NFL Recap (Philadelphia-Jacksonville)
Posted: Sun October 12, 1997 at 6:47 p.m. EDT
JACKSONVILLE 38, PHILADELPHIA 21
James Stewart, who replaced an injured Natrone Means, became the
first player in 24 years to rush for five touchdowns in a game,
as the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Philadelphia Eagles,
38-21, for their 10th consecutive home victory.
Stewart, who entered the game with 88 yards rushing and two
touchdowns for the season spelled Means, who suffered a sprained
left ankle in the first quarter and did not return. Stewart
rushed 15 times for 102 yards. Means entered the week ninth in
the conference with 329 yards rushing.
"I just go out and do my job, " said Stewart. "The credit has
to go to the offensive line. They gave me some good holes to
run through, and I was lucky enough to get it in the end zone."
The third-year player punched in his first score from seven
yards, capping off an eight-play, 80-yard drive to open the
game. Quarterback Mark Brunell was 4-for-4 for 56 yards on the
drive, including passes of 14 and 17 yards to Keenan McCardell.
Brunell completed 14-of-19 passes for 153 yards for the Jaguars,
who improved to 5-1 for the first time in franchise history.
Jacksonville has won 11 of its last 12 games overall.
"I felt very comfortable today, " said Brunell. "Guys were
open, and the protection was there. I had every reason to feel
comfortable."
Stewart took over for the Jaguars with runs of 16 and 20 yards
on their following drive. Brunell hit Jimmy Smith with two
passes for 33 yards before Stewart ran in from eight yards on a
draw play, giving Jacksonville a 14-0 lead.
Philadelphia's Tommy Hutton had his punt blocked by Dave Thomas
on the following posession, and, after Jimmie Johnson attempted
an illegal forward pass, the Jaguars took over on the Eagles'
11.
Stewart, capped a short drive with a two-yard plunge, giving the
Jaguars a 21-0 advantage with 1:42 to play in the first quarter.
"It was a really good physical game, and we knew it would be, "
said Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin. "We had a good start at
the beginning, and we were able to keep our defense off the
field."
In the second half, Stewart, who finished tenth in the AFC last
season with 10 touchdowns, helped put the game away with a pair
of one-yard scores.
The last player to rush for five touchdowns in a game was Cookie
Gilchrist of the Buffalo Bills, who scored five times against
the New York Jets on December 8th, 1963.
Stewart is the 12th player in history to score at least five
touchdowns in a game and the first since San Francisco's Jerry
Rice had five touchdown receptions, October 14th, 1990 against
the Atlanta Falcons.
Philadelphia's Irving Fryar caught three touchdowns, accounting
for all of the Eagles points. Fryar caught 10 passes for 124
yards.
Rodney Peete replaced an ineffective Ty Detmer for the Eagles in
the second half and went 12-of-14 for 123 yards and two
touchdowns. Detmer completed 15-of-27 passes for 102 yards, one
touchdown, and an interception.
"Coach (Ray Rhodes) just told me at that point in the game they
we were going with Rodney, " said Detmer. "It's been this way
the whole year. We all realize we're in it together, and the
coach makes the decision."
Philadelphia's Ricky Watters carried the ball 15 times for 44
yards.
"We thought we had a really good game plan, and then we get
behind 21-0, " said Watters. "A loud place like this you can't
get down like that and expect to come back."
Eagles cornerback Bobby Taylor left the game in the first
quarter due to a sprained right knee.
This is the Jags' first-ever swing through the NFC East with its
only loss of the season coming against the Washington Redskins,
24-12, two weeks ago.
Philadelphia had not played anyone from the AFC Central since
1994 when it went 1-3 against the division. The Eagles lost to
the Bengals, Steelers and Browns, but defeated the Oilers.
The Eagles had won 10 straight games in October, including
eight under Rhodes.
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