Jaguars Get Good Feel of the Dome

ATLANTA — The Jacksonville Jaguars played like a team that intends to return to the Georgia Dome in a few months.

They blew out the Atlanta Falcons, 30-7, Sunday on the same field where the Super Bowl will be played Jan. 30.

Mark Brunell passed for three touchdowns, Fred Taylor ran for 124 yards and the top-rated Jaguar defense set a team record with nine sacks.

“I’m glad we got a chance to play here today,” said linebacker Kevin Hardy, who had two of the sacks. “I want to get used to it here, if you know what I mean.”

Jacksonville (7-1) sacked Chris Chandler eight times and backup Tony Graziani once. The Falcons managed only four first downs and 58 yards in the second half.

“It was a sharkfest,” defensive end Tony Brackens said.

Atlanta’s last gasp came when a 99-yard kickoff return by Tim Dwight to begin the second half was nullified because of a penalty. Instead of cutting Jacksonville’s lead to 17-14, the Falcons trailed by 10 points.

Not taking any more chances, Jacksonville quickly secured the victory on its next two possessions. Mike Hollis kicked a 24-yard field goal and Brunell threw his final touchdown pass, a two-yard play to Keenan McCardell with 1:41 left in the third quarter.

“We had some momentum,” said Dwight, who scored Atlanta’s only touchdown with 29 seconds left in the first half to pull the Falcons within 17-7. “We had scored right before the half, then we came out and busted one to make it 17-14. But it didn’t count.”

Brunell left the game early in the fourth after completing 14 of 27 passes for 203 yards.