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Two-headed monster Jaguars' Taylor, Stewart put up huge numbers in tandem
Posted: Friday January 21, 2000 08:41 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Over the past two seasons, Jaguars running backs James Stewart and Fred Taylor have intermingled solid performances and difficult injuries to hatch one of the most effective rushing combinations in the league. For the first time since September 1998, both are back at full health - just in time for Sunday's AFC championship game against Tennessee. "Finally," Stewart said. "It seems one of us has been hurting each week all season. But I think we're both set to go. It's ironic that it has taken that long." Taylor may never have emerged as one of the NFL's biggest threats were it not for Stewart's season-ending knee injury in the third game of last season. Given the opportunity, Taylor rushed for 1,223 yards and scored 17 touchdowns while Stewart quietly rehabilitated the knee and slipped into oblivion. Stewart reemerged this season when Taylor went down with a series of nagging injuries, most notably the sore hamstring that kept him out of all or parts of 10 games. "James might by our Most Valuable Player this season," said Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. Indeed, Stewart led the Jaguars in rushing and scoring this season with 931 yards and 13 touchdowns. Could they both see action against the Titans in the AFC championship game Sunday? "There is a plan," said coach Tom Coughlin. "In the flow of the game there are opportunities to use both backs and we plan to continue to use them both as much as we can."
Don't listen to meDefensive tackle Jason Fisk is the only member of the Titans to play in a conference championship last season. He was a member of the Minnesota Vikings. But he's not sure if anyone should listen to any advice he has about playing in a title game. "We lost it last year, so I know what not to do," said Fisk, who signed with Tennessee as a free agent. The best advice Fisk has for his new teammates is to stay relaxed. The Vikings were just a little tight as they headed into the NFC championship only to lose to the Atlanta Falcons. "We thought we were just a shoo-in for the Super Bowl. We were a little tight. When they did some stuff, we didn't respond very well," said Fisk.
Spotlight on JacksonvilleMany of the Jaguars have felt overwhelmed by a media crush unseen in Jacksonville since the team was established five years ago. Instead of a handful of reporters and TV cameras, players are speaking to hordes five and six deep when the enter the locker room. Jaguars tight end Kyle Brady says it's still not as intense as it was for him last year, when he played in the conference title game with the Jets. They drew attention not only for their good play but because of their charismatic coach, Bill Parcells. "With the Jets we seemed to get a lot more attention along the way," Brady said. "Maybe it was because it was New York and it was such a media blitz there. It seemed like every step along the way, there was more and more hype surrounding the Jets run because we were the hot team in the NFL."
Cheer for the old guyThe last Super Bowl that Titans offensive lineman Bruce Matthews watched from beginning to end was two seasons ago when John Elway and the Denver Broncos faced the Green Bay Packers. Matthews usually doesn't like watching the big game because he always ends up feeling his team could have beaten whoever is in the Super Bowl. But Elway trying to win his first ring was enough of a lure for the 17-year veteran. And who was he rooting for? Elway, of course. "Absolutely," said Matthews.
The matchup that they wantedJaguars safety Carnell Lake says it would be foolish to deny that two previous losses to the Titans are a motivating factor for Jacksonville. "I feel good about having another shot," Lake said. "I think it will definitely give us great momentum going into the Super Bowl if we're able to overcome the Titans. And it will scratch a lot of questions that people have about this team." Coughlin figures it's only natural for his players to want to get back at the only team to beat them this year. The Jaguars were pointing at a possible rematch with Tennessee as soon as the playoff pairings came out. "By most accounts, our team is not very happy with the way we performed the last time we played them," Coughlin said, speaking of the 41-14 loss Dec. 26. "We'd like to have an opportunity to do something about that."
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