Jaguars Have Much More in Reserve

Six months removed from college, Jacksonville rookies Renaldo Wynn and Seth Payne stared across the line into the faces of experience Sunday.

There was center Mark Stepnoski, flanked by guards Bruce Matthews and Kevin Donnalley, a combined 31 years in the NFL. Seven yards behind them stood Eddie George, one of the best running backs in the league.

It was no contest. The Jaguars got outstanding play from their rookie defensive tackles and an efficient game from quarterback Mark Brunell in a 17-9 victory over the Tennessee Oilers.

“There were no secrets out there. They were going to try to run it down our throats,” said Wynn, a first-round pick out of Notre Dame. “They said the train wouldn’t stop until it got to the end zone.”

The train never got up to speed. George went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season, but was held to 49 yards in 18 carries before leaving in the fourth quarter because of a slight concussion. The Oilers (5-6) converted only three of 12 third-down plays.

In defeating the Oilers for the second time in three weeks, the Jaguars (8-3) won their 12th consecutive home game and stayed tied with Pittsburgh for the AFC Central lead.

Brunell completed 22 of 30 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown, but the injury-riddled Jaguar defense played the most important role in the victory.

Payne, a fourth-round draft pick out of Cornell, was making his first start in place of Don Davey, who last week became the third Jaguar defensive tackle to suffer a season-ending injury.

Payne stopped George on the first two plays of the game. He teamed with Wynn to stop George for no gain on third-and-one from the 17, forcing the Oilers to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Al Del Greco with 30 seconds left in the first half.