Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville looked like a team on the rise coming off of their 12-4 season, and was considered a playoff contender entering the season. But injuries plagued the team. Reggie Hayward, Greg Jones, Donovin Darius, Byron Leftwich, and Mike Peterson all suffered season-ending injuries. Marcus Stroud, Matt Jones, Paul Spicer, and Fred Taylor also faced injuries during the season. The team started off 2-0, defeating the Dallas Cowboys earning the NFL’s highest winning percentage on opening days at .750 with a record of 9-3), and shutting out the defending champs Pittsburgh Steelers. But the team lost its next two games, and suffered embarrassing losses to the Houston Texans over the course of the season. (Surprisingly, Jacksonville has struggled against the Texans since Houston entered the league in 2002.) They missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record, but there were some positives. Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars’ second round draft pick, was one of the most surprising rookie sensations. He averaged 5.7 yards a carry, the highest in the league, and tied for 3rd in the NFL with 16 touchdowns.
