KMAX: Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) In a matchup of winless teams, something had to give, and the San Diego Chargers had a defense that was more than up to the challenge.

San Diego's butter-soft `D' helped Byron Leftwich look like a seasoned veteran. Leftwich threw for 336 yards in his second career start to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 27-21 victory Sunday.

Jimmy Smith returned from his four-game suspension and looked as though he'd been there the whole time, catching eight passes for 137 yards. The Jaguars (1-4) gained a season-high 436 yards and dominated the Game of the Weak more thoroughly than the score showed.

``I'm really happy for the players and the staff that we finally got over the hump,'' said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who got his first career victory.

Leftwich threw for two scores, the second of which was a 60-yard touchdown on a screen pass to Fred Taylor that gave the Jaguars a 27-14 lead late.

Smith, who returned to the team after six weeks in a rehab center, had a one-handed, highlight-reel catch on the sideline, and played better than expected.

``I was very grateful to go out there and do whatever I could to help the team,'' he said.

Returning from a one-game suspension of his own this for violating team rules San Diego's David Boston led everyone with 14 catches for 181 yards and two scores.

But not even that could save the Chargers (0-5), who head into their bye week with the early lead along with the 0-4 Jets in the race for the first pick in next year's draft.

``With the talent we have, it's definitely a surprise to be 0-5,'' Boston said. ``There are a lot of great teams that start out this way, and at some time it's going to turn around for us. We've just got to believe in what the coaches tell us and it will turn around.''

Not, however, if the defensive backfield doesn't shore things up. San Diego's young cornerbacks got torched.

Of course, even when he has been on the shelf, it's no travesty to get burned by Smith, the NFL's most prolific receiver over the last seven years. But when journeyman Matt Hatchette catches a wide-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's 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 Matt Hatchette and guys like Troy (Edwards) make big plays.''

Hatchette's catch was the key to a 90-yard touchdown drive that resulted in Edwards' 18-yard score for a 17-7 Jacksonville lead late in the third.

San Diego pulled to 20-14 with 4 minutes left, but on third-and-7, Leftwich threw a pretty screen to Taylor, who used a great block from center Brad Meester to spring for the long score. San Diego got within six again with 20 seconds left, but the Jaguars recovered an onside kick to seal the game.

``Wins are tough to come by, so when you get them, you've got to celebrate them,'' Leftwich said. ``At the same time, this has to be one of many.''

Leftwich went 19-for-28 for a passer rating of 132.4. The guy Leftwich replaced, Mark Brunell, was the third-string quarterback for the second straight week, out with an injured elbow that he insisted was perfectly fine.

Del Rio said he would announce next week's starting quarterback in a few days.

The Chargers, meanwhile, have a week to stew over a bad start unexpected from a team many experts pegged as a playoff contender this year.

Drew Brees had a good statistical day, although most of the yards came in a futile comeback effort. He finished 24-for-41 for 296 yards and three scores.

``The score doesn't even matter,'' coach Marty Schottenheimer said, explaining his emphasis on toughening the team's attitude to get wins. ``I talked all week don't even bother looking at the scoreboard.''< ^Notes:@ LaDainian Tomlinson came into the game ranked third in NFL rushing, but finished with just 38 yards. ... Jaguars safety Donovin Darius was called for two 15-yard penalties, one for a flagrant facemask, another for roughing the passer, which nullified an interception on San Diego's final scoring drive.