The 2017 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 23rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under head coach Doug Marrone. Marrone was hired after acting as the team's interim head coach for the final two games of the 2016 season. The team improved on their 3–13 record from 2016 and ended their 10-year playoff drought dating back to 2008 with a Week 15 win over the Houston Texans. They also secured their first winning season since 2007 after a 30–24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. On December 24, 2017, they clinched their third division title, and their first AFC South title following a Tennessee Titans loss. They won the wild card game against the Buffalo Bills 10–3, then headed to Pittsburgh, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 45–42 to advance to the AFC Championship to face the New England Patriots, the first time that they had made the AFC Championship Game since 1999. Despite leading for much of the game, the Jaguars allowed two fourth quarter touchdowns, and ultimately lost to the Patriots 24–20.
The biggest catalyst for the Jaguars success during the 2017 season was their defense, which was nicknamed Sacksonville. Jacksonville finished in the top of the league in multiple defensive categories, and were considered "historically good" by some analysts. The Jaguars defense led the league in forced fumbles (17), completion percentage (56.8), passing yards allowed per game (169.9), passer rating (68.5) and defensive touchdowns (7). They also finished second in sacks (55), interceptions (21), total takeaways (33), yards allowed per game (286.1) and points allowed per game (16.8). Along with their spectacular defense, the Jaguars were also the top rushing offense in the NFL, averaging 141 rush yards per game.
The Jaguars would neither make the playoffs nor win the division again until 2022.
Offseason Unrestricted free agents Position Player Free agencytag 2017 team Date signed DE Tyson Alualu UFA Pittsburgh Steelers March 21, 2017 CB Prince Amukamara UFA Chicago Bears March 10, 2017 RB Joe Banyard UFA Buffalo Bills March 17, 2017 OT Kelvin Beachum UFA New York Jets March 10, 2017 WR Arrelious Benn UFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 15, 2017 SS Johnathan Cyprien UFA Tennessee Titans March 9, 2017 SS Akeem Davis UFA TE Alex Ellis ERFA QB Chad Henne ERFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 15, 2017 RB Bronson Hill ERFA Minnesota Vikings August 12, 2017 DT Jordan Hill UFA Detroit Lions March 20, 2017 G Luke Joeckel UFA Seattle Seahawks March 9, 2017 DT Abry Jones UFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 15, 2017 G Patrick Omameh UFA Jacksonville Jaguars March 10, 2017 T Jeremiah Poutasi UFA RB Denard Robinson UFA RB Daryl Richardson RFA OLB Marcus Rush ERFA C Tyler Shatley RFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 21, 2017 TE Julius Thomas RFA Miami Dolphins March 9, 2017 FS Peyton Thompson RFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 6, 2017 WR Bryan Walters UFA Jacksonville Jaguars March 9, 2017 WR Tony Washington ERFA OT Josh Wells RFA Jacksonville Jaguars February 17, 2017 WR Shane Wynn ERFA Jacksonville Jaguars
Acquisitions Position Player 2016 Team Date signed OT Branden Albert Miami Dolphins March 9, 2017 CB A. J. Bouye Houston Texans March 9, 2017 DE Calais Campbell Arizona Cardinals March 10, 2017 DT Stefan Charles Detroit Lions March 11, 2017 S Barry Church Dallas Cowboys March 10, 2017 MLB Audie Cole Minnesota Vikings March 11, 2017 OLB Lerentee McCray Buffalo Bills March 9, 2017 G Greg Van Roten Toronto Argonauts February 27, 2017 G Earl Watford Arizona Cardinals March 11, 2017 Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
NFL draft
Draft trades The Jaguars traded TE Julius Thomas to Miami for its seventh-round selection (240th). The Jaguars traded their second- and sixth-round selections (35th and 187th) to Seattle for its second-round selection (34th).
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New England Patriots W 31–24 1–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 8–12 1–1 EverBank Field Recap 3 Carolina Panthers L 23–24 1–2 EverBank Field Recap 4 at Atlanta Falcons W 13–7 2–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule On December 13, 2016, the NFL announced that the Jaguars would play host to the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London, England, as part of their commitment to the London Games. The game occurred during Week 3 (Sunday, September 24), and was televised in the United States. The kickoff was announced in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.
The remainder of the Jaguars' 2017 schedule was finalized and announced on April 20. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 at Houston Texans W 29–7 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap 2 September 17 Tennessee Titans L 16–37 1–1 EverBank Field Recap 3 September 24 Baltimore Ravens W 44–7 2–1 Wembley Stadium Recap 4 October 1 at New York Jets L 20–23 2–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 5 October 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–9 3–2 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 15 Los Angeles Rams L 17–27 3–3 EverBank Field Recap 7 October 22 at Indianapolis Colts W 27–0 4–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 8 Bye 9 November 5 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–7 5–3 EverBank Field Recap 10 November 12 Los Angeles Chargers W 20–17 6–3 EverBank Field Recap 11 November 19 at Cleveland Browns W 19–7 7–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 26 at Arizona Cardinals L 24–27 7–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 December 3 Indianapolis Colts W 30–10 8–4 EverBank Field Recap 14 December 10 Seattle Seahawks W 30–24 9–4 EverBank Field Recap 15 December 17 Houston Texans W 45–7 10–4 EverBank Field Recap 16 December 24 at San Francisco 49ers L 33–44 10–5 Levi's Stadium Recap 17 December 31 at Tennessee Titans L 10–15 10–6 Nissan Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Houston Texans
Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL London Games
Week 4: at New York Jets
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 6: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 7: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 9: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 11: at Cleveland Browns
Week 12: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 15: vs. Houston Texans
Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 17: at Tennessee Titans
Standings
Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 7, 2018 Buffalo Bills (6) W 10–3 1–0 EverBank Field Recap Divisional January 14, 2018 at Pittsburgh Steelers (2) W 45–42 2–0 Heinz Field Recap AFC Championship January 21, 2018 at New England Patriots (1) L 20–24 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
Game summaries AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (6) Buffalo Bills
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC Championship: at (1) New England Patriots
References
External links