Jacksonville had one of the best finishes in the NFL last season. The Jaguars also had one of the easiest schedules last season.
Of their last 10 games, of which they won eight, only one came against a team that finished with a winning record (Indianapolis). And the Jags lost that game. So it was difficult for anyone outside of Jacksonville to get fully excited about them as a legitimate contender.
But don’t forget that early last season, the Jags beat Pittsburgh, Seattle and Cincinnati. Anyone remember how their seasons turned out?
Last week, the Jags opened with a win over Dallas, though the Cowboys blew achance to take a 17-0 lead, in which case the game likely would have had a different ending.
Still, the Jags pulled it out. And they’re acutely aware of how they are perceived outside of their home city.
“Maybe it’s because we don’t have that one person that talks a lot or gets into trouble that brings attention,” quarterback Byron Leftwich said.
Certainly, a win over Pittsburgh would force the country to pay closer attention to the Jaguars. They have a quality defense, led by massive tackles Marcus Stroud (6-foot-6, 312 pounds) and John Henderson (6-7, 328 pounds). They have a solid quarterback in Leftwich and a talented, though brittle, running back in Fred Taylor.
The Steelers, though, are a bit tested. Regardless of starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s status following his Sept. 3 appendectomy, they’re a confident bunch. That stems from winning a Super Bowl, of course; and don’t forget — they won three road playoff games. They won’t crumble without a key starter. Against Miami in the opener, the Steelers made the right play at the right time.
Backup Charlie Batch threw three touchdown passes and wasn’t intercepted against a good Miami defense. Running back Willie Parker continues to emerge as an outside threat.
What also hurts Jacksonville is the loss of defensive end Reggie Hayward, who led the Jags with 8½ sacks last year, to a season-ending ruptured left Achilles’ tendon injury.
