Jags Hold On Tight, Top Cheifs

With Mark Brunell and his two receivers misfiring, the Jacksonville Jaguars found another way to win -- big kick returns and a punishing running game.

Reggie Barlow had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown and Tavian Banks had a 65-yard kickoff return to set up another score Sunday as the Jaguars held off the Kansas City Chiefs for a 21-16 victory.

James Stewart finished with 103 yards on 26 carries to become the first back to record consecutive 100-yard games rushing for the Jaguars (2-0).

In all, it was a formidable group of weapons to add to a list that has been headlined by Brunell and receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

"It was important for every phase to be able to contribute and help out, especially when you're going against a team like that," Barlow said. "The special teams wanted to make a statement and we came out and improved and helped the team."

The meeting was built up as a potential preview of the AFC Championship game, but both teams came in with several injuries, most notably on the Jaguars' defensive line and with the Chiefs (1-1) missing Elvis Grbac and Andre ison.

That left Derrick Thomas vs. Tony Boselli, and the Jacksonville receivers against Kansas City's defensive backs as the best potential matchups. Instead, the game was decided by Stewart and a pair of young special teamers.

"We said to ourselves, we just need to keep pounding, to keep trying and hope some things open up," said Stewart, who had 115 yards last week against Chicago. "As long as you keep hitting it and you get the number of carries to work the defense a bit, it's going to open it up and you're going to get some yards in there."

Before the Jaguars started grinding, however, they made some big plays.

Barlow opened the scoring with the first punt return for a touchdown in Jaguars history. He fielded the punt at his own 15-yard line, sprinted to the right and quickly hit the open field, beating the last man in his way, punter Louie Aguiar.

Jacksonville's Brant Boyer sacks Kansas City's Rich Gannon in the second half of the Jaguars' 21-16 victory. (AP)

Banks, a fourth-round draft pick from Iowa, started the third quarter with a 65-yard kickoff return. That set up a 31-yard touchdown drive, helped by cornerback Dale Carter's 19-yard pass interference penalty, to give the Jaguars a 21-6 lead.

Without Grbac, Rison, guard Dave Szott and return specialist Tamarick Vanover, the Chiefs were not in a good position to make a big comeback.

Still, Rich Gannon made a valiant effort. He went 23-for-37 for 263 yards and led an 80-yard touchdown drive to pull the Chiefs within five points with 3:39 left.

But the Jaguars answered by picking up three straight first downs to kill the clock. Stewart rushed three times for 25 yards on the drive to surpass the century mark, with rookie Fred Taylor sealing it with a 20-yard run.

"The bottom line is, we give up a touchdown on a punt return," said Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer. "I don't know how many yards it was. If it's one yard, it's too damn many. And the kickoff return that starts off the second half creates lousy field position for us and we are battling uphill the whole game."

Brunell, who engineered Jacksonville's game-winning drive last week, was unspectacular, finishing 11-for-18 for 126 yards and one touchdown. Smith had four catches and a touchdown. McCardell finished with one catch for 14 yards.

Brunell was sacked three times, although two appeared to come on plays where he simply slipped in his own backfield. Thomas, who opened with six sacks against Oakland last week, got shut out by Boselli and right tackle Leon Searcy.

"That was our goal," Boselli said. "Leon did a great job. The whole line did a great job. Derrick is a great player. It' fun. It's exciting. Those are the kind of matchups you look forward to."

Trailing 21-9, Gannon moved the Chiefs from their own 27 to the Jaguars 33. The drive ended, however, when Dave Thomas stripped Kimble Anders on a screen pass and Brian Schwartz recovered.

It was Kansas City's second turnover of the quarter and it set up a 14-play, 7-minute drive by the Jags that didn't produce a score, but surely wore on a tired Chiefs defense.

Notes