If they weren’t already, the Jacksonville Jaguars solidified themselves on ESPN’s Monday Night Football as one of pro football’s top teams. Their 9-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Steelers marked the first time the Steelers were shutout in 55 MNF appearances, and it also was the first time since 1981 (Oakland Raiders) that the defending Super Bowl Champs were shutout. Also, it was the lowest scoring game in Monday Night Football history – so kudos to the Jaguars stifling defense that limited Pittsburgh to 153 total yards on the evening.
Off a 12-4 season and playoff berth, the Jags didn’t get nearly the amount of respect they deserved. Their schedule heading into this season was much harder compared to last year’s ‘softer’ slate. Nonetheless, Jack Del Rio has knocked off coaches such as Bill Parcells and Bill Cowher, and now is looking to do the same to Tony Dungy and Joe Gibbs in the next two weeks.
At half-time, our score was no score – 0-0. It had all the makings of a classic defensive slugfest. Defensive tackles John Henderson and Marcus Stroud are beasts in the middle; both did great work even without the injury Reggie Hayward, a defensive end pass rusher who’ll miss the rest of the season. At linebacker, Mike Peterson made his presence felt and likewise for safety Donovin Darius. As for Pro Bowl caliber cornerback Rashean Mathis – we’ll get to him a bit later. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was harassed all night and finished up 17-32 with 141 yards and two interceptions. Tailback Willie Parker was kept in check, carrying the ball 11 times for just 20 yards. Pittsburgh’s pass catchers, such as Hines Ward and tight end Heath Miller who made that incredibly long touchdown play against the Dolphins in the season opener, were invisible. In short, it was as flawless an effort by a defense as one could have. San Diego, Baltimore and Chicago all have given up less than ten points total through two regular season games. If those are the three best defenses in the NFL [not necessarily in order], where do the Jags fall in?
It’s not a one-time deal either. They gave Indianapolis, regarded as the sport’s most prolific offense over the past few years, more trouble than anyone else in two regular season meetings in 2005. During the second half of their game with Dallas, they didn’t allow a single point until late in the fourth quarter when the Cowboys finally found the end zone.
Offensively, QB Byron Leftwich said afterwards they need to get better, and he’s right – they do. But considering the franchise’s best wideout ever – Jimmy Smith – retired prior to the season’s start and they also lost powerful back Greg Jones for the season due to injury before Week 1, they’ve made some strides with the guys they have. Tall receivers Matt Jones, Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams are all getting better. Jones really came alive for the Jags in the third quarter when they were able to drive down the field and get one of their three field goals off the dependable foot of Josh Scobee [as a side note – Scobee missed a long field goal that could’ve sent the Jags game with Pittsburgh into overtime two years ago]. Lefwich did a good job on third downs, completing seven of his first 12 – six of which resulted in first down plays. What impressed me too was how the Jags o-line, particularly the interior part, did to the aggressive Steelers defense. They gave Leftwich time to stand in and make some strong throws. The biggest play of the game may have been a block, set by UCLA rookie Maurice Jones-Drew. A tiny little fella’, Drew picked up the blitz just in time for Leftwich to find Williams for a 48-yard pass play. A case of doing the dirty work, no doubt.
Clearly, the Steelers gave a sound defensive effort themselves. Clark Haggans had his first career interception, and if the offense made one or two big plays, we’d be giving major props to the Pittsburgh defense once again. However, it was the Jags defense – not Pittsburgh’s – that came up with the winning plays in the second half. Just go see corner Rashean Mathis, who has to be in the discussion with players like Denver’s Champ Bailey and Carolina’s Ken Lucas for the honor of ‘best corner in the NFL.’ Mathis might be the most underrated, too. In last year’s game, which the Jags won in OT on the road, Mathis produced a 41-yard game-winning interception return for a touchdown. On Monday night, Mathis had two interception, the second of which he took all the way down to the Pitt one-yard line. Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu are great defenders for Pittsburgh; Mathis, Henderson and Stroud are also great contributors for Jacksonville.
Jacksonville moved to 22-0 in their franchise’s history when they get a second half lead of six points or more. Indianapolis is their next test, and that’ll be a classic clash of potent offense vs. swarming, suffocating defense. Get a lead late against Peyton Manning and the Colts on Sunday, and that one – believe it or not – might be safe as well.
