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Mark Brunell has seen a
lot in his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars -- the team's first win, playoff
runs, one of the most unlikely finishes ever in the NFL.
With Brunell likely suiting up for the last time with the Jaguars, the team
hopes he won't have to witness the first winless road season in franchise history
when they visit the Atlanta Falcons.
Jacksonville, 0-7 on the road, is in danger of losing each of its games away from home for the first time in its nine-year history. However, the Jaguars might have the perfect opponent as they try to avoid that fate, as the Falcons are 1-6 at home.
Brunell, who has ben with the franchise since its inception in 1995, will likely be cut after the season. He lost his starting job to Byron Leftwich after injuring his elbow in the third game of the season.
In his last home game with the Jaguars last Sunday, Brunell got the special introduction the team promised, and the standing ovation he richly deserved.
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The pregame ceremony came complete with a video montage of his greatest moments
-- the first win (Oct. 1, 1995), the big playoff win over the Broncos (Jan.
4, 1997) and other dives, scrambles and pinpoint passes he made en route to
25,698 yards over nine seasons.
``I'll look back on this day for years to come with a great deal of gratitude to the Jaguars, and a lot of gratitude and thanks to the people,'' Brunell said. ``It was a moment I'll cherish as long as I live.''
Brunell will leave with 25,698 yards and has been the starting quarterback for all of Jacksonville's greatest moments -- the team's first-ever win in 1995, the playoff upsets over the Bills and Broncos in the 1996 season, the 14-2 record and trip to the AFC title game in 1999.
Brunell also saw Jacksonville beat the New Orleans Saints 20-19 on Sunday, after one of the strangest finishes in NFL history.
With the Jaguars leading 20-13, Saints receiver Donte' Stallworth caught a pass from Aaron Brooks at the 50 with no time left, and dodged and slipped through several attempted tackles before he tossed a lateral to Michael Lewis. After drawing a swarm of defenders, Lewis pitched it back to Deuce McAllister.
With several would-be tacklers approaching him, McAllister turned to his right and threw an off-balance lateral to Jerome Pathon across the field. Pathon needed one block, by Brooks on Hugh Douglas, to go the final 21 yards for a touchdown.
Then, just as unbelievably, Saints kicker John Carney -- 403-for-408 on extra points in his 14-year career and 35-for-35 this season -- blew the chance to tie the game by missing the extra point.
Jacksonville could be without defensive end Tony Brackens, who left the game with an injured knee. His status is uncertain.
Atlanta is coming off its first victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in seven games, beating its division rivals 30-28 on Saturday.
The win came days after general manager Rich McKay left the Buccaneers to take the same position with the Falcons. The search for a new coach started last week, only a day after McKay was hired.
Since taking over when Dan Reeves was fired by the Falcons weeks ago, coach Wade Phillips is 1-1. He hasn't openly lobbied for the job on a full-time basis, though.
``I said before and I will stand on it, my record speaks for itself,'' Phillips said. ``I have been successful, and I feel like I will again.''
In five previous seasons as a head coach -- two in Denver and three in Buffalo -- Phillips had a 45-35 record before his stint with the Falcons. His teams reached the playoffs three times.
``Coming into the NFL, not knowing what to expect in my rookie year and just the two years I got to play for him, he took great pride in his teams,'' Falcons linebacker Keith Newman said. ``He's a very proud man, very honest and upfront. He takes care of you from day one throughout the year.
``I just really enjoy playing for Wade.''
Michael Vick and the Falcons ended the Buccaneers' hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions, as the third-year quarterback threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns against a Tampa Bay defense that shut him down twice last year.
It's been a miserable season
for Atlanta, which lost Vick for the first 11 games with a broken right leg.
Reeves was fired last week, and the Falcons were coming off a 38-7 loss to Indianapolis
in their debut under Phillips.