Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Josh Scobee won a second straight game for the Jacksonville Jaguars, with plenty of help again from David Garrard. Scobee's 37-yard field goal in overtime gave the Jaguars a 30-27 victory over the winless Houston Texans. Scobee made a 51-yarder with four seconds remaining last week to beat Indianapolis 23-21. Garrard put Jacksonville (2-2) in position for the winner against the Colts and did the same a week later.

Star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman ended his 2008 season Tuesday when he told the San Diego Chargers he will have surgery on the two torn ligaments in his left knee. Merriman's decision came two days after the Chargers lost to the Carolina Panthers in a game in which he barely resembled the player who had an NFL-high 39 1/2 sacks in the last three seasons and played in three straight Pro Bowls. Merriman didn't immediately return e-mails and telephone calls seeking comment.

The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars said Thursday that contrary to a newspaper report his NFL team is not for sale or bound for Los Angeles. "I'm not selling the Jaguars," Wayne Weaver said in an interview. "The team is not moving to L.A. I don't know how I can say that any more clearly than that." The Philadelphia Daily News, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that Weaver was in negotiations with New Jersey billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos to sell the franchise. The Jaguars have long struggled to sell tickets and generate lucrative sponsorships in the Jacksonville area, fueling speculation the team could be sold to a group angling to bring them to Southern California.

PITTSBURGH -- With the Jacksonville Jaguars chasing NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers wound up chasing David Garrard. And Garrard won. Proving he has moves to go with his muscle, the 245-pound quarterback paved the way for a 31-29 victory Saturday in a raucous wild-card game at Heinz Field.

With six consecutive victories against the point spread, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on a roll for NFL bettors who like to place money behind positive trends. Jacksonville, 10-4 overall and against the spread, opened this week as an 11-point home favorite over the Oakland Raiders and the line had increased to 13 by Tuesday. Coach Jack Del Rio has done a great job of putting together the Jaguars, who have the same record against the spread as the undefeated New England Patriots.