Fourth and Goal

Jaguars batting .500 in season of fantastic finishes

After a potentially disastrous 0-2 start, Jacksonville has evened its record via a last-second victory in Indianapolis and an overtime triumph over Houston.

The Jaguars ought to be used to such drama by now.

They've led in the fourth quarter in their past three games and have blown fourth-quarter advantages for three consecutive weeks.

But against Indy on Sept. 21, QB David Garrard countered a touchdown run by the Colts' Joseph Addai with 1:07 remaining by directing a seven-play, 47-yard drive that culminated in Josh Scobee's 51-yard field goal with four seconds left. Jacksonville won, 23-21.

Last Sunday, the Jaguars surrendered a 47-yard field goal with one second left that tied their game against the Texans, 27-27, but responded by moving 51 yards in six plays for another Scobee game-winner, this time in overtime (from 37 yards with 11:25 left).

Garrard's play has been especially encouraging. After throwing as many interceptions in Jacksonville's first two games as he did all of last season (three), he's been steady and dependable in the clutch.

It's no coincidence that Garrard's play picked up about the time the Jaguars re-discovered their running game.

After opening the season without starting C Brad Meester (biceps) and losing starting LG Vince Manuwai and RG Maurice Williams in the opener at Tennessee, Jacksonville's once dominating ground game ground to a halt. But in the past two games, the Jaguars have rushed for 236 and 139 yards, respectively.

That those totals were amassed against the relatively soft Colts' and Texans' run defenses hasn't put a damper on the Jacksonville resurgence.

The Jaguars are well aware that the two teams they've lost to -- Tennessee and Buffalo -- haven't been beaten by anyone else, either. Coach Jack Del Rio continues to exude a go-for-the-throat mentality, repeatedly going for it on fourth down when conventional wisdom suggests a punt is in order, trying (and recovering) surprise onside kicks and even faking a punt.

Del Rio tried one of those on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 41 at the conclusion of Jacksonville's first possession Sunday, and a 41-yard touchdown resulted.

Much work remains to be done, but WR Jerry Porter (hamstring) made his first appearance Sunday and actually caught a pass (for 6 yards). Another potential deep threat, WR Mike Walker (knee), hauled in five receptions (for 46 yards) after getting his hands on a Garrard toss on the game-winning field-goal drive in Indy.

As the Jaguars get healthier -- CB Rashean Mathis missed most of the Houston game and S Reggie Nelson missed all of it -- they'll get better.

If they can stay in contention, as they now have a chance to do thanks to their two-game winning streak, as their overall health improves, they may have a chance to do something special this season.

That's why they're the Rams: In a desperate and, of course, ultimately unsuccessful attempt to save his job, former St. Louis coach Scott Linehan benched QB Marc Bulger and replaced him with mobility-challenged and concussion-susceptible Trent Green.

Naturally, it was Green who threw the interception that was returned 33 yards for the touchdown that wiped out a 14-13 St. Louis lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

Replacing Linehan with Jim Haslett makes sense only in St. Louis. Prior to taking Linehan's job, Haslett coordinated the defense for the Rams. That's the unit that opted to place CB Jason Craft, who was signed off the street last week when CB Fakhir Brown was cut, in single coverage against Bills WR Lee Evans.

Almost on cue, Evans beat Craft for a 39-yard touchdown and two-point conversion that gave the Bills a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead.

Haslett's "defense" allowed an average of 411.7 yards through the Rams' first four games.

Prospect watch: No. 1 Oklahoma.

Now that USC has done the unthinkable and actually lost a game, Oklahoma has assumed the spot atop college football's mountain, at least for now.

Here's a look at a couple of Sooners that NFL scouts are keeping an eye on:

Phil Loadholt, LT: The 6-foot-8, 337-pound senior is large, he has long arms and he's considered by scouts to have an NFL body. He's assessed as a likely third-rounder, with a chance to improve his stock.

Duke Robinson, LG: At 6-5, 335, Robinson teams with Loadholt to give Oklahoma a dominating left side of the line. Robinson has impressed scouts as quick enough and athletic enough to pull. Robinson may sneak into the late first round but is targeted as a second- or third-rounder.

Last but not least ...

Jermaine Gresham, TE: He's not Kellen Winslow Jr., scouts maintain. Still, Gresham is considered a "freak," which is a good thing in scout-speak. The 6-6, 261-pound junior runs well, blocks and has good hands. If he comes out early, he's probably ticketed for the second round.

Gresham already has amassed 14 receptions for 256 yards -- an 18.3 average per catch -- and is tied for the team lead with four touchdown receptions.

Stats of the week

Upside : Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in Sunday's 28-18 victory over the Raiders, the 118th and 119th of Tomlinson's eight-year career. LT trails only Emmitt Smith (164) and Marcus Allen (123) on the NFL's all-time list.

Downside : The Cowboys have allowed an average of 359 net yards and 31.5 points in two home games against NFC East teams this season (a 41-37 victory Sept. 15 over the Eagles and a 26-24 loss Sunday to the Redskins). Apparently, there's no Big D in Big D, at least not within the NFL's toughest division.