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Jaguars, Buccaneers look to rebound from losses

Oct 28, 2007 - 10:55 AM Jacksonville (4-2) at Tampa Bay (4-3) Sunday 4:05 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- A budding intrastate rivalry lost a bit of its luster when both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost this past weekend.

The Jaguars, coming off a sound beating by the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, look to rebound when they make the short trip south to face the Buccaneers.

Not only was Jacksonville humbled by the Colts, 29-7, in what was a showdown for the AFC South lead, but it also lost quarterback David Garrard to a sprained ankle and running back Maurice Jones-Drew to a sprained knee.

Garrard's injury was the most damaging, forcing him to the sideline for the second half, and he is expected to be out for Sunday's game - and perhaps significantly longer. He was scheduled for an MRI exam Tuesday.

Had Garrard been able to go, his matchup with Buccaneers counterpart Jeff Garcia would have pitted the only two quarterbacks in the NFL that have yet to throw an interception this season.

Instead, the Jaguars likely will have to go with untested fourth-year quarterback Quinn Gray, who was dreadful Monday's night.

Gray finished 9-of-24 for just 56 yards and two interceptions - the first picks by a Jacksonville quarterback this season. He had attempted just 21 passes in his first three seasons.

The prognosis on Jones-Drew is less definitive. He rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries and scored Jacksonville's only touchdown, which he set up with a 65-yard kick return.

A pair of costly miscues by Garcia hurt the Buccaneers in a 23-16 loss to the Detroit.

Garcia had not committed a turnover in his previous five games, but a fumbled snap at the Lions 1-yard line snuffed out one drive and a bobbled handoff set up Detroit's first touchdown.

Those mistakes tarnished an otherwise superb effort by Garcia, who tied a team record with 18 consecutive completions and finished 37-of-45 for 316 yards and two touchdowns.

The woes continue to pile up for Tampa Bay, which has been devastated by injuries this season.

Already missing three running backs, return specialist was lost for the season and wide receiver Mark Clayton suffered an ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for two weeks.

One positive for the Bucs was the performance of running back Earnest Graham, who rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries and added 99 yards receiving on 13 receptions.