JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Steve Spurrier couldn't resist the temptation to revive his Fun 'N' Gun offense in the state where he perfected it, and that decision proved disastrous for the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins could not overcome their offensive woes, and the defense that bent finally broke as the host Jacksonville Jaguars scored 26 unanswered points to register a 26-7 thrashing before 66,665 at Alltel Stadium yesterday.
The loss ended a two-game winning streak for Washington (4-5) and spoiled Spurrier's homecoming to a city that had embraced him when he was coaching the University of Florida to seven Southeastern Conference titles in nearby Gainesville.
But it was how the team lost that proved most unsettling. After calling more running than passing plays in their two wins, the Redskins reverted to their pass-happy ways and tried to rely on quarterback Shane Matthews' arm against a Jacksonville defense that was ranked 26th against the run.
Throwing 51 times compared to 16 rushes, the Redskins gained only 66 total yards in the second and third quarters and failed to collect a first down on four of their six possessions over that span.
"I guess I was dumb enough to think we could throw it up and down the field," Spurrier said. "In the second quarter, I kept thinking that [at] midfield, we could throw the ball from there, but we didn't do it very well. I called a lousy game as it turns out."
Matthews did end a two-game streak of failing to reach the 50-percent-completion rate by connecting on 27 of 50 passes. He also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rod Gardner (seven catches, 100 yards) on the offense's first series of the game to give Washington a 7-0 lead.
But Matthews, who finished with 256 yards, also threw two interceptions, was sacked twice and earned a 58.4 rating.
"They had a good scheme for us," said Matthews, who earned a vote of confidence from Spurrier despite a brief appearance by rookie Patrick Ramsey warming up on the sideline in the fourth quarter. "We just didn't get it done, and I didn't get it done."
One of those areas was the punt return and coverage units. Champ Bailey - filling in for Jacquez Green, who missed most of the game after suffering a laceration to his right leg in the first quarter - allowed two punts to fly over his head and land inside the 10-yard line, Bryan Barker shanked two punts deep in Washington territory, and the coverage team allowed a punt return across midfield. Those plays eventually contributed to 13 Jaguars points.
Bailey, who has been practicing returning punts since preseason, made his first mistake when he allowed Chris Hanson's punt to fall behind him and get downed at the Redskins' 5-yard line early in the second quarter.
On fourth-and-six from the 9-yard line, Barker - standing in the end zone - flopped a 12-yard punt that sailed out of bounds at the 21.
Jacksonville (4-5) capitalized on the opportunity when running back Stacey Mack bulled his way for a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7.
On his next punt return chance, Bailey again let the ball land behind him, and it was downed at the 7-yard line. On fourth-and-14 from the 3, Barker booted a 32-yard punt. The Jaguars took advantage with a 28-yard field goal by Tim Seder with eight seconds left.
And in the third quarter, Barker punted the ball 42 yards from his own 15, but returner Bobby Shaw took back the punt 10 yards to the Redskins' 47.
Six plays and 23 yards later, Seder kicked a 43-yard field goal.
After the game, Barker accepted responsibility for his poor punts, and Spurrier said he would not bench Barker because the team has no one to replace him.
"He's the only one we've got, the only one we had in camp," Spurrier said. "I think we're going to live with Bryan Barker and hope that he can punt a little better."
That the defense surrendered just a touchdown and two field goals on a short field was remarkable. But the burden of trying to win the game and the warm temperature (82 degrees at kickoff) eventually took a toll on the unit.
Jacksonville, which avoided its third five-game losing streak in three seasons, amassed 185 of its 309 yards of total offense in the second half. More importantly, the Jaguars collected 132 yards in a third quarter that included Fred Taylor's 12-yard touchdown run and two field goals by Seder to give them a 23-7 lead.
Quarterback Mark Brunell finished with only 194 yards on 19-for-29 passing, but Taylor rushed for 82 yards on 21 carries, and Mack gained 56 yards on seven carries. It was the first time an opposing offense had accrued more than 100 yards on the ground against Washington since the New Orleans Saints did it on Oct. 13.
"I think we just wore down," said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who was one of the team's few bright spots with eight tackles and a sack, increasing his team-leading sack total to eight. "I think the heat affected us. We were out there a long time."