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PITTSBURGH – Starting last Wednesday and continuing through their final team meeting before leaving Jacksonville on Saturday, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone had one motto in particular for his team: “Not Today.”
October 8, 2017
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) breaks a tackle by Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Sean Davis (28) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
PITTSBURGH – Starting last Wednesday and continuing through their final team meeting before leaving Jacksonville on Saturday, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone had one motto in particular for his team: “Not Today.”
Sounds negative, right? Especially coming off a loss.
But it was just the opposite.
Marrone wanted the Jaguars to not let their next opponent – the Pittsburgh Steelers – off the hook if the opportunity presented itself. Capitalize on the available opportunities. Overcome the natural adversity.
“The masses believe one thing and nobody necessarily was giving us a chance and Doug said, ‘It’s not going to be Pittsburgh’s day today,’” tight end Marcedes Lewis said.
Wow, was Sunday not the Steelers’ day.
And wow, was Sunday ever the Jaguars’ day.
The defense set a franchise record with five interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), tailback Leonard Fournette scored on a 90-yard touchdown to cap his 181-yard day and the Jaguars rolled to a 30-9 win over the Steelers at a stunned Heinz Field.
The Jaguars (3-2) matched last year’s win total and they have won their three games by 22, 37 and 21 points … all away from Jacksonville.
And now the schedule could become manageable – three of the next four are at EverBank Field – if the Jaguars can play well at home, where they are 0-1.
Marrone probably chose the “Not Today” theme because of all the squandered chances against the Jets last week, including a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line in the final two minutes of regulation. The Jaguars settled for a field goal and lost in overtime.
Back in a familiar position – a 7 1/ 2-point underdog – the Jaguars knew Pittsburgh was better than the Jets and if they presented a crack, the Jaguars had to run through the figurative door.
“The way I took it: Today is our day, we have to play our game, we can’t let the other team dictate what we’re going to do,” fullback Tommy Bohanon said. “We want to do what we want. And we did that.”
Particularly on their drive to open the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars led 20-9 after consecutive interception return touchdowns by linebacker Telvin Smith (28 yards) and strong safety Barry Church (51 yards). But the Jaguars started the possession at their 4-yard line and 14:50 remaining. Plenty of time for the Steelers to force a three-and-out, get good field position and start their comeback.
What followed was a tour de force by the Jaguars’ offensive line and running backs.
Twelve plays.
Twelve rushing plays.
Sixty-seven yards gained.
Eight minutes, seven seconds elapsed.
When Jason Myers kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 23-9, only 6:43 remained.
Fournette had carries of 1, 13, 11 and 1 yards to start the drive – he had not carried on four consecutive plays until he did it twice against Pittsburgh. Marrone’s commitment to playing Fournette more snaps crystallized when he was subbed out for Chris Ivory.
“What is he doing coming out?” Marrone said he asked the staff.
“Coach, he just ran it four times in a row; we’re giving him one play off,” Marrone said the staff responded.
Ivory gained six yards, followed by Fournette rushes of 12 and two yards. On the 12-yard carry, Fournette collided with Steelers safety Mike Mitchell, who got up to equal parts celebrate and jaw at Fournette.
“[Mitchell] was saying, ‘You’re a rookie. You’re not ready,’” Fournette said. “I can say that was fun.”
The fun continued as Ivory ran for 19 yards. Four plays later, the drive having stalled but a success nonetheless, Myers hit the field goal.
The tailbacks loved it.
“Everybody was hitting on all cylinders,” Ivory said.
The tight ends loved it.
“These are the days that you live for – to go out there and rush the ball like that and impose your will,” Lewis said.
The defense loved it.
“That was beautiful,” defensive end Dante Fowler said.
Beautiful for the Jaguars was how Fournette ended the game, bursting through a big opening to tie Fred Taylor’s 1999 record for longest carry in Jaguars history.
“Nobody was there – I just took it and ran,” Fournette said. “[The coaches] were yelling, ‘Fall down, fall down,’ but I just kept running. My biggest thing was, ‘Don’t get caught.’”
The Jaguars rushed for a season-high 231 yards on 37 attempts, allowing quarterback Blake Bortles to throw a career-low 14 passes.
Just like the wins over Houston and Baltimore, the rolling of the Steelers was just how the Jaguars drew it up. Running game and takeaways. The next challenge is doing it two straight games. They host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
“We won one game [in a row],” Fournette said. “Let’s win two in a row. Let’s win three in a row.”
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