GAME RUNNER:
1st Quarter:
RECAP: The Jaguars are moving the ball almost at will against the Panthers and get on the board first with a 22-yard TD strike from David Garrard to Reggie Williams. The Jaguars out-gain the Panthers 117-25 in the first quarter.
BIG PLAY: Jack Del Rio, who has gone for it on fourth down more than any coach in the league, goes for it on fourth-and-2 at the Carolina 35 and the gamble pays off as Garrard hit Maurice Jones-Drew with a 13-yard pass in the flat. That leads to the Jaguars first touchdown.
BIG MISTAKE: On Williams’ touchdown catch, both Chris Gamble and Deke Cooper have a shot at tackling him at the 10 but they collide, allowing Williams to squeeze between for the score.
COMMENT: Where is all the creativity the Panthers displayed on offense last week? It seems to be back to the same old boring Panthers in this game.
SCORE: Jacksonville 7, Carolina 0
2nd Quarter:
RECAP: The Jaguars continue to dominate this game on both sides of the ball, but the Panthers are hanging around. Carolina has a chance to tie the game late in the first half, but Vinny Testaverde overthrows Jeff King down the middle of the field and the Panthers settle for a another field goal.
BIG PLAY: With Jacksonville clearly in control, safety Chris Harris pops Fred Taylor in the backfield and the ball bounces high in the air – higher than most pooch punts, dare we say. Mike Rucker wisely jumps on the ball at the Jaguars 37-yard line instead of trying to pick it up and run with it. It was Taylor’s first fumble in 22 games.
BIG MISTAKE: This time Del Rio’s gamble doesn’t work. The Panthers stuff the Jaguars on a fourth-and-3 pass play at the Carolina 42. The Panthers offense responds with a 49-yard field goal by John Kasay.
COMMENT: How is it Kasay can kick the ball between the pipes on a field goal but he can’t kick it between the white lines on a kickoff? For the fifth time this season, Kasay boots one out of bounds, giving the Jaguars the ball at the 40. Luckily for the Panthers, the defense bails him out.
SCORE: Jacksonville 10, Carolina 6