Season Recap - 2010 Jacksonville Jaguars

Final Record: 8-8

Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC South

2011 Draft Position: 16^th

Preseason Ranking:   25
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

If you are the defending Super Bowl champions, like New Orleans, having NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stop by for a preseason visit is cause for celebration. If you are the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, a team coming off two consecutive losing seasons and one struggling to connect in a meaningful way with their fan base, the commissioner may as well arrive at camp wearing a black robe and toting a scythe.

With talks of relocating an NFL team to Los Angeles, or even London, Jacksonville needs to get their fans interested quickly. The Jaguars had to black-out almost all of their home games last season. Never a good sign, especially in a warm-weather city like Jacksonville where extreme cold and snow are never an issue. Of course, where fans are dedicated to the team, like Green Bay, Chicago and Buffalo, such weather extremes are embraced. This extreme passion demonstrated by fans from other cities makes Jacksonville’s inability to sell-out games even less acceptable.

Commissioner Goodell challenged the Jaguar’s organization and the local community during his visit “to demonstrate their passion for this team and their passion for football.” Not a good sign with so much relocation talk going around. In Minnesota, LA has been bandied around as a possible option if a new stadium deal is not reached soon in the legislature. But unlike in Jacksonville, there is a dedicated fan base in Minnesota and a franchise with an established, if not necessarily distinguished, history. No such history exists in Jacksonville and a new stadium is not part of the equation.

I personally have no desire to see an NFL team in Los Angeles, unless the Raiders move back there, but I wouldn’t wish that on any city.

Jacksonville, the Commissioner has served notice to you. You can try all the tricks in the world to increase fan interest in your games, but there is only one sure-fire cure for their apathy – win early, win big, win often.

Week 1: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 24-17

Ranked – 12

The Jaguars are 1-0 in games delayed by lightning this season. I don't know what that means, but it definitely bodes well for the rest of the season.

Week 2: Lost at San Diego Chargers, 38-13

Ranked – 25

No lightning storm. No magic. No nothing. The wheels are coming off quick.

Week 3: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 28-3

Ranked – 25

Not good, Jacksonville. Nobody should lose at home 28-3. Do you even care anymore? At 1-2 you are clearly the worst team in the AFC South and only a win streak of epic proportions will get you a sniff of the playoffs.

Week 4: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-28

Ranked – 24

Scobee's kick still hasn't come back to earth. Jaguars are on a roll and face the hapless Bills next. Knocking off the Colts might just be the confidence builder they needed to finally get some positive momentum going their way.

Week 5: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 36-26

Ranked – 17

The worst of the four teams tied for first in the AFC South.

Week 6: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 30-3

Ranked – 20

A horrible home loss to a division rival on Monday night before a near partial-capacity crowd. The Jaguars fall out of a tie for first in the AFC South and clearly look to be the worst team in the division.

Week 7: Lost at Kansas City Chiefs, 42-20

Ranked – 25

It seems like forever since the Jaguars were tied for first place in the AFC South.

Week 8: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 35-17

Ranked – 20

Solid victories over Dallas these days sound better than they really are. 

Week 9: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 20

The division is stacked and the Jaguars can't play the Dallas Cowboys every week.

Week 10: Defeated the Houston Texans, 31-24

Ranked – 19

Following the epic fails of the Texans and Titans, Jacksonville doesn't seem so out of it at 5-4.

Week 11: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 24-20

Ranked – 15

The Jaguars- best team in the AFC South by virtue of early tie-breakers. If Tampa Bay wasn't playing so well, they'd be the surprise team of the NFL, but as it is, they aren't even the surprise team in Florida... especially when you consider the Heat's pathetic 8-6 start. Shouldn't they be 14-0? 

Week 12: Lost at New York Giants, 24-20

Ranked – 16

The last-second magic is gone, but with the magic missing in Indy as well, the Jags still have something going for them.

Week 13: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 17-6

Ranked – 13 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[MJD addresses the Jacksonville crowd that has started showing up back to games since the team has been winning]

                   

Maurice Jones-Drew: During this season, I've seen a lot of changing, in the way you feel about us, and in the way we feel about you. Down here on the field there were two teams killing each other, but I guess that's better in front of a hundred thousand fans than twenty thousand. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if we can change, and you can change, everybody can change!

Week 14: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 38-31

Ranked – 14

The game against Indianapolis on Sunday is an absolute must-win for the Jaguars if they want to prove they truly deserve the AFC South crown.

Week 15: Lost at Indianapolis Colts, 34-24

Ranked – 15

One minute, the Jags are on top of the world. The next, they are considered all but dead and buried. With two games left, the division title is still quite possible.

Week 16: Lost to Washington Redskins, 20-17

Ranked – 16

There is still hope. If Tennessee decides to play and Houston doesn't, Jacksonville could sneak back into the playoff picture when it matters the most.

Week 17: Lost at Houston Texans, 34-17

Final Rank – 16

Tomorrow, the 2010 Oakland Raiders…