The first shutout in franchise history, Fred Taylor’s career-high game at Three Rivers, and more
Last offseason, I asked on Twitter and Facebook what you consider the Jaguars’ best season. After reading your responses, I highlighted the 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, and 2017 seasons. With the Jacksonville Jaguars entering their 30th season this year, I thought now would be a good time to revisit the rest of their seasons, last week we looked at the 1998 season, so let’s continue with the 2000 season.
During the 2000 NFL Draft, the Jaguars selected (in order): WR R. Jay Soward, C Brad Meester, LB T.J. Slaughter, OT Joey Chustz, DB Kiwaukee Thomas, WR Emanuel Smith, DB Erik Olson, DT Rob Meier, RB Shyrone Stith, LB Danny Clark, and OT Mark Baniewicz.
The team was coached by Tom Coughlin and finished the season fourth in the AFC Central Division with a 7-9 regular season record. The defense ran a 4-3 alignment. The Jaguars ended the preseason with a record of 3-1. Alltel Stadium averaged 60,314 attendees per game and had a season total of 482,510 attendees.
Week 1: Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 3, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 27 – Browns 7
Attendance: 72,418
Jimmy Smith, Stacey Mack, and Chris Howard scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 24 out of 34 attempted passes for 301 yards. Stacey Mack led the team with 74 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 115 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 24.00 yards in kickoff returns and 5.67 yards in punt returns. Steve Lindsey punted three times for 117 yards, and Mike Hollis made the two attempted field goals. Tony Brackens and Renaldo Wynn recorded sacks. Hardy Nickerson led the team with six tackles.
Week 2: Baltimore Ravens at PSINet Stadium on September 10, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 36 – Ravens 39
Attendance: 68,843
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Jimmy Smith scored all three touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 28 out of 50 attempted passes for 386 yards. Stacey Mack led the team with 36 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 291 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 30.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 5.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted three times for 114 yards, and Mike Hollis made the five attempted field goals. Rayna Stewart had two interceptions. Renaldo Wynn, Tony Brackens, and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks. Hardy Nickerson led the team with nine tackles.
Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals at Alltel Stadium on September 17, 2000
Final score: Bengals 0 – Jaguars 13
Attendance: 45,653
The first shutout in franchise history! Keenan McCardell scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 20 out of 32 attempted passes for 176 yards. Stacey Mack led the team with 35 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 108 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 22.00 yards in kickoff returns and 13.33 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted seven times for 296 yards, and Steve Lindsey made two out of three attempted field goals. Hardy Nickerson and Aaron Beasley had interceptions. Hardy Nickerson, Gary Walker, Tony Brackens, and Joel Smeenge recorded sacks. Hardy Nickerson, Donovin Darius, and Kiwaukee Thomas led the team with six tackles each.
Week 4: Indianapolis Colts at RCA Dome on September 25, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 14 – Colts 43
Attendance: 56,816
Jimmy Smith scored both touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 21 out of 36 attempted passes for 229 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 57 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 132 receiving yards. Stacey Mack averaged 21.50 yards in kickoff returns, and R. Jay Soward averaged 10.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted nine times for 389 yards. Fernando Bryant and Hardy Nickerson led the team with seven tackles each.
Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Alltel Stadium on October 1, 2000
Final score: Steelers 24 – Jaguars 13
Attendance: 64,351
Keenan McCardell scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 15 out of 32 attempted passes for 137 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 24 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 137 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 30.33 yards in kickoff returns, and R. Jay Soward averaged 9.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted four times for 300 yards, and Steve Lindsey made both attempted field goals. Fernando Bryant had an interception. Aaron Beasley recorded two sacks. Kevin Hardy led the team with nine tackles.
Week 6: Baltimore Ravens at Alltel Stadium on October 8, 2000
Final score: Ravens 15 – Jaguars 10
Attendance: 65,194
Fred Taylor scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 18 out of 28 attempted passes for 167 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 54 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 95 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 25.00 yards in kickoff returns, and R. Jay Soward averaged 6.33 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 190 yards, and Steve Lindsey made one out of two attempted field goals. Aaron Beasley recorded two sacks. Kevin Hardy and Mike Logan led the team with six tackles each.
Week 7: Tennessee Titans at Adelphia Coliseum on October 16, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 13 – Titans 27
Attendance: 68,498
Anthony Johnson scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 18 out of 27 attempted passes for 196 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 112 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 64 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 26.75 yards in kickoff returns, and R. Jay Soward averaged 12.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 223 yards, and Mike Hollis made both attempted field goals. Donovin Darius led the team with 12 tackles.
Week 8: Washington at Alltel Stadium on October 22, 2000
Final score: Washington 35 – Jaguars 16
Attendance: 69,061
R. Jay Soward scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 21 out of 42 attempted passes for 271 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 124 rushing yards, and Kyle Brady led with 111 receiving yards. Reggie Barlow averaged 27.00 yards in kickoff returns and 6.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 240 yards, and Mike Hollis made all three attempted field goals. Mike Logan had an interception, and T.J. Slaughter led the team with ten tackles.
Week 9: Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on October 29, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 23 – Cowboys 17
Attendance: 63,554
Kyle Brady and Alvis Whitted scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 20 out of 24 attempted passes for 231 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 107 rushing yards, and Kyle Brady led with 138 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 24.67 yards in kickoff returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 218 yards, and Mike Hollis made one out of two attempted field goals. Donovin Darius had an interception. Paul Spicer and Aaron Beasley recorded sacks. Mike Logan led the team with nine tackles.
Week 10: Bye Week
Week 11: Seattle Seahawks at Alltel Stadium on November 12, 2000
Final score: Seahawks 28 – Jaguars 21
Attendance: 68,063
Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor, and Keenan McCardell scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 24 out of 33 attempted passes for 340 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 103 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 156 receiving yards. R. Jay Soward averaged 23.25 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 7.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted four times for 170 yards. Tony Brackens recorded a sack. Kevin Hardy, Gary Walker, Tony Brackens, and T.J. Slaughter led the team with seven tackles each.
Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on November 19, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 34 – Steelers 24
Attendance: 50,925
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Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Fred Taylor scored all four touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 17 out of 31 attempted passes for 190 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 234 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 85 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 22.80 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 3.50 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 214 yards, and Mike Hollis made both attempted field goals. Donovin Darius and Kevin Hardy had interceptions. Brant Boyer, Mike Logan, Gary Walker and Renaldo Wynn recorded sacks. Brant Boyer and Mike Logan led the team with seven tackles each.
Fred Taylor had a career game that broke both Steelers and Jaguars records. Taylor’s 234 rushing yards and four touchdowns with 30 carries were the most yards registered by an opponent in Three Rivers Stadium, and he became the leading rusher in Jaguars franchise history.
Week 13: Tennessee Titans at Alltel Stadium on November 26, 2000
Final score: Titans 13 – Jaguars 16
Attendance: 65,454
Fred Taylor scored the only touchdown. Mark Brunell completed 15 out of 25 attempted passes for 237 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 104 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 53 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 21.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 4.33 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted three times for 161 yards, and Mike Hollis made all three attempted field goals. Kevin Hardy and Tony Brackens recorded sacks. Donovin Darius led the team with eight tackles.
Week 14: Cleveland Browns at Alltel Stadium on December 3, 2000
Final score: Browns 0 – Jaguars 48
Attendance: 51,262
Fred Taylor, Keenan McCardell, Mark Brunell, and Shyrone Stith scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 15 out of 31 attempted passes for 165 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 181 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 104 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 25.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 10.67 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted five times for 196 yards, and Mike Hollis made both attempted field goals. Kevin Hardy, Donovin Darius, Rob Meier, Joel Smeenge, Tony Brackens, Brant Boyer, and Gary Walker recorded sacks. Kevin Hardy led the team with seven tackles.
Week 15: Arizona Cardinals at Alltel Stadium on December 10, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 44 – Cardinals 10
Attendance: 53,472
Fred Taylor, Kyle Brady, Keenan McCardell, and Jimmy Smith scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 13 out of 18 attempted passes for 182 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 137 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 147 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 18.00 yards in kickoff returns, and Keenan McCardell averaged 8.33 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted once for 55 yards, and Mike Hollis made all three attempted field goals. Brant Boyer had an interception. Gary Walker, Tony Brackens, and Brant Boyer recorded sacks. Jason Craft led the team with seven tackles.
Week 16: Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 17, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 14 – Bengals 17
Attendance: 50,469
Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 19 out of 28 attempted passes for 170 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 110 rushing yards, and Jimmy Smith led with 58 receiving yards. Shyrone Stith averaged 19.67 yards in kickoff returns, and Reggie Barlow averaged 3.00 yards in punt returns. Bryan Barker punted eight times for 231 yards, and Mike Hollis missed the attempted field goal. Mike Logan had an interception. Seth Payne, Joel Smeenge, and Tony Brackens recorded sacks. Seth Payne and Kevin Hardy led the team with six tackles each.
Week 17: New York Giants at Giants Stadium on December 23, 2000
Final score: Jaguars 25 – Giants 28
Attendance: 77,924
Fred Taylor, Kyle Brady, and Alvis Whitted scored touchdowns. Mark Brunell completed 23 out of 41 attempted passes for 262 yards. Fred Taylor led the team with 52 rushing yards, and Keenan McCardell led with 131 receiving yards. Jermaine Williams averaged 25.00 yards in kickoff returns. Bryan Barker punted seven times for 297 yards, and Mike Hollis made the attempted field goal. Tony Brackens had an interception. Kevin Hardy, Joel Smeenge, and Renaldo Wynn recorded sacks. Brant Boyer, T.J. Slaughter, Kevin Hardy, and Rayna Stewart led the team with seven tackles each.
Please share your memories from the Jaguars’ 2000 season with us in the comments.
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