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Garrard Back In Style With Triumph

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The Associated Press

Published: November 19, 2007

JACKSONVILLE - After his first game in nearly a month, David Garrard slipped on a pair of designer blue jeans, a black dress shirt and a burgundy velvet jacket - complete with a black pocket square.

Garrard usually isn't the best-dressed guy in the locker room, so why the fancy duds?

"I wanted to come back in style," he said.

He didn't have to make a fashion statement to do that.

Garrard threw two touchdown passes in his return from an ankle injury, giving Jacksonville's offense a big boost and helping the Jaguars beat the San Diego Chargers 24-17 Sunday.

"That's why he's our leader," receiver Ernest Wilford said. "He's one of the guys who's moving the chains and making plays and making everyone else look better. That's what you look for in your quarterback, to make everyone around him better."

The Jaguars (7-3) scored on their first three possessions, possibly taking advantage of what would have been a 10 a.m. start on the West Coast, and the Chargers (5-5) self-destructed on nearly every drive.

San Diego ended three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions in questionable fashion before making a game of it late. Philip Rivers connected with All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates for a 24-yard TD that made it 24-17 with 5:06 to play.

The Chargers got the ball back with 2:13 remaining. But Rivers' second pass was intercepted by Sammy Knight.

"We're a little disappointed," San Diego safety Marlon McCree said. "I know I'm a little angry, some other guys are. We've got to channel that anger and that disappointment and dig ourselves out of this hole. We've just got to keep fighting."

Jac-FG Scobee 48, 9:12.

Jac-Jones-Drew 1 run (Josh Scobee kick), 0:40.

Second Quarter

SD-FG Kaeding 23, 9:58.

Jac-R.Williams 36 pass from Garrard (Scobee kick), 5:25.

Third Quarter

SD-Tomlinson 6 run (Kaeding kick), 13:19.

Jac-Lewis 1 pass from Garrard (Scobee kick), 5:02.

Fourth Quarter

SD-Gates 24 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick), 5:06.

A-66,732.

RUSHING-San Diego, Tomlinson 16-62, Rivers 2-16, Neal 2-1. Jacksonville, Taylor 20-85, Jones-Drew 12-33, Garrard 5-4.

PASSING-San Diego, Rivers 22-40-2-309. Jacksonville, Garrard 15-24-0-189.

RECEIVING-San Diego, Tomlinson 5-93, Chambers 4-93, Gates 4-54, Davis 3-39, Naanee 3-10, Sproles 2-0, Jackson 1-20. Jacksonville, Wrighster 5-47, Northcutt 3-36, R.Williams 2-62, Wilford 2-31, Estandia 1-8, Jones-Drew 1-4, Lewis 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.

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