(Sportsbooks) - Another week, and another improbable, last-second victory for the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
After rallying for a 13-10 road victory in the season-opener at Buffalo, this time it was the Jaguars who watched as the opposing team drove down the field for a game-tying or game-winning score.
But on third-and-nine from the Jacksonville 23-yard line, Denver Broncos running back Quentin Griffin fumbled a handoff with 30 seconds to play, and Akin Ayodele pounced on it to seal a 7-6 victory. Denver's Jason Elam was waiting on the sideline, ready to boot the game-tying field goal with the wind at his back.
"I couldn't believe it," said Jacksonville receiver Jimmy Smith. "I laid back on the bench and thought it was over. The last two weeks I've done as much praying as anything. I don't know how it happens."
Smith caught three passes for 69 yards in the contest, extending his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 45.
But it certainly was not the offense that enabled the Jags to win their second straight to open the season - it was strong defense and mistake-free special teams that have placed the Jaguars atop the AFC South.
Jacksonville managed eight first downs, was 1-of-10 on third downs, held the ball for only 22:52 and gained a paltry 176 yards of total offense. The club was also penalized 10 times for 85 yards.
But early in the second quarter, Byron Leftwich found Ernest Wilford for a 12- yard TD pass that put the Jags up 7-0, and turned out to be all the points they would need.
Leftwich finished 8-of-16 for 120 yards, while Fred Taylor rushed 16 times for 54 yards. Despite the modest numbers of his quarterback, head coach Jack Del Rio is pleased with his handling of the offense.
"He's doing the things we need him to do to be good," said Del Rio. "When other people are functioning better around him, then he'll get too much credit. I anticipate we'll be singing his praises shortly."
Although not everything was positive after the Jaguars' ugly win. The club lost defensive lineman Paul Spicer to a broken right leg during the game, and surgery on Tuesday will likely end his season.
Spicer has been a key cog in Jacksonville's run defense. The Jags extended their league-best stretch to 17 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.
The Jaguars will look to extend that streak, as well as pick up their third victory of 2004 in as many tries, when the team travels to take on the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m. (et).
