Jaguars have come close three times but never made it to a Super Bowl

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Jaguars have come close three times but never made it to a Super Bowl

Tim Walters, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union · The Florida Times-Union

Thu, Jan 8, 2026 ·

10 min read

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For just the ninth time in franchise history, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the playoffs.

They will host the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at EverBank Stadium.

Following an inaugural season that saw them go 4-12 in 1995, the Jaguars made the playoffs the next four years in a row.

In the 25 seasons that followed, the Jaguars only made the playoff four more times.

Their 31st season has the Jaguars in the playoffs for the ninth time.

Overall, the Jaguars are 8-8 in playoff games.

The Jaguars have made it into the AFC championship game three times but have never advanced to a Super Bowl.

Here's a look at each Jaguars playoff game.

Dec. 28, 1996, Wild Card Round: Jaguars 30, Bills 27

The Jaguars finished the 1996 regular season 9-7, making it into the wild-card round against the Buffalo Bills . A tightly-contested game was won when Mike Hollis booted a 45-yard field goal with 3:07 remaining to break a 27-27 tie. The Bills got two more tries with the ball but couldn't do anything with it, sending the Jaguars to the next round. Natrone Means led the way for the Jaguars with 175 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Playoff record:1-0

Jaguars running back Natrone Means ran for 175 yards rushing and a touchdown as Jacksonville defeated the Bills 30-27 in Buffalo on Dec. 28, 1996. It was the Jaguars' first-ever playoff game as a franchise.

Jan. 4, 1997, Divisional Round: Jaguars 30, Broncos 27

Mark Brunell outdueled John Elway as the Jaguars overcame a 12-0 second quarter deficit to win. The Jaguars scored 23 unanswered points, making the lead insurmountable for Denver . Natrone Means again had a monster game, going for 140 yards rushing and a score.

Playoff record:2-0

Jan. 12, 1997, AFC Championship: Patriots 20, Jaguars 6

Tom Brady was still at Michigan, but the Patriots' offense wasn't really the story in this game anyhow. Drew Bledsoe threw for just 178 yards and an interception, but Otis Smith had the play of the game, a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Patriots went on to lose in the Super Bowl to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers .

Playoff record:2-1

Dec. 27, 1997, Wild Card Round: Broncos 42, Jaguars 17

John Elway got revenge for the prior year's playoff elimination loss to the Jaguars. He threw for 223 yards and a touchdown, but it was the run game that did the Jaguars in. Terrell Davis had 184 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Derek Loville added 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a game that was close after three quarters — 21-17 — but the Broncos put up 21 fourth quarter points to roll. They went on to win the first of back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Playoff record:2-2

Jan. 3, 1999, Wild Card Round: Jaguars 25, Patriots 10

The Jaguars led 12-7 heading into the fourth quarter, and the Patriots pulled within 2 on an Adam Vinatieri field goal just after the final frame began. However, the Jags pulled away thanks to a 37-yard touchdown from Mark Brunell to Jimmy Smith, followed by two Mike Hollis field goals.

Playoff record:3-2

New England quarterback Scott Zolak is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive end Joel Smenge, (99) during the fourth quarter of their wild card game in Jacksonville on Jan. 3, 1999. Zolak fumbled the ball on the play. The Jaguars won 25-10.

Jan. 10, 1999, Divisional Round: Jets 34, Jaguars 24

There was a time when the Jets won playoff games. This was one of those times. Mark Brunell threw three interceptions and Curtis Martin led the way for the Jets with 124 yards rushing and two touchdowns as New York rolled.

Playoff record:3-3

Jan. 15, 2000, Divisional Round: Jaguars 62, Dolphins 7

The Jaguars finished with what is still a franchise record 14 wins, earning the AFC Central title. For the first time, they didn't have to compete in the wild-card round. This game is remembered by many as Dan Marino's last game. The Dolphins' 55-point margin of loss was the worst in AFC playoff history. Fred Taylor had 135 yards rushing and a TD, and Jimmy Smith had 136 yards receiving and 2 TDs. Tony Brackens returned a fumble for a touchdown and added a sack.

Playoff record:4-3

Jan. 23, 2000, AFC Championship Game: Titans 33, Jaguars 14

The Jaguars finished the 1999 season 14-2, with both losses coming against the Tennessee Titans . Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they ran into the Titans in the AFC title game. The Jaguars led 14-10 at the half, but the Titans dominated the second half and rolled to victory and into the Super Bowl. The Titans came up about a yard short in losing to the Rams in the Super Bowl.

Playoff record:4-4

Jan. 7, 2006, Wild Card Round: Patriots 28, Jaguars 3

After a five-year hiatus, the Jaguars returned to the playoffs as a wild card team. This was their first playoff appearance since the NFL realigned, with 32 teams and eight total divisions. Tom Brady and the Patriots were two-time defending Super Bowl champs, having won three of the past four titles. They made quick work of the Jaguars, whose lone points came off a Josh Scobee field goal just before halftime. Brady tossed three touchdown passes and Asante Samuel sealed the deal by returning a Byron Leftwich INT for a 73-yard touchdown.

Playoff record:4-5

Jan. 5, 2008, Wild Card Round: Jaguars 31, Steelers 29

This game came down to two big plays for the Jaguars.

The Steelers scored a touchdown with 6:21 to play to take a 29-28 lead. The Jags' defense held and stopped the 2-point try, giving them a chance to win.
Josh Scobee kicked a 25-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining, propelling the Jaguars into the next round.

Playoff record:5-5

Jan. 12, 2008, Divisional Round: Patriots 31, Jaguars 20

Tom Brady strikes again. The GOAT eliminated the Jaguars by once again tossing three touchdown passes with no interceptions. The game was tied 14-14 at the half, but Brady's third quarter TD passes to Wes Welker and Ben Watson put this one out of reach of the Jaguars. The Jags wouldn't make the playoffs again for a decade.

Playoff record:5-6

Jan. 7, 2018, Wild Card Round: Jaguars 10, Bills 3

The "Sacksonville" defense was on full display in this game. The Bills collected just 278 yards of total offense: 148 passing and 130 rushing. Myles Jack and Malik Jackson each had a sack and Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Colvin each had an interception. The Bills' only points came on a Stephen Hauschka field goal with 1:49 remaining in the half. The Jags quickly tied the game on a Josh Lambo field goal as time expired in the first half. Blake Bortles had the game-deciding touchdown pass to Ben Koyack with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The defense took it from there and shut down the Bills in the fourth.

Playoff record:6-6

Jan. 14, 2018, Divisional Round: Jaguars 45, Steelers 42

The Jaguars won a thriller, holding off a major comeback in the fourth quarter. Jacksonville led 21-0 early in the second quarter. Leonard Fournette rushed for two touchdowns, and TJ Yeldon added a third. After Ben Roethlisberger connected with Antonio Brown for a touchdown, the Jags got their three score lead back when Telvin Smith returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers scored just before the half, and the Jaguars led 28-14 at the break. Pittsburgh scored the only points in the third quarter when Roethlisberger threw his third TD pass of the game. Fournette got his third rushing touchdown early in the fourth to make the score 35-21. Roethlisberger and Brown connected again just 90 seconds later to make it 35-28. A Blake Bortles to Tommy Bohanon touchdown pass increased the Jags' lead to 42-28. Le'Veon Bell's 8-yard scamper narrowed the gap to 42-35. The Jaguars were able to tack on a Josh Lambo field goal with 1:45 remaining in the game. It proved to be the difference as the Steelers scored a touchdown as time ran out on Roethlisberger's fifth TD pass of the game.

Playoff record:7-6

Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith reacts after recovering a fumble and returning it for a 50 yard touchdown in the second quarter during the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Jan. 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh. The Jaguars won 45-42.

Jan. 21, 2018, AFC Championship Game: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20

This game will always be remembered as the "what if?" game until the Jags make their first Super Bowl. The Jaguars led 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter, and Josh Lambo's 43-yarder 8 seconds into the fourth gave the Jags a 20-10 lead. Tom Brady connected with Danny Amendola at the 8:44 mark of the fourth quarter to make the score 20-17. The Jaguars' offense stalled on their next two drives, opening up the door for the Patriots to take control. Brady and Amendola met again with 2:48 remaining in the game to give the Patriots the 24-20 lead. After another stalled drive that saw the Jaguars turn over the ball on downs, the Patriots were able to run out the clock en route to another Super Bowl appearance. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles .

Playoff record:7-7

Jan. 14, 2023, Wild Card Round: Jaguars 31, Chargers 30

In one of the most amazing comebacks in NFL history, the Jaguars overcame a 27-0 second quarter deficit to win 31-30. It was the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. The Chargers jumped all over the Jaguars behind two rushing touchdowns by Austin Eckler, a passing touchdown by Justin Herbert to Gerald Everett and two Cameron Dicker field goals. The Jaguars got on the board right before the half when Trevor Lawrence hit Evan Engram , and it was 27-7 at the break. The Jaguars continued to chip away in the third quarter when Lawrence hooked up with Marvin Jones to make the score 27-14. A Dicker field goal increased the lead to 30-14, but the Jags scored on their next possession when Lawrence and Zay Jones linked up to make the score 30-21 heading into the fourth. The Jaguars inched closer when Lawrence hit Christian Kirk for a 9-yard score with 5:25 left in the game. All of a sudden, it was 30-28. The Jaguars stymied the Chargers on their next drive to get the ball back for one last drive. The Jags worked their way down the field and Riley Patterson hit a 36-yard field goal as time expired to send Duuu-val into a frenzy. As someone who was in the press box at the time, you could feel that concrete stadium vibrating from the elated celebration. It was something to behold.

Playoff record:8-7

Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Riley Patterson (10) kicks a game-winning field goal as punter Logan Cooke (9) holds during the fourth quarter of their wild card round matchup Jan. 14, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Jaguars overcame a 27-0 deficit to win 31-30.

Jan. 21, 2023, Divisional Round: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20

The Jaguars had their chance to take control in this one but let it get away. After Patrick Mahomes went out of the game with an injury in the second quarter, the Jaguars allowed backup Chad Henne to put together a 6-minute, 98-yard drive that gave Kansas City a 17-7 lead late in the second quarter. Mahomes returned in the second half and finished off the Jags after that.

Playoff record:8-8

Jan. 11, 2026, Wild Card Round: Bills at Jaguars, 1 p.m.

Is this the year the Jaguars can make the Super Bowl? With no Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson , Jared Goff or Joe Burrow , among others, it's as good a time as any. The Jaguars have had a torrid second half of the season. They have won eight games in a row entering the playoffs.

Standing on the other sideline will be the Buffalo Bills (12-5), winners of five of their past six games.

The two teams have met 20 times over the course of 31 seasons, including playoffs, and are 10-10. However, the Jaguars are 2-0 against the Bills in the postseason (1996 and 2017). The Bills were the first team the Jaguars played in a playoff game.

The last time they played wasn't very memorable for the Jaguars: the Bills won 47-10 on Monday Night Football on Sept. 23, 2024 in Orchard Park, N.Y.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars have played in three AFC Championship games, no Super Bowls

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