Jones-Drew keeps rolling

Sep 27, 2009 at 05:34 PM

Improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the AFC South. * Improved to 7-8 against the Texans. * Won at Houston for the first time since 12/24/05 (38-20) and third time overall. * Head Coach Jack Del Rio improved to 51-48 since taking over the helm in 2003. * Are 22-20 on the road since 2004. * Improved to 1-1 in the AFC South.

It marks the third consecutive season the club has split their first two division games.

JONES-DREW CONTINUES ASSAULT ON END ZONE

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew posted his ninth career game with multiple touchdowns as he scored on a 60-yard run in the second quarter, a one-yard rush in the third quarter and an eight-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. The three touchdowns tied his career-high (3, 11/9/08 at Detroit). Jones-Drew has 44 career touchdowns which have all come in the last 48 games. Additional notes on Jones-Drew:

He has registered 38 career rushing touchdowns, the second-most in team history.
The Jaguars improved to 7-2 in games when Jones-Drew has multiple touchdowns.
Has seven rushing touchdowns against the Texans in six career games.
Registered 18 touchdowns (16 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 return) in 19 career games against AFC South opponents.
Played in his 50th career game on Sunday.

The 61-yard run was the second-longest of his career (74t, 12/24/06 vs. New England). It was his first rush of 50-plus yards since 10/14/07 vs. Houston when he had a 57-yard touchdown run. * Leads the team in touchdowns (4), rushes (57), rushing yards (282), receptions (13) and yards from scrimmage (353) through three games. * Has a reception in 38 consecutive games. * Has 74 rushes of 10-plus yards, 21 of 20-plus yards and four of 50-plus yards. He has registered 12 rushing touchdowns of 10-plus yards, seven of 20-plus yards and four of 50-plus yards. * Recorded 20-plus carries in his second game this season and seventh time overall.

JAGUARS LINEBACKER MAKES KEY STOP

Linebacker Daryl Smith made several plays down the stretch with none bigger than his play with 2:10 remaining in the game. Smith forced a fumble of Texans running back Chris Brown at the one-yard line and recovered the fumble in the end zone to seal the win. Smith was credited with five of his seven tackles in the fourth quarter. He leads the team with two forced fumbles through three games.

MATHIS EXTENDS FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 26TH CAREER INTERCEPTION

Rashean Mathis intercepted Matt Schaub on the opening drive of the game, extending his franchise record to 26 career interceptions and 29 takeaways. Seventeen of his 26 interceptions have come on the road. It marked Mathis' second consecutive game against Houston with an interception. In addition, Mathis moved into ninth place in team history for most career starts at 93. He has takeaways in back-to-back games as he recovered a fumble last week against Arizona.

RED ZONE PRODUCTION

The Jaguars came away with touchdowns on all three trips to the red zone, all on first down plays. The Jaguars were faced with first-and-goal on the two-yard line in the second quarter and David Garrard ran in for a score. Maurice Jones-Drew scored on a first-and-goal from the one with a run off left tackle in the third quarter. Jones-Drew went up the middle for a score in the fourth quarter on a first-and-goal from the eight-yard line. The Jaguars have produced points in all seven trips to the red zone through three games (5 touchdowns, 2 field goals).

JAGUARS CONTINUE RUSH

The Jaguars rushed for a season-high 184 yards on 31 carries (5.9 avg.) with four touchdowns. The 184 rushing yards were the most by the Jaguars since 9/21/08 at Indianapolis (236), a span of 15 games. The Jaguars have totaled 100-plus rushing yards in 18 of the last 20 division games including 10 games with 140-plus rushing yards. The last time the Jaguars scored four rushing touchdowns was 12/10/06 vs. Indianapolis.

TAKING THE BALL AWAY

The Jaguars finished with a plus-one turnover differential as Rashean Mathis had an interception and Daryl Smith recovered a fumble in the end zone to preserve the victory. The Jaguars have had at least two takeaways in each of the first three games for only the third time in franchise history (1997, 2002). Through three games, the Jaguars have forced six turnovers (4 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) and own a plus-two turnover differential. The Jaguars are 37-9 since 2003 when they win the turnover margin.

PUTTING UP THE POINTS

The Jaguars scored a season-high 31 points, the most since 11/9/08 at Detroit (38), and produced 30-plus points for the 13th time under head coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars outscored the Texans 14-3 in the second half and have scored 28-plus points against the Texans in four of the last five games.

PROTECTING THE QUARTERBACK

The Jaguars did not allow a sack for the first time since 9/21/08 at Indianapolis, a span of 15 games. The Jaguars have had 13 games under head coach Jack Del Rio without allowing a sack and 18 total.

GARRARD LEADS JAGUARS ON THREE 10-PLAY DRIVES AND FOUR TOUCHDOWNS

Quarterback David Garrard engineered the offense to a season-high 398 total yards including three drives of 10-plus plays and improved his record as a starter to 25-24. Garrard finished 18 of 30 passing for 214 yards for an 81.8 passer rating. Additional notes on Garrard:

Had a 30-yard run on the club's opening drive, the second-longest run of his career (41t, 10/13/02 at Tennessee).
Scored his 10th career touchdown on a two-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
Had six completions of 14-plus yards with a long of 28 yards to Mike Sims-Walker.
Has 30 or more attempts in 13 of the last 16 games.
Improved to 11-11 on the road and 8-13 in the division.
Has played in eight games against the Texans with six starts and owns a 4-2 record.

Has scored a point in 60 consecutive games dating back to 1/2/05 which is the second-longest streak in team history. Mike Hollis holds the team record at 67 games. * Has reached the end zone with 11 of his 14 kickoffs through three games. * Is four of six on field goals through three games. He had one blocked against Arizona and he fell just short on a franchise-record attempt of 63 yards at the end of the first half at Indianapolis in the season-opener.

HOLT MOVES INTO 12TH PLACE IN NFL HISTORY

Torry Holt surpassed Irving Fryar (12,785) in 12th place for most career receiving yards as he finished with three receptions for 57 yards (19.0 avg.). Holt has 881 career receptions for 12,829 yards.

Had a reception in his 156th consecutive game, the second-longest streak among active players and the 9th-longest in NFL history.
Is two receptions shy of tying former Jaguars wide receiver Keenan McCardell (883) in 10th place in NFL history.
Played in his 59th consecutive game, his 161st overall. He has missed only two games in his career.

SIMS-WALKER PRODUCES IN LEADING ROLE

Third-year wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker led the Jaguars with six receptions for 81 yards including receptions of 28 and 17 yards. The six receptions tied his career-high while the 81 receiving yards were the third-most of his career. Four of his six receptions came in the second half. He has 12 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown in the last two games.

WELCOME TO THE NFL

Three Jaguars made their NFL debut against the Texans. Wide receiver Mike Thomas had two carries for 35 yards (17.5 avg.) along with one reception for 10 yards and two kickoff returns for an 18.0 average. San Antonio native Jarett Dillard was active for the first time along with tight end Zach Miller.

WILFORD SURPASSES 2,000 RECEIVING YARDS AS A JAGUAR

Tight end Ernest Wilford surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards as a Jaguar and became only the eighth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. Wilford has 2,007 career receiving yards.

TRENDS

The Jaguars own a 34-6 record since 2003 when they score 20-plus points and control the ball for 30 minutes or more. The Jaguars controlled the ball for a season-high 30:52 against the Texans.

*   The Jaguars improved to 35-10 under head coach Jack Del Rio when they score first.
*   The Jaguars are 42-13 under Del Rio when they score 20-plus points.  They are 25-9 when they produce a 100-yard rusher.
*   Since 2006, the Jaguars are 17-4 when rushing for 150-yards.

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