JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) In a matchup of winless teams,
something had to give, and the San Diego Chargers had a defense
that was more than up to the challenge.
San Diego's butter-soft `D' helped Byron Leftwich look like a
seasoned veteran. Leftwich threw for 336 yards in his second career
start to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 27-21 victory Sunday.
Jimmy Smith returned from his four-game suspension and looked as
though he'd been there the whole time, catching eight passes for
137 yards. The Jaguars (1-4) gained a season-high 436 yards and
dominated the Game of the Weak more thoroughly than the score
showed.
``I'm really happy for the players and the staff that we finally
got over the hump,'' said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who got his
first career victory.
Leftwich threw for two scores, the second of which was a 60-yard
touchdown on a screen pass to Fred Taylor that gave the Jaguars a
27-14 lead late.
Smith, who returned to the team after six weeks in a rehab
center, had a one-handed, highlight-reel catch on the sideline, and
played better than expected.
``I was very grateful to go out there and do whatever I could to
help the team,'' he said.
Returning from a one-game suspension of his own this for
violating team rules San Diego's David Boston led everyone with
14 catches for 181 yards and two scores.
But not even that could save the Chargers (0-5), who head into
their bye week with the early lead along with the 0-4 Jets in
the race for the first pick in next year's draft.
``With the talent we have, it's definitely a surprise to be
0-5,'' Boston said. ``There are a lot of great teams that start out
this way, and at some time it's going to turn around for us. We've
just got to believe in what the coaches tell us and it will turn
around.''
Not, however, if the defensive backfield doesn't shore things
up. San Diego's young cornerbacks got torched.
Of course, even when he has been on the shelf, it's no travesty
to get burned by Smith, the NFL's most prolific receiver over the
last seven years. But when journeyman Matt Hatchette catches a
wide-open 45-yard pass that makes Sammy Davis Jr., the first-round
draft pick, look like Sammy Davis Jr., the Candyman, it's clear
there's trouble.
``Any time you have Jimmy on your team, it's a respect thing,''
Leftwich said. ``You saw it in the second half. They were putting
two, three guys on him. That's when guys like Matt Hatchette and
guys like Troy (Edwards) make big plays.''
Hatchette's catch was the key to a 90-yard touchdown drive that
resulted in Edwards' 18-yard score for a 17-7 Jacksonville lead
late in the third.
San Diego pulled to 20-14 with 4 minutes left, but on
third-and-7, Leftwich threw a pretty screen to Taylor, who used a
great block from center Brad Meester to spring for the long score.
San Diego got within six again with 20 seconds left, but the
Jaguars recovered an onside kick to seal the game.
``Wins are tough to come by, so when you get them, you've got to
celebrate them,'' Leftwich said. ``At the same time, this has to be
one of many.''
Leftwich went 19-for-28 for a passer rating of 132.4. The guy
Leftwich replaced, Mark Brunell, was the third-string quarterback
for the second straight week, out with an injured elbow that he
insisted was perfectly fine.
Del Rio said he would announce next week's starting quarterback
in a few days.
The Chargers, meanwhile, have a week to stew over a bad start
unexpected from a team many experts pegged as a playoff contender
this year.
Drew Brees had a good statistical day, although most of the
yards came in a futile comeback effort. He finished 24-for-41 for
296 yards and three scores.
``The score doesn't even matter,'' coach Marty Schottenheimer
said, explaining his emphasis on toughening the team's attitude to
get wins. ``I talked all week don't even bother looking at the
scoreboard.''<
^Notes:@ LaDainian Tomlinson came into the game ranked third in NFL
rushing, but finished with just 38 yards. ... Jaguars safety
Donovin Darius was called for two 15-yard penalties, one for a
flagrant facemask, another for roughing the passer, which nullified
an interception on San Diego's final scoring drive.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)