Turned Around By A Tackle

In another striking contrast to last season, when the Jaguars lost six games by seven or fewer points, the offense was just good enough to pull out another victory. For the second time Leftwich led a last-minute touchdown drive on the road, this one a 13-play, 69-yard march that culminated in Fred Taylor's one-yard touchdown run with nine seconds left. "We lost too many close games last year," said Stroud. "Now we finish strong; we know how to win."

In his fourth year out of Georgia, Stroud is the team's best all-around defender, a punishing run stopper whose size and speed usually force teams to assign two blockers to stop him. Last year he had 101 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl. "He understands the game now," says defensive line coach Ray Hamilton. "Everything has slowed for him, which makes him basically unblockable." His combination of strength and quickness (not to mention the number 99 he wears on his jersey) are reminiscent of a young Warren Sapp, and so is his piercing wit, which he unleashes on anyone who even pretends to listen. "I thought I was bad," the chatty Peterson says, "but Marcus is so up in the huddle that sometimes I have to say, 'Gimme a minute, man,' just so I can call the next play."

Apparently all that rambunctiousness is exhausting. Henderson and Peterson have had Stroud in their homes and discovered, while making idle conversation, that he had fallen asleep. Hamilton says he has caught Stroud dozing in meetings and has occasionally resorted to making the big tackle stand during videotape sessions. "But every defense needs a guy like Marcus," Hamilton says, "to keep everyone having fun and, well ... awake."

On the field Stroud has the perfect complement in Henderson, a 6'7" 328pounder in his third year out of Tennessee. Like Stroud, he has overcome coaches' concerns about his upright style of play--which leaves defensive tackles vulnerable--and become a lane-plugging force.

Henderson's on-field intensity is unmatched. In almost every game an official will approach Peterson, asking him to calm down Henderson. "Something happens to me on game day," he says sheepishly. "Something inside takes over, and I just lose it." Drawing that emotion to the surface each week is the job of assistant trainer Joe Sheehan. Just before the team's pregame warmup, Henderson and Sheehan find an empty room, Henderson removes his helmet and Sheehan slaps him across the face. "It is," says Peterson, "the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

"If that's what Big John needs, so be it," Stroud says. "That's what's great about all this. Coach Del Rio lets us be who we are. He puts us in the position to make plays, to be great. We've bought into his system. We have total trust in him."

After his postgame handshake with Titans coach Jeff Fisher--who derided the stump-and-ax stunt last year--the 41-year-old Del Rio trotted off the field, seemingly unmoved by the upset. All that mattered to him was preparing for the Colts. "We can't get caught up in this," Del Rio said. "This was a nice win, but we have to stay focused." Then, pausing to smile ever so slightly, he added, "and keep chopping."