of his three years, and he has started all 46 games in which he has played. For the third straight year, the cornerbacks will be Aaron Beasley and Fernando Bryant. A sixth-year pro and the team's single-season and career interception leader, Beasley mans the right side. He turned in five sacks last season, tied for third among NFL defensive backs. Bryant, who was named to every All-Rookie team in 1999, plays left cornerback and excels in man coverage. Vying for the nickel back position are corners Jason Craft and Kiwaukee Thomas, both of whom held that job for parts of 2000. Both players are former fifth-round draft choices (Craft in 1999 and Thomas in 2000). Rookies James Boyd and Marlon McCree are also pushing for playing time. Boyd, a third-round draft choice, will be the backup free safety and eventual replacement for Lake. Gone: Mike Logan, Rayna Stewart
Kickers (4) - Mike Hollis is back for his seventh season. The third-most-accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, he has led the Jaguars in scoring all six seasons and is one of only four NFL kickers with more than 100 points each of the last five years. Hollis had perhaps his finest year in 2000, when he was forced to miss four games in September and October after undergoing in-season back surgery. he returned to kick 24 field goals in 26 attempts. For the first time, the punter will be new. Fifth-rounder David Leaverton out of Tennessee and first-year player Aron Langley are battling for the job. Leaverton, the second punter drafted this year, is the favorite, and he might also handle kickoffs if he can replace Jim Tarle. Hollis' snapper and holder will be new this year. Seventh-round draft choice Randy Chevrier is manning the No. 1 job at both short and long snapper during training camp. At holder, the competition is between Leaverton, Langley, Jamie Martin and Jonathan Quinn. Gone: Bryan Barker
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2000 SEASON: - Finished fourth in the AFC Central Division with a 7-9 record - Are one of only four teams that have been in the playoffs four of the last five seasons, joining Minnesota (5), and Miami (4) and Denver (4) - Won four of eight games at ALLTEL Stadium, where they have never had a losing season. In six years, they are 34-14 at home - Won three games on the road - Won five of 10 games in the division - The franchise's six-year record in the regular season moves to 56-40 - The offense ranked 7th in the NFL in yards gained (10th rushing, 9th passing) - The defense ranked 12th in the NFL in yards allowed (11th rushing, 14th passing) - Scored 367 points (22.9 per game), the most in the AFC Central Division - Had two receivers with more than 90 receptions and 1,200 yards - Keenan McCardell (94, 1,207) and Jimmy Smith (91, 1,213) - Finished with 2,032 rushing yards, third most in team history and 70 shy of the team record - Averaged 60,314 in attendance in 2000, and average 67,306 in six seasons
FINAL 2000 AFC CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS: The Jaguars finished the 2000 regular season with a 7-9 record and in fourth place.
THE TEAL IS REAL . . . In the last four seasons, the Jaguars' record is tied for the second best in the NFL, two games behind the Minnesota Vikings and tied with the Denver Broncos. The Jaguars have won 43 of their last 64 regular-season games (they also won their final five games in 1996). Here's a look at the league's best records since 1997:
Team 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total
1. Minnesota Vikings 9-7 15-1 10-6 11-5 45-19
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 11-5 11-5 14-2 7-9 43-21
Denver Broncos 12-4 14-2 6-10 11-5 43-21
4. Tennessee Titans 8-8 8-8 13-3 13-3 42-22
5. Green Bay Packers 13-3 11-5 8-8 9-7 41-23
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-6 8-8 11-5 10-6 39-25
7. New York Jets 9-7 12-4 8-8 9-7 38-26
8. Kansas City Chiefs 13-3 7-9 9-7 7-9 36-28
9. San Francisco 49ers 13-3 12-4 4-12 6-10 35-29
Buffalo Bills 6-10 10-6 11-5 8-8 35-29
. . . WITH THE THIRD-BEST RECORD AT HOME . . . The Jaguars went 7-1 at ALLTEL Stadium from 1996 to '99 and finished 4-4 this season, giving them a 32-8 record for the third-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 33 of their last 41 home games dating back to December 24, 1995, in their inaugural season.
. . . AND THE BEST RECORD ON THE ROAD . . . The Jaguars are tied with 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 20-14 record away from home during that time (they have also won two postseason road games since 1996). Their 7-1 road record in 1999 was the best in the league and they have won 16 of their last 26 games away from home. The Jaguars' all-time regular-season road record is 22-26.
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 fifth (Smith missed one game and most of three others in 2000). The two receivers are close friends, with McCardell nicknamed "Thunder" and Smith called "Lightning." Smith was the NFL leader in 1999 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 486 career receptions, while Smith has 472. Here are the leading receivers since 1996:
Rk. Player, team 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 TOTAL
1. Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville 83 82 78 #116 91 450
2. Cris Carter, Minnesota 96 89 78 90 96 449
3. Tim Brown, Oakland 90 #104 81 90 76 441
4. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis 64 73 59 115 #102 413
5. Keenan McCardell, Jacksonville 85 85 64 78 94 406
6. Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ/T.B. 63 70 83 89 71 376
7. Antonio Freeman, Green bay 56 81 84 74 62 357
8. Herman Moore, Detroit 106 #104 82 16 41 349
9. Rod Smith, Denver 16 70 86 79 100 351
10. Johnnie Morton, Detroit 55 80 69 80 61 345
11. Isaac Bruce, St. Louis 84 56 32 77 87 336
12. Wayne Chrebet, N.Y. Jets 84 58 75 48 69 334
13. Ed McCaffrey, Denver 48 45 64 71 101 329
14. Terrell Owens, San Francisco 35 60 67 60 97 319
15. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina 25 27 68 96 #102 318
# NFL leader
... AND SMITH LEADS ALL RECEIVERS IN YARDAGE: Over the last five seasons, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has amassed more receiving yardage than any receiver in the NFL, and teammate Keenan McCardell is seventh. Here's a quick look at the NFL's top receiving-yardage leaders since 1996:
RK. Player TEAM 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 TOTAL
1. Jimmy Smith Jacksonville 1,244 1,324 1,182 1,636 1,213 6,599
2. Tim Brown Oakland 1,104 1,408 1,012 1,344 1,128 5,992
3. Cris Carter Minnesota 1,163 1,069 1,011 1,241 1,274 5,758
4. Antonio Freeman Green Bay 933 1,243 #1,424 1,074 912 5,586
5. Marvin Harrison Indianapolis 836 866 776 #1,663 1,413 5,554
6. Derrick Alexander Balt./K.C. 1,099 1,009 992 832 1,391 5,323
7. Keenan McCardell Jacksonville 1,129 1,164 892 891 1,207 5,283
8. Rod Smith Denver 237 1,180 1,222 1,020 #1,602 5,261
9. Isaac Bruce St. Louis 1,338 815 457 1,165 1,471 5,246
10. Keyshawn Johnson NYJ/T.B. 844 963 1,131 1,170 874 4,982
11. Terrell Owens San Francisco 520 936 1,097 754 1,451 4,758
12. Johnnie Morton Detroit 714 1,057 1,028 1,129 788 4,716
13. Tony Martin S.D./Atl./Mia. 1,171 904 1,181 1,037 393 4,686
14. Ed McCaffrey Denver 553 590 1,053 1,018 1,317 4,531
15. Terry Glenn New England 1,132 431 792 1,147 963 4,465
# NFL leader
SMITH AND McCARDELL SET NFL RECORD: Jaguars WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell set an NFL record on November 12, 2000 vs. Seattle when they both had 100 yards receiving in the same game for the eighth time (the record has since been tied by Minnesota's Cris Carter and Randy Moss). 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. Here's a look at the eight 100-yard games by the Smith/McCardell tandem:
Date Opponent Smith/McCardell Receptions-Yards
Nov. 24, 1996 at Baltimore Smith 8-131, McCardell 9-107
Nov. 23, 1997 at Cincinnati McCardell 8-109, Smith 5-106
Sept. 20, 1998 vs. Baltimore Smith 2-116, McCardell 8-108
Oct. 25, 1998 at Denver Smith 8-121, McCardell 9-113
Nov. 28, 1999 at Baltimore Smith 10-132, McCardell 8-102
Dec. 2, 1999 vs. Pittsburgh Smith 10-124, McCardell 5-113
Jan. 2, 2000 vs. Cincinnati Smith 14-165, McCardell 9-108
Nov. 12, 2000 vs. Seattle McCardell 6-156, Smith 10-117
THE ORIGINAL THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: Jaguars WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell are only the sixth tandem in NFL history to each have 1,000 yards receiving in the same season three different years. Here's the list:
Players Team Times Years
Cris Carter and Jake Reed Minnesota 4 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell Jacksonville 3 1996, 1997, 2000
Cris Carter and Randy Moss Minnesota 3 1998, 1999, 2000
Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey Denver 3 1998, 1999, 2000
Art Monk and Gary Clark Washington 3 1986, 1989, 1991
Mark Clayton and Mark Duper Miami 3 1984, 1986, 1991
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). In 2000, Hollis was successful on 24 of his 26 attempts (a career-high 92.3%), giving him a career accuracy mark of 83.07, although he fell behind Miami's Olindo Mare on October 29. Mare held the No. 1 position for two weeks until being passed by Green Bay's Ryan Longwell.
BRUNELL HAS SEVENTH-BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell has the seventh-best career winning percentage of active quarterbacks (minimum 20 wins).
(regular season only, minimum 20 wins)
QUARTERBACK, TEAM W L T PCT.
Kurt Warner, St. Louis 21 6 0 .778
Doug Flutie, San Diego 30 14 0 .682
Brad Johnson, Washington 32 17 0 .653
Brett Favre, Green Bay 91 50 0 .645
Steve McNair, Tennessee 41 23 0 .641
Randall Cunningham, Dallas 81 52 1 .608
Mark Brunell, Jacksonville 51 33 0 .607
Elvis Grbac, Baltimore 32 24 0 .571
Brunell's TOUCHDOWN TARGETS: Mark Brunell has thrown 106 TD passes in six seasons in Jacksonville. Here are the 17 players who have caught them: Jimmy Smith (30), Keenan McCardell (21), Damon Jones (10), Willie Jackson (10), Pete Mitchell (7), James Stewart (5), Fred Taylor (4), Ernest Givins (3), Cedric Tillman (3), Alvis Whitted (3), Kyle Brady (3), Andre Rison (2), Derek Brown (1), Ty Hallock (1), Desmond Howard (1), Natrone Means (1) and R. Jay Soward (1).
