Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars, KC Chiefs have been in same number of close games, with one difference
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars, KC Chiefs have been in same number of close games, with one difference
What do the 2024 versions of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs have in common?
If you said both have played 10 one-score games, you'd be correct.
For the sake of this article, we'll define one-score or less as 8 points or fewer.
Advertisement
However, there's one big difference between the two teams: The Chiefs have Taylor Swift (cue rim shot).
OK, seriously, the other difference is, the Chiefs are 10-0 in one-score games while the Jaguars are 2-8 .
NO DIVISION: Jaguars' locker room still sticking together while mired in hellacious season
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 and Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 30-29 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Even before Jaguars franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence was injured , he was just 1-6 in one-score games he started in 2024.
However, while 10 one-score games seems like a lot, the Jaguars and Chiefs don't even lead the league.
What team has played the most one-score games in 2024?
Three teams — the Houston Texans , Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts — have been involved in 11 one-score games.
Advertisement
Each of those three teams has a winning record in those games, with the Texans and Rams at 7-4 and the Colts at 6-5.
In fact, at 6-8, the Colts have only won close games.
It should be noted that it's not necessarily a good thing if a team is playing games that aren't separated by 8 points or fewer.
One of the worst teams in the league — the Carolina Panthers — have played in a league-low five one-score games. That's mainly because they're often getting blown out, and hence, not in a lot of close games.
Meanwhile, tied for the league low at five is the Denver Broncos , who are 1-4 in close games, yet they have an overall record of 9-5.
Advertisement
Who's been the worst team in the NFL in one-score games in 2024?
Well, the Jags may be bad at 2-8, but the New York Giants are the worst at 0-7. The Jaguars are tied for next-worst with a .200 winning percent in these close contests. The Broncos are tied with the Jags for second-lowest winning percent, as they are 1-4. The Cincinnati Bengals are next at 2-7 (.222 winning percent).
Of the 11 teams that have had nine finals with 8 points or fewer separating them, four have losing records: Colts (6-8), Jaguars (3-11), Bengals (6-8) and Jets (4-10). Meanwhile, four of them are division leaders: Rams (8-6), Texans (9-5), Chiefs (13-1) and Steelers (10-4).
Here's a look at all 32 teams, and how they've fared in games determined by 8 points or fewer.
| Team |
No. Close Games |
Close Games record |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans |
11 |
7-4 |
| Los Angeles Rams |
11 |
7-4 |
| Indianapolis Colts |
11 |
6-5 |
| 10 |
10-0 |
|
| 10 |
6-4 |
|
| 10 |
5-5 |
|
| New York Jets |
10 |
3-7 |
| 10 |
2-8 |
|
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
9 |
6-3 |
| 9 |
5-4 |
|
| Cincinnati Bengals |
9 |
2-7 |
| 8 |
7-1 |
|
| 8 |
7-1 |
|
| 8 |
6-2 |
|
| 8 |
5-3 |
|
| 8 |
4-4 |
|
| 8 |
4-4 |
|
| 8 |
2-6 |
|
| 7 |
3-4 |
|
| 7 |
3-4 |
|
| 7 |
2-5 |
|
| 7 |
2-5 |
|
| 7 |
2-5 |
|
| New York Giants |
7 |
0-7 |
| 6 |
4-2 |
|
| 6 |
3-3 |
|
| 6 |
2-4 |
|
| 6 |
2-4 |
|
| 6 |
2-4 |
|
| 5 |
4-1 |
|
| Carolina Panthers |
5 |
2-3 |
| Denver Broncos |
5 |
1-4 |
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars in close games: How they fare vs. other NFL teams
