David Garrard directs another late TD drive, lifts Jaguars to 18-15 win over Bills

Jaguars escape with 18-15 victory over Bills

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard’s second game-winning drive in as many weeks gave the Jacksonville Jaguars their first three-game winning streak in nearly two years.

Garrard threw a touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker with 56 seconds remaining and the Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills 18-15 Sunday, spoiling Perry Fewell’s debut as interim coach.

The Bills (3-7) bottled up Maurice Jones-Drew, pressured Garrard and managed 300 yards of offense for the first time in two months. But Garrard directed a 68-yard scoring drive when it mattered for the Jaguars (6-4). He managed a similar come-from-behind effort last week against the Jets.

Terrell Owens caught nine passes for 197 yards, including a team-record 98-yarder for a score. It was his best outing with the Bills, who have lost three straight and six of eight.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who replaced starter Trent Edwards earlier in the week, threw for 297 yards. He moved the Bills into Jacksonville territory in the closing seconds, but his fourth-down pass to Owens was tipped and then picked off by Anthony Smith.

Buffalo’s biggest problem was missed opportunities. The Bills had two touchdowns called back by penalty, and they managed just a field goal on those drives.

The Bills also had more injury woes. Running back Marshawn Lynch left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and returned to the field in street clothes.

Guards Seth McKinney and Eric Wood also left with leg injuries.

Still, the Bills looked like they would pull off an upset after a tumultuous week that started with sideline bickering at Tennessee and continued with the firing of coach Dick Jauron two days later. Fewell inherited the task of pulling together a team that has struggled to score points and has faded late in games.

Fitzpatrick hooked up with Owens for the longest play in the history of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, putting the Bills ahead 15-10 early in the fourth. Owens beat Tyron Brackenridge, who was filling in for injured starter Rashean Mathis, and high-stepped the last 20 yards into the end zone.

Owens emphatically dunked the ball over the goal post following his second TD catch of the season. But it was the last bit of celebration Buffalo’s offense mustered.

The Bills botched the snap on the failed extra point. Garrard fumbled on the ensuing possession, but the Bills went three-and-out.

Garrard got the ball back with 6:12 remaining and four straight passes and moved the Jaguars to the 12-yard line. Jones-Drew took over from there, running five times but coming up short on second-and-goal from the 1. Facing third down, Garrard dropped back and floated a pass to Sims-Walker in the corner of the end zone.

Garrard also ran in for the 2-point conversion.