Chargers vs Jaguars Game Day Newsletter 8 Dec 8 Chargers_Digital | Page 40

TWENTY-FIVE SEASONS,
TWENTY-FIVE GAMES
In Their Own Words
Jaguars-Steelers was a major rivalry game in
the early years of the franchise. This overtime
victory was a big reason it continued as one
in the mid-2000s and beyond. The Steelers
and Jaguars were no longer in the same
division, but the series still mattered. And
there was still emotion.
Jaguars center Brad Meester: “It was always
a great battle. You knew what type of game it
was going to be; it was going to be physical
when you played the Steelers. Obviously up
front we liked that, but as a Jaguars team we
loved that. It matched up well and it created
great games.
This was perhaps the biggest victory in
what is sometimes an overlooked season in
Jaguars history. They fi nished the season 12-
4, the second-best regular season in franchise
history. The game was tight throughout,
with neither team leading by more than a
touchdown. The Jaguars inched into the lead
with Jones’ third-quarter touchdown and
Reed’s fi eld goal tied it with nearly 10 minutes
remaining. Reed missed from 46 yards with
3:32 left and Steelers cornerback Bryant
McFadden intercepted Leftwich at the goal
line with :19 remaining.
Meester: “That was such a close game and
we both had chances to win at the end. We
ended up going to overtime.”
Overtime started poorly for the Jaguars.
Quincy Morgan returned the kickoff 74
yards to give the Steelers fi rst-and-10 at the
Jaguars 26, but Maddox fumbled a snap out
of shotgun formation on third-and-11 and
defensive end Reggie Hayward recovered for
the Jaguars. The Steelers forced a punt and
took over at their 35.
On second-and-10, Maddox threw to his right.
Mathis stepped in front of Morgan.
Cornerback Rashean Mathis: “My memory
of that one is very vivid. I remember one
of the fi rst plays of the game and then that
interception that ended the game. Those two
plays were the same exact play. They ran that
same play – a little curl route – early and I
told myself, ‘If they run this play again, I’m
going to pick it.’’
Kicker Josh Scobee: “Any time the defense
is on the fi eld and they create a turnover like
that it’s an awesome feeling. Everyone on
the sideline erupts and is pumped about it.
For it to end the game that way is even more
exciting.”
Overtime victories are relatively rare in the
NFL. Walk-off defensive touchdowns for
overtime victories are rarer. Mathis’ against
the Steelers remains the only one in franchise
history.
Mathis: “It’s the ultimate cornerback dream,
but in the moment, I was just ecstatic to help
my team win. It’s what you play for.”
“Every game [against Pittsburgh] was, ‘It’s a two-chinstrap game, bring your lunch pail,
we’re going to be here all day.’ Those were the comments in the locker room. I found out
early what it means to be a professional because of some of the teams like Pittsburgh.’’
– CB Rashean Mathis