Saints Beat Jaguars for First Victory

The New Orleans Saints finally have a victory to celebrate.

Jim Everett threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Torrance Small with 1:45 left, giving the Saints a 17-13 victory over Jacksonville in front of a meager 34,231 at the Superdome.

The Saints (1-5), who blew a 10-0 lead, avoided joining the New York Jets, Atlanta and Tampa Bay as the NFL’s only winless teams. Jacksonville is 2-4.

Last season, the Saints also opened 0-5 before winning seven of their last 11 for their second consecutive 7-9 record.

The Jaguars went ahead, 13-10, with 5:15 left when Mike Hollis kicked a 19-yard field goal. Starting from their 19, the Saints drove 81 yards in nine plays for the game-winning score.

With third and four from the New Orleans 46, Everett connected with Small for 23 yards to the 31. On second and two, Jacksonville’s Dave Thomas was called for pass interference, giving the Saints the ball at the six.

One the next play, Everett found Small with the winning pass in the back of the end zone.

It was a game that neither team seemed to want, marked by sloppy play, 20 penalties and four turnovers.

Both teams failed to take advantage of breaks. The Saints, minus-8 in turnovers for the season going into the game, forced three fumbles and recovered two, but could not capitalize on them.

The Jaguars were almost as inept.

Trailing, 10-7, late in the third quarter, Jacksonville was saved from one fumble by a penalty. On the next play, Mark Brunell was trying to call timeout when the ball was snapped. He managed to fall on it to prevent a turnover, and Hollis kicked a 36-yard field goal that tied the game.

New Orleans, ranked 29th in the league in rushing, gained only 36 yards on the ground.

Jacksonville, against New Orleans’ 29th-ranked rushing defense, gained 141 yards, led by Stewart with 79 yards in 24 carries.

Everett, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, was intercepted once. Brunell completed 28 of 36 for 250 yards and a touchdown.