The Titans discovered this in 2008. The Jaguars learned fifteen years later not to meddle with the Terrible Towel.
The Jaguars defeated the Steelers at Pittsburgh in Week 8. Jacksonville improved to 6-2 with the victory. The Jaguars showed their appreciation by waving Terrible Towels.
Since then, the Jaguars have lost six of nine games and will be eliminated from the playoffs. Their defeat to (who else?) the Titans allowed the Steelers to make the playoffs.
“When will yinz learn?” the Steelers asked on X following the Jaguars’ loss, repeating Jacksonville’s post with video of Jaguars players waving the Terrible Towel.
In 2008, the Titans defeated the Steelers late in the regular season to claim the AFC’s top seed. The Terrible Towel was desecrated by several Titans players. The Titans were defeated in the divisional round by the Baltimore Ravens, while the Steelers won the Super Bowl.
In 2005, Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh washed his cleats with a Terrible Towel after the Bengals appeared to have dealt the Steelers the death blow late in the regular season. The Steelers bounced back, defeating the Bengals in the wild-card round of the playoffs before winning the Super Bowl.
