Falcons vs. Jaguars Game Day Newsletter 2Aug29Falcons_Layout_Digital | Page 32

TWENTY-FIVE SEASONS,
TWENTY-FIVE GAMES
In Their Own Words
That the Jaguars were positioned to make the
playoffs was remarkable. The team was in its
second season – and was still adjusting to life
under Head Coach Tom Coughlin. Then, with fi ve
weeks remaining in the season, things changed.
Wide receiver Keenan McCardell: “We got a lot
of confi dence in each other. We realized we could
play. Some guys had to step up and they did.
That winning streak was what got us so confi dent
going into the playoffs. We were clicking. We had
veterans who had been on teams saying, ‘C’mon,
man … we just got to get in. We’re hot right now.’
That motivated some of the younger guys to keep
playing hard. ‘The season’s not over. All we need
to do is get in. Get in.’ They kept pushing us to
get in.’’
Linebacker Kevin Hardy: “I’m thinking, ‘Game
over’ because they’ve got Morten Andersen,
one of the best kickers ever. A lot of things go
through your mind, but I remember thinking, ‘It
comes down to this; we won four and now it’s
like were going to fall short in the moment.’’
Yes, he missed. Really…
Linebacker Jeff Lageman: “I tried to get in the
gap, the guy knifes me and I’m literally bent
over at the waist. I can’t see anything. All I hear
is the crowd. When you hear the crowd, you’re
thinking, ‘He missed it. Or we blocked it.’ Or
something good happened because the crowd is
going crazy. It was a blur after that.”
It was a blur. And it was bedlam.
The Jaguars, despite multiple extended drives,
squandered multiple touchdown opportunities.
Those missed chances gave the Falcons a
chance – and with Hebert leading Atlanta down
the fi eld late in the fourth quarter, the playoff
dream seemed to be fading. For Brunell, who had
thrown incomplete with a chance to extend the
previous drive, it was particularly diffi cult.
Brunell: “If the quarterback plays poorly, you’re
going to lose the game more times than not –
and I played poorly in that game. Not only did I
play poorly, but I had a chance on our last drive
to complete a comeback [route] … I remember
on the sidelines thinking, ‘Oh, no … what have I
done?’ Morten lines up and Morten doesn’t miss.
Not from there.”
And then, Andersen lined up.
Offensive lineman Tony Boselli: “I remember
the ball going off wide left. It was pandemonium.
Everyone’s hugging. Fans are going crazy and
then we’re going into the locker room and Tom
saying, ‘We’re in the playoffs. We’re going to
Buffalo.’”
The Jaguars would win their fi rst two postseason
games, beating Buffalo and Denver. They also
made the postseason every season from 1996-
1999. It began with the fi nal game of the ’96
regular season.
For more information on the Jaguars’ 25th
season celebration, please visit www.jaguars.
com/25years.
“Without that miss, we have a different history. The fact that we got to the playoffs
in our second year, that was big. We had some guys who had some really good
seasons, we got on a roll and we got into the playoffs.”
– QB Mark Brunell