JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars made rookie quarterback Dave Ragone's first NFL start a miserable experience.
With starter David Carr bothered by the flu and backup Tony Banks out with a broken hand, Ragone threw for just 71 yards as the Jaguars rolled to a 27-0 victory over the Houston Texans in a battle of AFC South rivals.
It was the first shutout for the Jaguars since a 48-0 rout of Cleveland on December 3, 2001. Under rookie coach Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville allowed only 124 total yards to the Texans and sacked Ragone three times.
Fred Taylor beat that total by himself, rushing for a season-high 163 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries for the Jaguars (4-9), who won their second straight.
"Our front was dominant and made life difficult for them on both offense and defense," Del Rio said. "It was a complete victory and the first shutout for our staff, so that makes it special."
"This was by far the most physical defense I've ever played against, seen or heard of," said Texans tight end Billy Miller. "They just had their way with us today. They just played physical and got after us."
With Taylor carrying the offense, rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich didn't try to force any plays and completed 18-of-29 passes for 194 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown to Jimmy Smith in the first quarter.
Taylor scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter, rookie LaBrandon Toefield added a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Seth Marler kicked a pair of field goals for Jacksonville.
Along with not having Carr, the Texans (5-8) also were without leading rusher Domanick Davis, who missed the game with a thigh injury. Rookie Tony Hollings filled in for Davis and had just 19 yards on 18 carries.
"Those (Carr and Davis) are two of our most productive players," said Texans coach Dom Capers. "But we have gone through a lot this year with backups stepping up. That is one of the things you deal with and you move on."
Ragone, a third-round pick out of Louisville, completed just 11-of-23 passes but rushed for 51 yards on five scrambles. He was sacked three times.
"There were a lot of emotions going, obviously, with my first start," Ragone said. "Maybe next time I'll respond a little differently, but it's kind of like growing pains."
Carr scored on a one-yard run as time expired to lift the Texans to a 24-20 win over the Jaguars in the first meeting between the teams on September 28.
