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Horning in Injury to Saints' star gives Jackson time in the spotlight
Updated: Saturday December 30, 2000 10:17 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Willie Jackson fits in nicely on that growing list of New Orleans Saints who made the most of their opportunity when it finally came. He was a key to New Orleans' first-ever playoff victory Saturday, tying an NFL playoff record with three touchdown receptions in a 31-28 victory against the defending champion St. Louis Rams. The seventh-year veteran from Florida took a leading role when the Saints' most productive receiver, Joe Horn, left with a sprained ankle early in the game. In a scenario familiar to unknown quarterback Aaron Brooks, journeyman running back Terry Allen and the rest of this ragtag group of retreads, Jackson responded with gusto. "At different times, he's been doing that all year," Brooks said. "That really tells the story about the season. We fought adversity and another guy stepped up. Today, that was Willie Jackson." Jackson had a career-high 142 yards in receptions and tied Jerry Rice and a handful of other receiving luminaries with the three-touchdown game. He sliced through the Rams defense early in the third quarter for a 10-yard touchdown catch in tight coverage. That gave the Saints a 17-7 lead. Early in the fourth, he stole a lob from Brooks away from Dexter McCleon, then showboated his way into the end zone, taunting the Rams and enjoying himself in a way he never has since becoming a pro. It got better moments later, when he caught a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Saints a 31-7 lead. "When Horn went down - now you may get your number called a little bit more," Jackson said. "Everyone comes in expecting to make big plays. Only you don't know where your opportunities are going to be. You just have to be ready for them when they come." After Jackson's heroics, the Rams rallied. But the statement had been made. New Orleans has plenty of players to fill the roles when the starters go down. "It's been hard to watch all year," said quarterback Jeff Blake, sidelined with a broken foot since November. "But it's really exciting. The thing that's really inspirational to see how people have stepped up on this team. Joe has been our go-to guy, our playmaker. But when he went down, Willie was right there and ready to go." That the Saints are relying on the unknowns of the world comes as little surprise. Mike Ditka traded away eight draft picks to get Ricky Williams, forcing the Saints to become especially astute in looking for the bit players to fill the bottom of their roster. Injuries to Blake, Williams and now Horn have brought those guys from the bottom to the top. Like Jackson, Brooks is taking advantage of his chance. He won his first playoff game, improved to 4-2 career as a starter and, once again, made believers of people who were sure the Saints couldn't do this. "I just laugh at the doubters, the so-called know-it-alls," Brooks said. "It doesn't seem like they know much right now. We've shown what we can do on the field."
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