Jaguars...24 Buccaneers...23

TAMPA, Fla. -- With Quinn Gray making his first NFL start, the Jacksonville Jaguars put their trust in a vibrant running game and a sturdy defense.

The plan to help the inexperienced quarterback replacing injured David Garrard worked, though not necessarily to perfection in a 24-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gray made an eight-yard touchdown throw to Matt Jones that put the Jaguars (5-2) ahead for good with 11 minutes 37 seconds to go. Gray also avoided a safety in the third quarter when he fumbled in his own end zone but recovered and crawled out to the one-yard line.

Matt Bryant’s third field goal put Tampa Bay (4-4) ahead, 23-17, before Gray led an eight-play, 53-yard drive that Jones finished with a one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone.

Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia had a streak of 217 consecutive passes without a pick come to an end.

Quoteworthy: “Two drives in particular, they just ran it down our throat, and that’s what we can’t do in a situation like this.” -- Ronde Barber, Buccaneers cornerback