Belatedly, Jaguars Purr Like a Rolls

With the playoffs starting in less than three weeks, Jacksonville is rolling. Unfortunately, it’s a little late.

Stacey Mack rushed 27 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, and the Jaguars beat the Minnesota Vikings, 33-3, for their third consecutive victory.

“We’re playing well right now,” Jacksonville Coach Tom Coughlin said. “We’ve got the kind of execution and control we expected all season--not the outlandish stuff.”

Jimmy Smith caught eight passes for 122 yards for the Jaguars, who improved to 6-8, but are already eliminated from playoff contention.

The Vikings, also unfamiliarly out of the race, lost another quarterback to injury, went without a touchdown for the second time in the last three home games and dropped to 5-9.

“They controlled the line of scrimmage,” said a weary-looking Dennis Green, whose team will miss the playoffs for the second time in his 10 seasons as Viking coach. “We weren’t playing very strong.”

Cris Carter, probably playing for Minnesota in the Metrodome for the final time, had seven receptions for 88 yards.

“I’ll consider a lot of things,” said Carter, who can become a free agent after this season and has hinted he’ll sign with another team instead of retiring.

“But I still think I know what I’m going to do.”

Mike Hollis kicked four field goals for Jacksonville, and Mark Brunell completed 17 of 24 passes for 217 yards.

“It just clicked today,” Brunell said. “This is ideal--what we hope for each week.”

Spergon Wynn completed 24 of 39 passes for 217 yards with an interception for Minnesota in place of Todd Bouman, who reaggravated a thumb injury on the first possession and didn’t return. Daunte Culpepper is out with a knee injury.

“I didn’t feel my performance was good enough if we didn’t win,” said Wynn, who started once for Cleveland last year as a rookie. “They’ve got a great pass rush.”

Tony Brackens had two sacks for Jacksonville, which went up, 23-3, late in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Keenan McCardell.