JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 2005 NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Hunter Robinson, Ryan Robinson, Alisa Abbott, Dan Edwards (904) 633-6000 FAX (904) 633-6055 www.jaguars.com January 21, 2006 JAGUARS FINISH WITH 12-4 MARK; ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1999
TEAM FINISHES WITH SECOND-BEST MARK IN CLUB HISTORY; TOP MARK UNDER HEAD COACH JACK DEL RIO
2005 IN REVIEW: The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Jaguars won eight of their last nine games and were one of only four NFL teams with 12-plus wins in 2005. The Jaguars were defeated by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 7 in an AFC Wild Card game. The Jaguars locked up their playoff bid with a win at Houston on December 24 as the club registered a season-high 448 yards of total offense. Starting quarterback Byron Leftwich missed the last five regular season games after suffering a fractured left ankle at Arizona on Nov. 27, but returned as a starter in the playoff game. David Garrard stepped up in Leftwich’s absence and led the club to a 4- 1 record. Veteran Jimmy Smith led the young receiving corps with 70 receptions for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns. The Jaguars defense ranked third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL as they allowed 290.9 yards per game. The NFL ranking is tied for the second-highest defensive ranking in team history. The Jaguars forced 28 turnovers and finished sixth in the NFL with a plus-11 turnover differential, the highest mark under head coach Jack Del Rio. The club recorded 47 sacks (3rd in the NFL) and 19 interceptions (tied for most in team history) and allowed the second-fewest points (269, 16.8 avg) in team history. Linebacker Mike Peterson registered a career-high 190 tackles and six sacks along with three interceptions.
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS