Game features four touchdowns of 50-plus yards
Maurice Jones-Drew had touchdown runs of 80 and 79 yards while Tennessee’s Chris Johnson scored on runs of 89 and 52 yards. It marked the first time in NFL history a game featured four rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards.
Jones-Drew records two of the three longest touchdown runs in team history
Maurice Jones-Drew didn’t get his first carry until midway through the second quarter (5:50 mark), but he made it count with an 80-yard touchdown run. The 80-yard run tied for the longest in franchise history (Fred Taylor, 12/9/07 vs. Carolina). Jones-Drew opened the second half with a 79-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. He became only the third player in NFL history with two rushing touchdowns of 75-plus rushing yards in the same game, joining Barry Sanders (10/12/97) and Frank Gore (9/20/09).
Career-best rushing yards for Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew finished with a career-high 177 yards on eight carries (22.1), the fifth-most yards in team history and highest rushing average (min. 5 carries). Jones-Drew recorded his 10th career 100-yard rushing game as he scored on runs of 80 and 79 yards. It marked the first time in his career with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games as he finished with 133 rushing yards on October 18 vs. St. Louis. Additional notes on Jones-Drew:
- Tied his single-season career-high with three 100-yard rushing games.
- Marked 11th career game with multiple touchdowns and the second time (2008) in his career with consecutive games of multiple touchdowns (3 TDs vs. St. Louis on 10/18).
- Has six career rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards.
- Ranked second in franchise history with 44 career rushing touchdowns.
- Leads team with 10 touchdowns through seven games. He has 10-plus touchdowns in each of his first four seasons.
- Seven of his 10 career 100-yard rushing games have come in AFC South play.
- Surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards, joining Fred Taylor (11,271) as only the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.
- Leads team in touchdowns (10), rushes (116), rushing yards (640) and yards from scrimmage (801) through seven games.
50 touchdowns in 54 career games
With his two touchdowns Sunday, Jones-Drew reached 50 for his career in his 54th game. Jones-Drew became the fastest player in franchise history to 50 career touchdowns. Fred Taylor, the franchise-leader with 70 touchdowns, did it in 65 games.
Of the NFL’s top 20 running backs for touchdowns scored, only four players have reached 50 touchdowns quicker than Jones-Drew (Jim Brown, 45 games; Marcus Allen, 48 games; Eric Dickerson, 51 games; Barry Sanders, 53 games;). Lenny Moore also scored his 50th career touchdown in his 54th career game. Emmitt Smith ranks second in NFL history, first among running backs, with 175 touchdowns and it took him 55 games to reach 50 career touchdowns.
Jones-Drew enjoys division play
Maurice Jones-Drew has scored 22 touchdowns (20 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 return) in 21 career division games. Jones-Drew has seven touchdowns in four division games in 2009 and seven touchdowns in eight games against Tennessee.
Getting it done on the ground
The Jaguars finished with a season-high 217 rushing yards on 16 carries (13.6 avg.) It marks the 19th time in team history and 12th time under head coach Jack Del Rio the club has rushed for 200-plus yards. It is the first time since September 21, 2008 at Indianapolis (236 yards).
Rookie playing a leading role
Rookie Mike Thomas led the team with four receptions for 55 yards and finished with five kickoff returns for a 29.2 average. Thomas went a career-long 40 yards on his first return and followed with a 42-yard return in the second quarter. He finished with receptions of 25 and 21 yards.
Garrard makes 23rd consecutive start
David Garrard started his 23rd consecutive game, the third-highest streak by a quarterback in team history and most since 2001. Mark Brunell holds the top two marks with 27 starts from 1997-98 and 24 from 2000-01.
Meester moves into tie for third place in team history
Center Brad Meester made his 136th career start on Sunday, tying running back Fred Taylor for the second-most starts in franchise history. Wide receiver Jimmy Smith holds the franchise-record with 150 starts from 1995-2005.
Russell makes 95th career start, first as a Jaguar
The Jaguars inserted eighth-year veteran Brian Russell into the starting lineup on Sunday. Russell signed with the Jaguars prior to the season-opener after starting 32 games the last two seasons with Seattle. He has started 95 of 115 games.
Tidbits
- Linebacker Justin Durant was credited with 16 tackles (12 solo). Derrick Harvey had a team-high two tackles for loss. Tyron Brackenridge finished with a game-high three special teams tackles.
- The Jaguars had six plays of 20-plus yards (4 passing, 2 rushing).
- The Jaguars have scored 16 touchdowns through seven games, the most touchdowns in the first seven games since 2002.
- Eight different players had receptions for the Jaguars.
- Tennessee controlled the ball for 13:08 in the first quarter and 22:08 in the first half.
- Wide receiver Torry Holt extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 160, the second-longest streak among active players and the ninth-longest in NFL history. Maurice Jones-Drew extended his streak to 42 consecutive games.
- Tennessee’s Chris Johnson finished with 228 yards on 24 carries and became the first player to have a 100-yard rushing game this season against the Jaguars.
- Tra Thomas started at left tackle for the third time this season, the second time against Tennessee.
- The Jaguars are 2-5 in the game following their bye week under Del Rio.
- Josh Scobee had three kickoffs with one touchback.
- Adam Podlesh had seven punts for 309 yards (44.1 avg.) with a season-long of 64 yards.
- The Jaguars have failed to score 20-plus points in all four of their losses.
- Mike Sims-Walker leads the team with 30 receptions (407 yards) while Torry Holt has a team-high 424 receiving yards on 29 receptions.
- The following players were inactive for the Jaguars: Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, cornerback Rashean Mathis, safety Sean Considine, cornerback Brian Witherspoon, linebacker Bryan Smith, offensive tackle Maurice Williams, offensive tackle Jordan Black and defensive tackle Greg Peterson.