Jaguars Save Best for Last

For three quarters, Kansas City’s shaky defense made good on its vow to cut down on long gainers. Jacksonville needed only a few minutes to change that.

On consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars produced a team-record 79-yard touchdown pass play and a 63-yard scoring run to beat the Chiefs, 23-16, Sunday.

“We knew that was going to be the way we took our shots,” said Jaguar Coach Tom Coughlin. “We pointed toward the fourth quarter. We were picking and picking and picking, and then we made a couple of big plays.”

The Chiefs tied the score at 9-9 on Morten Andersen’s third field goal with just under seven minutes to play in the game.

A moment later, Patrick Johnson took Mark Brunell’s pass at the 40, shook off one tackler, outran another and scored the tie-breaking 79-yard touchdown.

After the Chiefs punted, the Jaguars (1-1) added what proved to be the decisive touchdown on their next play. Fred Taylor burst through a gaping hole and sped 63 yards to the end zone.

“I’m not sure what happened,” Chief defensive end Ritchie Owens said. “I didn’t think the play was going to do much. Then I look up and he’s banging his head on the goal post. We hold them to just nine points. And then on two plays in the fourth quarter, it all blows up on us.”

Taylor, who missed almost all of last season with a groin injury, had 114 yards in 20 carries for the rebuilding Jaguars, who had lost 11 of their last 15 games.

“I just kept trying to pound away and pound away, and finally things just broke open for me,” Taylor said.

The Chiefs (1-1) pulled within a touchdown on Trent Green’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez with 2:35 left. The catch, which capped an 80-yard drive that took up only 34 seconds, was initially not allowed. But the Chiefs asked for a review and it was determined that Donovin Darius had pushed Gonzalez out of bounds in the back of the end zone.