Leftwich Plays a Starring Role in Action-Packed Day

The scenario looked too much like the work of a screenwriter -- hometown hero returns facing the team he cheered on as a child, rallies his team and basks in the satisfaction of a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

And that's how it went yesterday for Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich, expect for the last part.

The Washington native's heroics were enough to bring Jacksonville back from a 10-point deficit in the second half, but they weren't enough to give Leftwich a victory in his first meeting with the Redskins.

"Everything's not a movie," Leftwich said. "Everything's not a great story. This is real football, these are real bullets and sometimes you fall short."

Playing in front of family and friends at FedEx Field, Leftwich threw three touchdown passes and finished 21 of 35 for 289 yards. But his best work came with his team trailing 27-17 with 12 minutes 24 seconds left in the game.

Leftwich needed four plays and little more than two minutes to finish an 82-yard touchdown drive with a bullet pass to wide receiver Reggie Williams to make it 27-24.

Three plays later, Redskins wide receiver Brandon Lloyd fumbled and the ball was recovered by safety Deon Grant, who carried it from the Washington 24 to the 18. But Grant was called for excessive celebration after the play, pushing Jacksonville back to the 33. Leftwich got the Jaguars to the 20 but a poor throw and a delay-of-game penalty stalled the drive, setting up Josh Scobee's successful 43-yard field goal.

Later in the quarter, with his team down 30-27 after Washington's John Hall booted a 37-yarder, Leftwich came through again. Even as the Redskins inched the ball down to set up the go-ahead kick, Leftwich looked unconcerned. He tossed a football on the sideline to stay loose, turning his gaze toward the field now and again. His eyes stayed on the action just long enough to steal a glance at the drive.

"When I looked up and saw the situation with Byron, I said, boy I'm looking forward to see what he does here," Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio said.

With 1:55 left, a calm Leftwich stood up to the blitzing Redskins. He deftly guided the Jaguars to the Redskins 23, where Scobee booted a 41-yarder with 11 seconds left to make it 30-30 and send the game to overtime.

"I felt as though we were going to win that football game," Leftwich said. "I felt as though our defense was going to stop them in overtime and we were going to get the ball back and score."

The Jaguars did not touch the ball in overtime.

Nevertheless, Del Rio said he was impressed with Leftwich's calm demeanor at the end of the game, comparing his poise to that of Peyton Manning, who earlier in the day rallied the Indianapolis Colts to a victory against the New York Jets.

"It's a great barometer for our football team," Del Rio said. "He did a great job of leading us down and getting us 10 points like that and allowing us to get into overtime. I'm very proud of the way he played."

But that's where the hometown script ended, with Leftwich falling just short of pulling off the comeback.

"It was special, historic for me because I was such a Redskin fan growing up. And to be playing at home, that's a special feeling," Leftwich said. "It was something you just can't explain. To grow up rooting for a team your entire life, then to have the opportunity to play them in a meaningful game is something that I will never forget."