JACKSONVILLE - Byron Leftwich passed like a veteran and receiver Jimmy Smith played as though he hadn't missed a day, leading the Jaguars to a 27-21 victory Sunday over San Diego.
"I'm relieved, I guess," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said after getting his first career victory in a matchup of winless teams.
Smith, returning from a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, had eight receptions for 137 yards, including a one-handed 36-yarder.
"I was grateful to go out there and do whatever I could to help," Smith said.
Leftwich threw for 336 yards and two scores in his second career start, including a 60-yard touchdown on a screen to Fred Taylor that gave the Jags a 27-14 lead late.
Del Rio, who told his players to "keep chopping wood" during their losing streak, watched the Jaguars gain a season-high 436 yards and sink the Chargers deeper into despair.
Entering its bye week, San Diego - along with the 0-4 Jets - have an early lead in the race for the first selection in next year's draft. Not even David Boston's 14-catch, 181-yard performance could save the Chargers.
"I talked all week," coach Marty Schottenheimer said of toughening the Chargers' attitude to get wins. "Don't even bother looking at the scoreboard."
They probably don't want to look too hard at their defensive backfield. The young corners got torched. Though he's been sidelined, it is no travesty to get burned by Smith, the NFL's most prolific receiver the past seven years. But when journeyman Matt Hatchette catches an open 45-yard pass that makes Sammy Davis Jr., the first-round draft pick, look like Sammy Davis Jr., the Candyman, it's clear there is trouble.
"Any time you have Jimmy on your team, it's a respect thing," Leftwich said. "You saw it in the second half. They were putting two, three guys on him. That's when guys like Hatchette and Troy (Edwards) make big plays."
Hatchette's reception was the key to a 90-yard TD drive that resulted in Edwards' 18-yard score for a 17-7 Jacksonville lead late in the third. San Diego was within six points with 20 seconds left, but the Jags recovered an onside kick.
