When the Jacksonville Jaguars’ home schedule was announced, most marked in a “W” next to the games against Detroit and Chicago. In this most unpredictable season, it’s good to see something predictable.
In a clumsily-played game, the Jaguars won 22-3 over a Chicago team that was as inept as the Detroit team that visited on Nov. 14 and refused to let the Jags give them the game though it was offered, 23-17 in overtime.
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The Jags are still one game out of the playoffs with three to play as their major rivals also won. It appears the final place will go to one of these three: Baltimore (now 8-5,) Denver (8-5) and the Jags (7-6.)
But the Jags have a favorable schedule with three teams in decline — even this week’s game at Green Bay — while both the Ravens and the Broncos have a rough slate ahead and neither is acting powerful, either.
”We need to win to stay in,” said a rhyming Coach Jack Del Rio. “That will be our approach this week.”
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No matter what happens with the playoffs, Jag fans should remember this: this is the first time since 1999 that games in December had any meaning.
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The start of Sunday’s game set the tone for the day. In the first seven minutes, there were no first downs, five punts, five dropped passes and two fumbles.
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The chilly day had one predictable result: a drop in alcohol sales. Business was much lighter than anticipated in concession stands and the Bud Zone. Some concession stands on the balcony above the Terrace Suite were prepared for the chilly weather, though. One stand was selling coffee and hot chocolate with a shot of Irish whiskey thrown in for an additional charge — and kick. The peppermint candy canes at the stand were free to customers, however.
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Members of The D-Line, the Jaguars’ drumline, were all sporting new customized team jerseys featuring the group’s logo on the front. D-Line member and co-coordinator Andrew Nixon said the group received the jerseys about three weeks ago.
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Safety Donovin Darius’ mother got a game ball for the second home game in a row. He had an interception against Chicago— as he did against Pittsburgh — and ran to the South end zone where mom sat in the handicapped section on the front row.
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The ”tickets distributed‚” number was over 67,000 but a reasonable estimate was between 55,000 and 60,000 in the stands.
The easy win had a benefit for Jag fans: the season has been one of close games that kept most in the stadium until the end, but the fans started clearing out early and traffic was no problem after the game.
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The condo railroad cars a few hundred yards from the east side of the stadium will increase in number this week as 17 more will be hauled to the site. There are now eight in place.
— by Kent Jennings Brockwell and Fred Seely