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The Jaguars had a Monday kind of love: Jags won their first five MNF games in team history

garry smits, jacksonville florida times-union
·6 min read

The first one remains the best one for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It took the NFL three seasons to put the Jaguars on a Monday night game and on a humid September night in 1997, they produced a victory for the ages: Chris Hudson's 58-yard return of a blocked Norm Johnson field-goal attempt on the final play of the game to preserve a 30-21 victory.

The Steelers were attempting a potential game-winning, 39-yard attempt with six seconds left and the Jaguars leading 23-21. The snap was low, forcing Johnson to hesitate, and he drilled the ball low, with Simmons swatting it.

Hudson picked up the ball and raced down the sideline for the touchdown.

Hudson returns a blocked field goal for a touchdown

"IT'S BLOCKED! THE JAGUARS HAVE WON IT!"📺: #PITvsJAX on Sunday at 1pm on CBS

Posted by Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, November 19, 2020

The Jaguars played all 11 of their Monday night games within a 14-year span. Their last game on Monday night was Dec. 5, 2011, a 38-14 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Jags last won on Monday night two months before that game, beating Baltimore 12-7 on Oct. 24, 2011.

Jaguars safety Chris Hudson (center, 37) will hold a special place in team lore for his return of a blocked field goal attempt by the Pittsburgh Steelers for a touchdown on the final play of the Jags' first-ever Monday night football game on Sept. 22, 1997.
Jaguars safety Chris Hudson (center, 37) will hold a special place in team lore for his return of a blocked field goal attempt by the Pittsburgh Steelers for a touchdown on the final play of the Jags' first-ever Monday night football game on Sept. 22, 1997.

The Jaguars were a favorite Monday night team for the NFL during the best seasons under coach Tom Coughlin. They played five times between 1997-1999 (winning all five) and are 8-7 on Monday overall and 7-4 at home.

With the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town Monday (8:15 p.m., ESPN), it's worth noting that the Jaguars have owned the AFC North on Monday night, going 3-0 against the Steelers and 1-0 against Baltimore.

Here are the Jaguars top-five Monday Night Football games:

Sept. 27, 1997: Jaguars 30, Steelers 21

Aside from the sheer lunacy of the situation — the Jaguars turning a near chip-shot game-winning field-goal attempt, for the veteran Johnson at least into a special-teams touchdown — two enduring images remain from that game. Steelers coach Bill Cowher, with a menacing snarl on his face, actually took a step onto the playing field as Hudson was speeding past and cocked his fist as if to punch him; and in the pandemonium, the officials had to drag 11 players from the Steelers' locker room to defend against the Mike Hollis point-after.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland buries his head in his hands after the Jaguars' Chris Hudson returned a blocked field-goal attempt 58 yards for a touchdown in a 30-21 Jags victory on Sept. 22, 1997, the team's first-ever Monday night football game.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland buries his head in his hands after the Jaguars' Chris Hudson returned a blocked field-goal attempt 58 yards for a touchdown in a 30-21 Jags victory on Sept. 22, 1997, the team's first-ever Monday night football game.

The game also marked the return of quarterback Mark Brunell from a knee injury. He completed 24 of 42 passes for 306 yards and an 11-yard TD pass to Jimmy Smith.

Nov. 20, 2006: Jaguars 26, New York Giants 10

In Coughlin's first game in Jacksonville since becoming the Giants' coach, his old team administered a physical beatdown that would have brought a smile to his face had he been on the winning side. The Jags held the Giants to 25 yards rushing and Deon Grant and Clint Ingram had interceptions. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew each scored a touchdown and Josh Scobee hit four field goals.

Tom Coughlin made his return to Jacksonville as the New York Giants coach in a Monday night game on Nov. 20, 2006.
Tom Coughlin made his return to Jacksonville as the New York Giants coach in a Monday night game on Nov. 20, 2006.

Dec. 13, 1999: Jaguars 27, Broncos 24

Mike Hollis kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Jags over the Broncos and put them at 12-1 for the season. Brian Griese threw a 57-yard TD pass to Byron Chamberlain with 1:43 left to tie the game, only 52 seconds after Taylor scored a 38-yard TD to break a 17-17 tie. On the first play of the game-winning drive, Brunell threw a 21-yard pass to Damon Jones, then threw a deep ball to Smith — who drew a defensive pass interference penalty to the Denver 27. Taylor ran for 14 and 7 yards before Hollis came in to win the game.

Oct. 12, 1998: Jaguars 28, Dolphins 21

The Jaguars went to 5-0 for the season in a game where they started and finished strong. Taylor scored two first-quarter touchdowns for a 14-0 lead, the first on a 77-yard run. After Dan Marino threw two TD passes to give the Dolphins a 21-14 lead, Brunell and Keenan McCardell connected for scoring passes of 23 and 56 yards, the latter with 2:44 left in the game. Tony Brackens had a strip-sack of Marino and recovered the fumble at the Jags' 38 on Miami's next possession.

Dec. 28, 1998: Jaguars 21, Steelers 3

Is there a better Christmas present the Jaguars could give to their fans besides wrapping up an 11-5 regular season by beating the Steelers on a Monday night, at home? Jonathan Quinn played quarterback since the Jags had already clinched the AFC and he and Taylor took care of the scoring for the night. Quinn dashed into the end zone on a 15-yard run, threw a 9-yard TD pass to Taylor and Taylor capped the evening with a 12-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Jerome Bettis ran for 139 yards but Dave Thomas had an interception and fumble recovery and Kevin Devine had an interception.

Best Jaguars players on Monday nights

  • The legend of "TV Tony:" Jaguars defensive tackle Tony Brackens had a knack for showing up on nationally televised games, hence the nickname tagged on him in the Jags press box. It certainly was the case on Monday nights. In eight games with the Jaguars on Monday nights, Brackens had six sacks, eight tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and batted down two passes.

  • Freddie T was solid: Fred Taylor played in nine Monday games for the Jaguars and gained 698 yards on the ground, with six touchdowns, and caught 13 passes for 99 yards. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry.

  • Thunder and Lightning: Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell combined for 68 receptions for 1,088 yards and five touchdowns in the eight Monday night games in which they played together for the Jaguars. Smith caught 34 passes for 600 yards and had three 100-yard games. McCardell caught 34 passes for 488 yards.

Jaguars on Monday night, by the numbers

  • Overall record: 8-7.

  • Home record: 7-4.

  • Road record: 1-3.

  • Average home attendance: 68,210.

  • Best-attended Monday game: Dec. 28, 1998 vs. Pittsburgh, 74,143.

Jaguars all-time Monday night results

  • Sept. 22, 1997: Jaguars 30, Steelers 21*

  • Oct. 12, 1998: Jaguars 28, Dolphins 21*

  • Dec., 28, 1998: Jaguars 21, Steelers 3*

  • Oct. 11, 1999: Jaguars 16, Jets 6

  • Dec. 13, 1999: Jaguars 27, Broncos 24*

  • Sept. 25, 2000: Colts 43, Jaguars 14

  • Dec. 16, 2000: Titans 27, Jaguars 13

  • Dec. 3, 2001: Packers 28, Jaguars 21*

  • Sept. 18, 2006: Jaguars 9, Steelers 0*

  • Nov. 20, 2006: Jaguars 26, Giants 10*

  • Oct. 22, 2007: Colts 29, Jaguars 7*

  • Dec. 1, 2008: Texans 30, Jaguars 17

  • Oct. 18, 2010: Titans 30, Jaguars 3*

  • Oct. 24, 2011: Jaguars 12, Ravens 7*

  • Dec. 5, 2011: Chargers 38, Jaguars 14*

*-home games.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars dramatic 1997 victory over Steelers began a run of Monday success