Jaguars Pummel Jets
By: Roger Priddy on 09.30.2002
t looks like this may not be such a bad season after all. Fred Taylor had 237 yards, Stacey Mack "Daddy" scored 3 touchdowns and the Jaguars made short work of the New York Jet-less Jets, 28-3. It was a beautiful day in Jacksonville, and a magnificent day to be a fan of the team that puts the "Jag" in Jaguars.
You can't ask for much better of a start. The Jags shut down the Jets O their first possession, forcing a 3 and out. Then Jacksonville went to work. Their first offensive snap, Jacksonville came out in a 3 wide receiver set. Brunell dropped back to pass, and fired a beauty to a wide-open Fred Taylor. Taylor went 72 yards with the pass, actually 73 (thanks for negative 1 refs), but took the ball all the way down to the Jets 1.
Stacey Mack took it in the very next play. 72 yard pass, touchdown in 2 plays, 7-0 lead with 13:30 left in the first quarter... not a darn bad way to start a football game.
Jacksonville could have packed up and left right then, barely seconds into the game, because the Jets wouldn't put but 3 points on the board the entire game.
Taylor had 142 yards rushing and 95 receiving on the day. Mark Brunell was barely needed after the first pass, but was sharper than Jaguar claws when he did pass, going 10 of 15 for 173 (nearly 12 yards an attempt). And Stacey Mack added 70 yards on 15 carries.
The Jacksonville defense was dominant. They did bend a little, but never broke. Vinny Testaverde (Elton needs to make a new song, because Vinny ain't going to be playing for the Jets much longer) went 0-4 in limited action before leaving the game because of an injury. Chad Pennington replaced Testy Testaverde. Pennington put up decent numbers and had some success moving the ball, but thanks to a number of redzone stands, he only had three points to show for his efforts.
It was a performance that reminded me a lot of the Jaguars of old... Brunell crisp, Taylor torching, getting out to an early lead and letting a defense that refuses to break decapitate the opposing team. It was awesome. Jacksonville improved to 2-1 while the reeling Jets dropped to 1-3. Next week, it's Philly and Hot and Poppin Donovan McNabb. Boy, if Jacksonville can get it together, keep this up and win next week... "Look out!"
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