It is kind of weird when you think about it. The Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers isn't a traditional rivalry—they aren't in the same division, and geographically, they couldn't be much further apart on the East Coast. Yet, every time these two teams meet, things get weird. Very weird.
Honestly, if you ask a Steelers fan about Jacksonville, they won’t talk about the beaches or the golf. They’ll talk about 2017. They’ll talk about how a "young" expansion team in the late 90s somehow became a persistent thorn in the side of one of the NFL's most storied franchises.
The Jaguars actually lead the all-time series. Think about that. A team that has spent large chunks of the last two decades at the bottom of the standings holds a 14-13 winning record (including playoffs) over the powerhouse from the Steel City.
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The 2017 Nightmare that Steeler Nation Can't Shake
Basically, the 2017 season was supposed to be Pittsburgh’s year. Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell were at the peak of their "Killer Bs" powers. But the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers matchup that year turned into a two-part horror movie for Mike Tomlin’s squad.
First, there was the regular-season game where Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions. Five. I’m not kidding. Jacksonville won that one 30-9, and we all thought it was a fluke. It wasn’t.
When they met again in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Steelers were heavy favorites at home. Instead, Leonard Fournette ran all over them. The Jaguars jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and despite a frantic 469-yard, five-touchdown performance from Big Ben, Pittsburgh lost 45-42. It was a shootout that nobody saw coming, and it arguably broke that era of Steelers football.
Why the Jaguars Always Seem to Have the Recipe
It’s the "bully" factor. Historically, the Steelers pride themselves on being the most physical team on the field. They want to hit you. But for some reason, the Jaguars—especially the 1990s versions with Fred Taylor and the 2017 "Sacksonville" defense—have been one of the few teams that could actually out-muscle them.
Take Fred Taylor's legendary performance in 2000. He rushed for 234 yards at Three Rivers Stadium. That is still the most rushing yards ever recorded by an opponent in that stadium's history.
Fast forward to the modern era, and the dynamic has shifted but the tension remains. We saw it again in August 2025 during the preseason opener. Even in a game that "doesn't count," the Steelers had to sweat out a 31-25 victory at EverBank Stadium. Pittsburgh's defense, led by the usual suspects, managed to hold off a late Jacksonville surge, but the game was riddled with penalties and that familiar "anything can happen" energy.
Recent Matchups and What They Tell Us
If you’ve been following the scores lately, you know the gap is closing. In 2023, the Jaguars went into Pittsburgh and left with a 20-10 win. Trevor Lawrence didn't even have his best game, but the Jacksonville defense absolutely suffocated the Steelers' offense.
- Road Dominance: Oddly enough, the road team has won 11 of the last 13 games in this series.
- Defensive Grinds: While 2017 was a scoring explosion, most of these games are low-scoring, ugly affairs.
- The Tomlin Factor: Mike Tomlin is 5-2 against Jacksonville in the regular season, but those two playoff losses loom large over his legacy.
What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry is set for another chapter. The NFL recently confirmed the 2026 opponents, and the Steelers are scheduled to travel back down to Jacksonville.
The Jaguars are in a "reload" phase. After a 2025 season where they claimed the AFC South title, head coach Liam Coen and QB Trevor Lawrence are trying to prove they belong in the elite tier of the AFC. Meanwhile, the Steelers remain the Steelers—a 10-7 team in 2025 that won the AFC North because they simply refuse to have a losing season.
If you're betting on this game or just watching as a fan, ignore the jerseys. Don't look at the historical prestige of the Terrible Towel. Look at the trenches. When Jacksonville wins, it’s because they’ve neutralized the Steelers' pass rush. When Pittsburgh wins, it’s because they’ve forced Lawrence into the kind of mistakes Roethlisberger made back in 2017.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning to follow the next showdown, here’s how to prep:
1. Watch the Injury Report for the O-Line
This matchup is always decided by pass protection. If Jacksonville’s offensive line is banged up, T.J. Watt will wreck the game. It’s that simple.
2. Follow the Turnover Margin
In the last five meetings, the team that won the turnover battle won the game 100% of the time. This sounds like a cliché, but with these two specific teams, it’s a law of physics.
3. Check the Weather in Jacksonville
If it's one of those humid, 95-degree Florida afternoons, the Steelers' heavy defensive rotations usually struggle by the fourth quarter. Jacksonville uses that heat as a 12th man.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers game is never just another Sunday on the calendar. It's a clash of identities. It's a reminder that in the NFL, history has a weird way of repeating itself, usually right when you think you've moved past it.
Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule release this offseason. You’ll want to circle the date when the black and gold head south, because if history is any indication, it’s going to be a stressful three hours for everyone involved.