- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,217,049
- Reaction score
- 59
Wait, is a Seattle player trying to jump into the stands?
That was my instant reaction/question on Dec. 10, 2017, during the chaotic ending to a Seahawks-Jaguars game that featured brilliant play-making until dissolving into a gong show.
Over two Blake Bortles kneel-downs to cap the Jaguars’ 30-24 win, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett dove at the knees of center Brandon Linder to set off a brawl that included one ejection (Seattle defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson for throwing punches at Linder and running back Leonard Fournette). After the second play, Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was ejected.
And then the mayhem really started.
“Somebody got in a fight with the fans at the end of the game,” said Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, who was a rookie in 2017.
Jefferson jogged off the field and into the tunnel leading to the Seattle locker room when a bottle flew over his head. He stopped, removed his helmet and approached fans. He was yelling at one fan when another bottle flew out of the stands. After a third bottle nearly hit him, Jefferson tried to scale the wall and got both hands on the top railing before he was pulled back by security.
Seahawks and Jaguars players/coaches were fined a combined $84,693 for the brouhahas. Three months later, the Jaguars banned two fans.
Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff is Seattle’s first visit to Jacksonville since that game. And what a game it was. Both teams were 8-4. The start time was flexed to 4:25 p.m. The game-time temperature was 54 degrees (coldest in seven years). And the teams combined for 825 yards and touchdown passes of 75, 61 and 74 yards.
During my first tour with the Times-Union (September 2012-May 2018), it was the best home-game atmosphere I covered, including the wild-card playoff win over Buffalo in January 2018.
“That was a crazy game,” Smoot said of Seahawks-Jaguars. “It set the standard for what our team was going to be. It really was a defining moment.”
The win was a part of a 7-1 stretch for the Jaguars, who advanced to the AFC Championship game. The loss sent Seattle into a season-ending 1-3 slump that cost it a sixth consecutive playoff berth.
Let’s hope for similar drama on the field Sunday minus the player-vs.-fan confrontations.
1. No award for Lloyd: The Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd set an NFL linebacker record against Kansas City with his 99-yard interception return touchdown, but it wasn’t good enough to repeat as AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto won the award after four tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in the Broncos’ win at Philadelphia.
Lloyd’s four interceptions lead the NFL and are tied for the most by a linebacker through five games with Tampa Bay’s Derrick Brooks in 2002 and Buffalo’s Kiko Alonso in 2013.
2. Respect for Kupp: In his first two NFL seasons, Jaguars coach Liam Coen, as the Los Angeles Rams’ assistant receivers coach, worked closely with Cooper Kupp, now in his first year with Seattle.
“Definitely more than just a player-coach relationship,” Coen said. “I learned so much more from him and guys like (quarterback) Matthew (Stafford) than I think I could have ever given them as a coach. … (Kupp) is the smartest football player, him and Matthew, I have ever truly worked with for an extended period of time.”
3. One-possession success: The Jaguars went 3-10 in one-possession games (margin of eight or fewer points) last year, but are 3-1 this year (loss at Cincinnati and wins vs. Houston, at San Francisco and vs. Kansas City). Through five weeks, the best close-game teams were Pittsburgh (3-0) and Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and San Francisco (all 4-1).
More: Trading for Greg Newsome is James Gladstone's way of telling Jaguars he's in it to win it| Ryan O'Halloran
4. Trade data: Since the start of training camp, the Jaguars have executed four trades to acquire defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, receiver Tim Patrick and cornerback Greg Newsome II, already the most in team history for the date range of training camp to the trade deadline.
The previous high was 2020 and 2023 (three trades apiece). In the first 15 years of the franchise, the Jaguars executed 12 combined trades from the start of camp to the deadline; in the last 16 years, they have made a combined 28 trades.
Florida at Texas A&M: Gators coach Billy Napier is 4-11 on the road, including 0-9 against ranked teams (not counting the Georgia neutral-site game). Need any further explanation for my pick? Texas A&M 20-14.
Pittsburgh at Florida State: Hopefully the Seminoles saved some of their good plays from last week’s fourth quarter when they majored in empty-calorie yards and points. FSU 34-24.
Indiana at Oregon: Best game of the day so hopefully the Hoosiers can hang with the Ducks, who were last seen winning at Penn State in overtime. Oregon 40-27.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas): Who’s up for some deep-fried Oreos, corn dogs and every other carnival food that is delicious? Plenty of UT and OU fans, that’s who. Oklahoma 28-23.
Record: 2-2 last week (16-10 season).
Seattle at Jaguars: Split the next two games and the Jaguars will be in good shape at their bye (5-2) and positioned to add more reinforcements. Seattle 27-24.
Top game — San Francisco at Tampa Bay: A matchup of 4-1 teams that was flexed into the 4:25 p.m. window. I’ll watch any game involving Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay 35-30.
Upset — Detroit at Kansas City: The Lions are a 2 1/2-point underdog. Stick a fork in the Chiefs, who would fall to 2-4. Detroit 27-20.
Lock —Denver vs. N.Y. Jets (London): The 0-5 Jets will win a game, but it won’t be Sunday and I don’t know when it will be. Broncos 30-13.
Record: 1-3 last week (10-10 season).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Seahawks' last trip to Jaguars in 2017 was wild from start-to-finish
Continue reading...
That was my instant reaction/question on Dec. 10, 2017, during the chaotic ending to a Seahawks-Jaguars game that featured brilliant play-making until dissolving into a gong show.
Over two Blake Bortles kneel-downs to cap the Jaguars’ 30-24 win, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett dove at the knees of center Brandon Linder to set off a brawl that included one ejection (Seattle defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson for throwing punches at Linder and running back Leonard Fournette). After the second play, Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was ejected.
And then the mayhem really started.
“Somebody got in a fight with the fans at the end of the game,” said Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, who was a rookie in 2017.
Jefferson jogged off the field and into the tunnel leading to the Seattle locker room when a bottle flew over his head. He stopped, removed his helmet and approached fans. He was yelling at one fan when another bottle flew out of the stands. After a third bottle nearly hit him, Jefferson tried to scale the wall and got both hands on the top railing before he was pulled back by security.
You must be registered for see images attach
Seahawks and Jaguars players/coaches were fined a combined $84,693 for the brouhahas. Three months later, the Jaguars banned two fans.
Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff is Seattle’s first visit to Jacksonville since that game. And what a game it was. Both teams were 8-4. The start time was flexed to 4:25 p.m. The game-time temperature was 54 degrees (coldest in seven years). And the teams combined for 825 yards and touchdown passes of 75, 61 and 74 yards.
During my first tour with the Times-Union (September 2012-May 2018), it was the best home-game atmosphere I covered, including the wild-card playoff win over Buffalo in January 2018.
“That was a crazy game,” Smoot said of Seahawks-Jaguars. “It set the standard for what our team was going to be. It really was a defining moment.”
The win was a part of a 7-1 stretch for the Jaguars, who advanced to the AFC Championship game. The loss sent Seattle into a season-ending 1-3 slump that cost it a sixth consecutive playoff berth.
Let’s hope for similar drama on the field Sunday minus the player-vs.-fan confrontations.
About the Jaguars
1. No award for Lloyd: The Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd set an NFL linebacker record against Kansas City with his 99-yard interception return touchdown, but it wasn’t good enough to repeat as AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto won the award after four tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in the Broncos’ win at Philadelphia.
Lloyd’s four interceptions lead the NFL and are tied for the most by a linebacker through five games with Tampa Bay’s Derrick Brooks in 2002 and Buffalo’s Kiko Alonso in 2013.
2. Respect for Kupp: In his first two NFL seasons, Jaguars coach Liam Coen, as the Los Angeles Rams’ assistant receivers coach, worked closely with Cooper Kupp, now in his first year with Seattle.
“Definitely more than just a player-coach relationship,” Coen said. “I learned so much more from him and guys like (quarterback) Matthew (Stafford) than I think I could have ever given them as a coach. … (Kupp) is the smartest football player, him and Matthew, I have ever truly worked with for an extended period of time.”
3. One-possession success: The Jaguars went 3-10 in one-possession games (margin of eight or fewer points) last year, but are 3-1 this year (loss at Cincinnati and wins vs. Houston, at San Francisco and vs. Kansas City). Through five weeks, the best close-game teams were Pittsburgh (3-0) and Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and San Francisco (all 4-1).
More: Trading for Greg Newsome is James Gladstone's way of telling Jaguars he's in it to win it| Ryan O'Halloran
4. Trade data: Since the start of training camp, the Jaguars have executed four trades to acquire defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, receiver Tim Patrick and cornerback Greg Newsome II, already the most in team history for the date range of training camp to the trade deadline.
The previous high was 2020 and 2023 (three trades apiece). In the first 15 years of the franchise, the Jaguars executed 12 combined trades from the start of camp to the deadline; in the last 16 years, they have made a combined 28 trades.
You must be registered for see images
Quick hits
- The Jaguars’ 14-point comeback against Kansas City was one of four such rallies in Week 5, tied with Week 13 of 2013 for the most in a single week in NFL history. Tennessee (18), Carolina (17) and Denver (14) also had big comebacks.
- Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, the NHL’s best player, took a page from the best NFL player of all time (Tom Brady) in accepting a below-market contract. McDavid, who was a thrill to watch in the 2022 Western Conference Final when I was on Colorado Avalanche duty for The Denver Post, signed a two-year extension for an average of $12.5 million, well below the $17 million average signed by Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov.
- Hey, the NCAA did something right, approving one transfer portal for football (Jan. 2-16) and for players whose team has a coaching change, they can’t enter the portal until five days after the new coach is hired; the window previously opened as soon as their old coach left.
- We finally have a tip time for Miami-Florida men’s basketball in downtown Jacksonville on Nov. 16 (8:30 p.m.). The Jaguars host the Los Angeles Chargers at 1 p.m. so the late Canes-Gators start accounts for a possible flex to 4:05 or 4:25 p.m.
- Jeff Sims, the Jacksonville native who attended Sandalwood High, could start for Arizona State against Utah if Sam Leavitt is unavailable. Sims, 23, played three years at Georgia Tech, one at Nebraska and is in his second at ASU (8-18 career record).
Saturday selections
Florida at Texas A&M: Gators coach Billy Napier is 4-11 on the road, including 0-9 against ranked teams (not counting the Georgia neutral-site game). Need any further explanation for my pick? Texas A&M 20-14.
Pittsburgh at Florida State: Hopefully the Seminoles saved some of their good plays from last week’s fourth quarter when they majored in empty-calorie yards and points. FSU 34-24.
Indiana at Oregon: Best game of the day so hopefully the Hoosiers can hang with the Ducks, who were last seen winning at Penn State in overtime. Oregon 40-27.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas): Who’s up for some deep-fried Oreos, corn dogs and every other carnival food that is delicious? Plenty of UT and OU fans, that’s who. Oklahoma 28-23.
Record: 2-2 last week (16-10 season).
Sunday selections
Seattle at Jaguars: Split the next two games and the Jaguars will be in good shape at their bye (5-2) and positioned to add more reinforcements. Seattle 27-24.
Top game — San Francisco at Tampa Bay: A matchup of 4-1 teams that was flexed into the 4:25 p.m. window. I’ll watch any game involving Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay 35-30.
Upset — Detroit at Kansas City: The Lions are a 2 1/2-point underdog. Stick a fork in the Chiefs, who would fall to 2-4. Detroit 27-20.
Lock —Denver vs. N.Y. Jets (London): The 0-5 Jets will win a game, but it won’t be Sunday and I don’t know when it will be. Broncos 30-13.
Record: 1-3 last week (10-10 season).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Seahawks' last trip to Jaguars in 2017 was wild from start-to-finish
Continue reading...
