ON TV: Blake Bortles on Jaguars All Access, 7 p.m. Monday, CBS47
Nearly two dozen Jacksonville Jaguars fans had to be taken to the hospital after enduring one of the hottest games in recent NFL history.
Action News Jax meteorologist Mike Buresh said that feel-like temperatures on the field were nearly 110 degrees. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said that 77 people were treated at TIAA Bank for heat-related issues.
JSO said to help combat the heat, prices of water bottles were dropped to $2. The game attendance was over 68,000 fans.
The New England Patriots said that it was the hottest game in franchise history. NFL.com said that it was the hottest heat-index game since 2003. It was only the second time five-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady had played in a game that was over 90 degrees.
The heat might have been an advantage to the Jaguars, who raced to an early lead in the first half to dominate the New England Patriots 31-20. Quarterback Blake Bortles, a Florida native, had one of the best games of his five-year career, throwing for nearly 400 yards.
"It was pretty hot, I found myself drinking a lot of water. It was a beautiful day for the Jaguars," defensive end Dante Fowler said.