The 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 6th under head coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from 2007 and did not make the playoffs. The Jaguars struggled to a 5–11 finish, the franchise's worst record since 2003. The team's struggles were in part the result of a rash of injuries to the team's offensive line. The Jaguars lost starting guards Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams for the season within the first quarter of the opening game. Tackle Richard Collier's career ended in early September when he was brutally attacked and shot 14 times.News 4 Jax Center Brad Meester missed the first two months of the season and guard Chris Naeole, signed to the roster mid-season in response to these injuries, was injured in pregame warmups before playing a single snap. Against teams with smaller defensive linemen, the 2008 Jaguars offense resembled the 2007 offense because the line was able to dominate. An example is the 23–21 victory in Indianapolis against the Colts that saw David Garrard drive the Jaguars into field goal range in the final minute, culminating with Josh Scobee booting the game-winning 51-yard field goal. However, the Jaguars overall struggled, especially in the second half of the season, as evidenced by a 21–19 loss to the Bengals, who entered the game with an 0–8 record.
This season marked the end of an era as running back Fred Taylor left the team after 11 seasons.
Offseason
NFL draft
Source:
Trades and free agent signings WR Troy Williamson acquired via trade from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 6th round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. WR Jerry Porter signed as a free agent from the Oakland Raiders. CB Drayton Florence acquired as a free agent from the San Diego Chargers. QB Cleo Lemon acquired as a free agent from the Miami Dolphins. DT Marcus Stroud was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for picks in the third and fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft. WR Ernest Wilford left as a free agent to sign with the Miami Dolphins. DE Bobby McCray left as a free agent to sign with the New Orleans Saints. S Sammy Knight left as a free agent to sign with the New York Giants.
Richard Collier shooting On September 2, 2008, third-year offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot outside an apartment building in Jacksonville while waiting for his girlfriend with a friend of his, former teammate Kenny Pettway, in his Cadillac Escalade. He was shot 14 times, largely in his lower torso and upper legs. Five bullets lodged in his bladder, and two struck his spine, severing his spinal cord. He was critically wounded, and spent three weeks on a ventilator. He was left paraplegic, as well as having his left leg amputated below the knee due to embolisms.
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 9 Atlanta Falcons W 20–17 1–0 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 2 August 16 Miami Dolphins L 14–19 1–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 3 August 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–17 2–1 Raymond James Stadium 4 August 28 at Washington Redskins W 24–3 3–1 FedExField
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Tennessee Titans L 10–17 0–1 LP Field 69,143 2 September 14 Buffalo Bills L 16–20 0–2 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,167 3 September 21 at Indianapolis Colts W 23–21 1–2 Lucas Oil Stadium 65,938 4 September 28 Houston Texans 2–2 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 64,061 5 October 5 Pittsburgh Steelers L 21–26 2–3 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,908 6 October 12 at Denver Broncos W 24–17 3–3 Invesco Field at Mile High 75,674 7Bye 8 October 26 Cleveland Browns L 17–23 3–4 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 64,775 9 November 2 at Cincinnati Bengals L 19–21 3–5 Paul Brown Stadium 64,238 10 November 9 at Detroit Lions W 38–14 4–5 Ford Field 52,631 11 November 16 Tennessee Titans L 14–24 4–6 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,258 12 November 23 Minnesota Vikings L 12–30 4–7 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,064 13 at Houston Texans L 17–30 4–8 Reliant Stadium 70,809 14 December 7 at Chicago Bears L 10–23 4–9 Soldier Field 61,736 15 December 14 Green Bay Packers W 20–16 5–9 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,457 16 Indianapolis Colts L 24–31 5–10 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 65,648 17 December 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–27 5–11 M&T Bank Stadium 71,366
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 3: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 6: at Denver Broncos
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 10: at Detroit Lions
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 13: at Houston Texans
Week 14: at Chicago Bears
Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
Standings Division
Conference
Notes and references