One in a row!!

by Rich Rundel ProFootballFanatics.com columnist

In a typical Florida torrential rain, the Jaguars put it to the Steelers this past Sunday rolling to a 21-3 victory.

It was a heated match-up that will be missed next year, as the AFC Central division rivals will go their separate ways in 2002. Jacksonville will be heading to the AFC South and Pittsburgh to the AFC North.

The game started out with the National Anthem, sung by Gerald Alton, former lead singer of the Manhattans, then a fly-by of four F-15s and the Jaguars winning the coin toss by 'ole "W" himself from the White House. I just knew we were in for a great game.

Jacksonville got the ball and did nothing. All right I started to sweat. Pittsburgh came back and ended up with a field goal taking a 3-0 lead early in the 1st quarter. After that the game just went to the Jags.

The Jaguars were solid both on offense and defense. Brunell threw for three touchdowns with a mere 198 yards, but no interceptions. Jimmy Smith caught two of Brunell's TDs and racked up 126 yards on just eight passes. Fred Taylor was just shy of another 100-yard game with 96. The Jaguars had two interceptions, one by Donovan Darius and one by Hardy Nickerson. Jacksonville had three sacks including one from rookie DE Paul Spicer.

The rain kept the second half scoreless but did keep the crowd amused on plays like when the Jaguars punt returner Damon Gibson fumbled, but teammate James Boyd picked it up on one hop and went another 46 yards to the Pittsburgh four yard line. It was just Jacksonville's day.

But as fans learned today, it wasn't all good. Coach Tom Coughlin announced today that Strong Safety Donovan Darius would be lost indefinitely due to a posterior left hip fracture. "He played most of the game with it. He got hit from behind and his leg was extended," said Coughlin.

Darius had a great game against Pittsburgh (broken hip and all) including a blocked punt 4:30 into the second quarter. "Double D" took kicker Josh Miller out of the game; Miller suffered a thigh contusion on the tackle. The coach will now have to decide on what to do with the position. It seems likely that rookie Marlon McCree will get the nod. Darius also caught an interception in the last quarter of the game and returned it for 39 yards, locking up the win. Other injuries in the game include Tony Boselli, a jammed thumb and Gary Walker, who broke a finger. Both should not miss any playing time.

While the Jaguars are enjoying what may be their only time in first place this year, they head to Chicago next week to face the struggling Bears. Hopefully I can scream TWO IN A ROW!!

This article is courtesy ProFootballFanatics.com, where Rich Rundel covers the Jacksonville Jaguars on a regular basis.