ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Byron Leftwich spent the first 58 minutes looking terrible and the last two looking remarkable.
Leftwich capped an 80-yard touchdown drive with a 7-yard toss to rookie Ernest Wilford as time ran out, lifting the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-10 win Sunday over the Buffalo Bills.
So much for the criticism that followed the second-year quarterback through four preseason games in which he failed to generate a touchdown drive. And what a confidence-boosting effort for a young Jaguars team that opened the season hoping to improve on last season's 5-11 finish.
"I don't know how to put a measuring stick on it, but it's got to do something," receiver Jimmy Smith said. "This is huge for us."
The transformation of Leftwich was impressive.
Before the winning drive, Leftwich had gone 11-of-23 for 75 yards, converted two of 10 third-down attempts and threw two interceptions. In the final 2:07, he went 7-of-13 for 72 yards and converted three fourth downs.
That included the touchdown, when the Jaguars faced fourth and goal from the 7 with four seconds remaining. Leftwich sent a touch pass to the back of the end zone, where Wilford outmuscled three defenders and came down with the ball as he fell out of bounds.
The play was reviewed, and the officials' ruling on the field that Wilford was pushed out stood, stunning a sellout crowd that had spent most of the game cheering on a strong defensive effort.
Leftwich chose Wilford because at 6-foot-4, he presents a tall target and, as a former basketball player, possesses great leaping ability.
Just as impressive was Leftwich hitting Smith up the left sideline for a 45-yard reception when facing fourth and 14. Smith made the catch in one-on-one coverage, fighting off cornerback Nate Clements along the left sideline.
The win snapped a nine-game road losing streak for the Jaguars, dating back to a Dec. 15, 2002, win at Cincinnati.
The loss ruined coach Mike Mularkey's debut with Buffalo, and the blame can squarely be placed on a Drew Bledsoe-led offense that bumbled. Buffalo dominated the time of possession by more than seven minutes and settled for 10 points despite three trips into the red zone.
"I'm a little bit in shock," said Bledsoe, who was 17-for-26 for 153 yards.
"I really felt we were in control of the ballgame the whole way."
