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Bench Warmer
The Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to sell a few more tickets now.
David Garrard threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns, two to Mike Sims-Walker, and the Jacksonville Jaguars dismantled the Tennessee Titans 37-17 Sunday.
Garrard shredded Tennessee's injury depleted secondary, often picking on rookie cornerback Jason McCourty, and Jacksonville's defense made the Titans look, well, like a winless team.
Announced attendance was 49,014 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the second straight home game blacked on local television. Owner Wayne Weaver said this week he would consider playing some future games in nearby Orlando -- a wake-up call to fans.
The Jaguars did their part by putting on an offensive show for the second time in as many weeks.
Garrard and Sims-Walker starred in this one.
Garrard completed 27 of 37 passes, the latest quarterback to burn the NFL's 29th-ranked pass defense. The Titans had an excuse in this one: They played without cornerback Cortland Finnegan and nickel back Vincent Fuller. Clearly, the Jaguars took notice.
A team built to run the ball, Jacksonville threw early and often. Garrard passed 25 times in the first half, and the team ran nine times -- including two scrambles by Garrard and an end-around to Mike Thomas.
Sims-Walker was Garrard's top target. He had a 9-yard TD reception in the second quarter and a 15-yarder with 27 seconds remaining in the half that made it 27-3. Officials initially ruled it incomplete, saying Sims-Walker dropped the ball when he hit the ground in the end zone, but it was overturned on replay. Officials said Sims-Walker had both feet down in the end zone before McCourty stripped the ball out of his hands.
It could have been worse for Tennessee, too.
Kerry Collins threw an interception on the ensuing possession, and Gerald Alexander returned it to the 26-yard line -- well inside Josh Scobee's field-goal range. But Garrard was sacked for an 11-yard loss, and Scobee missed a 55-yarder as time expired.
Collins completed 29 of 48 passes for 284 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. He hooked up with Nate Washington for a 14-yard score late in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 30-9, but it was too little, too late.
Sims-Walker finished with seven catches for 91 yards. Scobee kicked three field goals, including a 50-yarder. Marcedes Lewis caught four passes for 76 yards, including a 33-yard TD reception late in the game.
Thomas picked up first downs running and receiving, and set up two touchdowns with long returns. His 34-yard punt return set up Maurice Jones-Drew's 9-yard TD run in the first quarter, and his 42-yard kickoff return set up Garrard's first TD pass to Sims-Walker.
Jacksonville's defense came up big, too. The unit held Chris Johnson to 83 yards on 16 carries, kept steady pressure on Collins and finished with three turnovers. The Titans have 11 turnovers in four games, the main reason they remain winless.
It was hardly the kind of performance Titans coach Jeff Fisher had grown accustomed to in Jacksonville. Tennessee had won 10 of its previous 15 games in Jacksonville.
David Garrard threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns, two to Mike Sims-Walker, and the Jacksonville Jaguars dismantled the Tennessee Titans 37-17 Sunday.
Garrard shredded Tennessee's injury depleted secondary, often picking on rookie cornerback Jason McCourty, and Jacksonville's defense made the Titans look, well, like a winless team.
Announced attendance was 49,014 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the second straight home game blacked on local television. Owner Wayne Weaver said this week he would consider playing some future games in nearby Orlando -- a wake-up call to fans.
The Jaguars did their part by putting on an offensive show for the second time in as many weeks.
Garrard and Sims-Walker starred in this one.
Garrard completed 27 of 37 passes, the latest quarterback to burn the NFL's 29th-ranked pass defense. The Titans had an excuse in this one: They played without cornerback Cortland Finnegan and nickel back Vincent Fuller. Clearly, the Jaguars took notice.
A team built to run the ball, Jacksonville threw early and often. Garrard passed 25 times in the first half, and the team ran nine times -- including two scrambles by Garrard and an end-around to Mike Thomas.
Sims-Walker was Garrard's top target. He had a 9-yard TD reception in the second quarter and a 15-yarder with 27 seconds remaining in the half that made it 27-3. Officials initially ruled it incomplete, saying Sims-Walker dropped the ball when he hit the ground in the end zone, but it was overturned on replay. Officials said Sims-Walker had both feet down in the end zone before McCourty stripped the ball out of his hands.
It could have been worse for Tennessee, too.
Kerry Collins threw an interception on the ensuing possession, and Gerald Alexander returned it to the 26-yard line -- well inside Josh Scobee's field-goal range. But Garrard was sacked for an 11-yard loss, and Scobee missed a 55-yarder as time expired.
Collins completed 29 of 48 passes for 284 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. He hooked up with Nate Washington for a 14-yard score late in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 30-9, but it was too little, too late.
Sims-Walker finished with seven catches for 91 yards. Scobee kicked three field goals, including a 50-yarder. Marcedes Lewis caught four passes for 76 yards, including a 33-yard TD reception late in the game.
Thomas picked up first downs running and receiving, and set up two touchdowns with long returns. His 34-yard punt return set up Maurice Jones-Drew's 9-yard TD run in the first quarter, and his 42-yard kickoff return set up Garrard's first TD pass to Sims-Walker.
Jacksonville's defense came up big, too. The unit held Chris Johnson to 83 yards on 16 carries, kept steady pressure on Collins and finished with three turnovers. The Titans have 11 turnovers in four games, the main reason they remain winless.
It was hardly the kind of performance Titans coach Jeff Fisher had grown accustomed to in Jacksonville. Tennessee had won 10 of its previous 15 games in Jacksonville.
