• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jones-Drew, Jaguars run over Texans

Oct 14, 2007 - 10:46 PM JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars' grind-it-out offense wore down the Houston Texans before the defense supplied the knockout blow.

Maurice Jones-Drew scored two touchdowns and accounted for 184 total yards as the Jaguars posted their fourth consecutive victory, a 37-17 triumph over the Texans in an AFC South Division matchup on Sunday.

"There were some outstanding individual efforts. (We) didn't even have to wait to get to the tape to give him (Jones-Drew) a game ball," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.

Jones-Drew finished with 125 yards rushing on 12 carries and 59 yards receiving on four catches

David Garrard threw two touchdown passes and linebacker Daryl Smith broke the game open with a 77-yard fumble return as Jacksonville avenged a series sweep at the hands of Houston last season.

"It feels great, the guys stuck with me and allowed me to make a few mistakes, but they continued on making plays," Garrard said.

The Jaguars (4-1) overcame an early missed field goal and two fumbles with a succession of long scoring drives.

Jones-Drew, who was coming off a 15-touchdown effort in his rookie season in 2006 but had just one entering this one, sandwiched scoring runs of 7 and 57 yards in the fourth quarter around Smith's return.

"Everyone was on their blocks and everyone was hustling to the ball," Jones-Drew said. "When you have that, I'm able to make moves or have someone behind me coming up to help me out."

Garrard, who finished 22-of-34 for 221 yards and zero interceptions, led scoring drives of 13 and 14 plays to help the Jaguars to a 16-6 lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter.

In five games, Garrard has six interceptions and has yet to throw an interception this season.

"The kid protects the ball," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's got to be one of the best young quarterbacks in football right now. I think he is only going to get better and coach Jack Del Rio does a great job with him."

Jones-Drew owned the fourth quarter, accounting for 73 of 78 yards before sweeping around right end to make it 23-9 with 13:11 left in the game.

After defensive end Paul Spicer sacked Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and forced a fumble, Smith scooped up the loose ball and took it the other way for a 30-9 lead with 10:55 left.

"There was some adversity we had to fight through early in the ballgame," Del Rio said. "The guys did a nice job of playing with discipline and poise, two things I stressed throughout the week.

"I feel like the maturity of this football team is improving and the hunger we are playing with and the attention to detail we are preparing with are things I believe in."

Jones-Drew capped off the rout with his 57-yard scoring burst.

"The offensive was great blocking, the tight ends and receivers were out there blocking and it was just a great overall effort," Jones-Drew said.

Kris Brown kicked three field goals for the Texans (3-3), who had registered six of the franchise's 18 victories prior to this season against Jacksonville since entering the league in 2002.

Both teams squandered multiple opportunities in the early going.

Houston had a 1st-and-goal at the 3 on its first possession but had to settle for Brown's 20-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Texans' next possession ended in a more painful conclusion. Schaub hit Andre Davis for an apparent 10-yard touchdown pass with 4:26 left in the first quarter, but safety Sammy Knight stripped the ball just as Davis was crossing the goal line and he fumbled out of the end zone.

Upon review, it was ruled a fumble and the Jaguars were awarded a touchback.

"We moved the football down the field on the first two drives and got three points, you can't do that against this (Jacksonville) team," Del Rio said. "When you run the ball for over nine yards a carry in this league like the Jaguars did, you are kicking someone's tail and that was ours they were kicking today."