The New England Patriots are back on the road in Week 3, taking on the Jaguars in Jacksonville. The two teams have played in some memorable games over the years, but in total will meet for only the 16th time between the regular season and playoffs.
Let’s take a look back at the first 15 of those games now.
Patriots vs. Jaguars series history
Overall history: The Jaguars entered the NFL in 1995, and as noted above have faced off against the Patriots on 15 occasions so far. Of those, five have come in the playoffs, including a pair of AFC
Championship Games: the first in 1996 was won by the Patriots 20-6, as was the second, a 24-20 victory in 2017. New England also won a divisional game in 2007 (31-20) and a wild card game in 2005 (28-3). Jacksonville’s lone playoff victory came in the 1998 wild card round (25-10). In the regular season, the Patriots hold an 8-2 advantage. All three of their losses in the series so far have come in Jacksonville, where the teams are an even 3-3.
First game: The Patriots hosted the Jaguars at Foxboro Stadium in Week 4 of the 1996 season. Three Adam Vinatieri field goals as well as touchdowns scored by Ben Coates and Curtis Martin allowed head coach Bill Parcells’ team to take a 22-0 lead in the first half, but the Jaguars fought back and scored on a Hail Mary just before halftime. Momentum shifted drastically from that point on, with the visitors erasing their deficit and nearly stealing a win. However, a Drew Bledsoe pick-six off a bobbled pass was called back by penalty and another Jaguars Hail Mary was caught inside the 1-yard line as time expired. In overtime, Bledsoe led his team down the field and the rookie Vinatieri kicked the game-winner from 40 yards out to secure a 28-25 win. | Highlights
Most memorable game: Coming off a 35-point outing in the 2017 divisional round, the Patriots offense struggled against arguably the NFL’s best defense in the ensuing AFC title game. It did not help that Tom Brady had injured his hand in practice leading up to the game, nor that Rob Gronkowski exited in the first half with a concussion, but Jacksonville gave New England all sorts of fits early. Ultimately, however, a 20-10 lead was not enough for the visitors to punch their Super Bowl ticket. Brady and Danny Amendola took over in the fourth quarter, after all, combining for two touchdowns. The Jaguars’ last-gasp effort to come back ended with Stephon Gilmore making an acrobatic pass breakup on 4th-and-14. | Highlights
Most recent game: Drake Maye’s second career start back in 2024 saw him take on the Jaguars at London’s Wembley Stadium. Even though the Patriots jumped to an early 10-0 lead, the game quickly went south for the team from that point on: Jacksonville joined 25 consecutive points between the second and third quarters, including a 96-yard punt return touchdown. A fourth quarter TD from Maye to K.J. Osborn did little to change the eventual outcome, and New England losing the game with a final score of 32-16. | Highlights
The Patriots will take on the Jaguars at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Both teams own identical 1-1 records entering the contest.
