The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading to the playoffs after defeating the Tennessee Titans 20-16 in Week 18, one year after the disastrous Urban Meyer season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a disastrous 2021 season, thanks in part to Urban Meyer, who they hired to be their head coach. His tenure was a far cry from his success at the collegiate level as Meyer gave the organization multiple controversies before he was ultimately fired after 13 games.
This past offseason, they hired a former Super Bowl-winning head coach in Doug Pederson. As it turns out, having the right head coach matters. Just look at the 2022 Jaguars.
The Jaguars were able to pull out a 20-16 victory to clinch the AFC South title for the first time since 2017. Down 16-13 late in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville was able to take a late lead after safety Rayshawn Jenkins forced a fumble on Titans quarterback Joshua Dobbs and defensive end Josh Allen returned it 37 yards for the touchdown.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/tRP1wa8Ttl
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 8, 2023
With the win, the Jaguars are officially in the playoffs, one year after the Meyer fiasco. NFL Twitter users took the time to troll Meyer after the game.
Urban Meyer trolled after Jaguars make playoffs one year after firing
Urban Meyer watching the Jaguars make the playoffs one year after going 2-11 with the same team pic.twitter.com/5Sk3mDvBzj
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 8, 2023
Urban Meyer watching Jacksonville make the playoffs in their first season without him pic.twitter.com/ZdpNaEbyTo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 8, 2023
Urban Meyer really was the worst NFL Coach of all time. And we just saw Nathaniel Hackett for 15 games
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 8, 2023
If Doug Pederson ever wins a Super Bowl with the Jaguars, he’ll become the first head coach with 2 different statues, right? pic.twitter.com/X6HP5WRiIX
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) January 8, 2023
THE PRINCE THAT WAS PROMISED IS IN THE PLAYOFFS IN HIS ROOKIE* YEAR!
*Urban Meyer year doesn’t count.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 8, 2023
From an Urban Meyer 💩 show to the playoffs.
Well done, #jags
— Chris Rose (@ChrisRose) January 8, 2023
Really happy for Jacksonville. Firing Urban Meyer and then making the playoffs the very next year to show how much he sucks is just good for humanity.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) January 8, 2023
Checking in on Urban Meyer learning the Jaguars won the AFC South pic.twitter.com/lyrjyX7WeE
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) January 8, 2023
The difference a year makes:
January 9, 2022: Jaguars fans dress up as clowns to see the team in the regular season finale.
January 7, 2023: Jaguars fans see their team win the AFC South in the regular season finale. pic.twitter.com/wquoLRk6Df
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 8, 2023
In Week 18 last year, some Jaguars fans in attendance dressed up as clowns to make a statement toward the franchise for their decision-making over the years. In Week 18 this year, the fans packed TIAA Bank Field and watched the team make the playoffs.
Under Meyer, they dealt with numerous controversies, such as the head coach allegedly kicking their placekicker and not leaving with the team after a Thursday Night Football loss. There was much, much more that went on during his tenure, and with two wins to show for it, the Jaguars opted to move on from the head coach.
This season, Jacksonville got off to a rough start, sitting at 4-8 on the year after Week 13. But they got hot at the right time, winning their previous four games against the Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Houston Texans. Then, in a win-and-in situation, the Jaguars got their most important victory of the year.
The last time the Jaguars were in the playoffs, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game and they were over 14 minutes away from clinching their first Super Bowl berth before a late comeback attempt by the New England Patriots. Jacksonville will look to make a similar deep run in the playoffs, but with the goal of winning the AFC title and a spot in Super Bowl 57.
What a difference a year (and the right head coach) makes.
Next: NFL Twitter in awe over wild Titans play in Week 18
