Published: November 23, 2009 12:16 am      

BILLS: Jaguars escape with 18-15 victory

JACKSONVILLE — David Garrard had just three game-winning drives in his first 58 career starts.

Now, he has two in the last two weeks.

Garrard threw a touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker with 56 seconds remaining and Jacksonville beat the Buffalo Bills 18-15 Sunday, spoiling Perry Fewell’s debut as interim coach and giving the Jaguars their first three-game winning streak in nearly two years.

“It’s just something that continues to give this team, this offense, confidence,” Garrard said. “You’re not going to get it every time, but when you do, you’ve got to relish it, learn from it and understand what it’s like to be in that moment.”

The Bills (3-7) bottled up Maurice Jones-Drew, pressured Garrard and managed 300 yards of offense for the first time in two months. But Garrard directed a 68-yard scoring drive when it mattered for the Jaguars (6-4). He managed a similar come-from-behind effort last week against the Jets.

Garrard completed 21 of 30 passes for 215 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked twice, but nearly perfect on the final drive.

“Any given play, we can make it happen,” Garrard said. “Guys know when we get in that situation it’s not a loss. It’s an opportunity for us to go make the plays to get the win. When I walk into that huddle, you can see it in everybody’s eyes. Nobody has that glassy-eyed look. Everybody’s focused and ready to roll.”

Terrell Owens caught nine passes for 197 yards, including a team-record 98-yarder for a score. It was his best outing with the Bills, who have lost three straight and six of eight.

Sims-Walker asked Owens for his jersey after the game. Owens obliged, pulling it off and graciously handing it over with a smile near midfield.

“Might show I’m washed up,” Owens joked. “I take it as a compliment that I can still play this game.”

Buffalo looked as though it would pull off an upset after a tumultuous week that started with sideline bickering at Tennessee and continued with the firing of coach Dick Jauron two days later

Ryan Fitzpatrick hooked up with Owens for the longest play in Bills history, putting Buffalo ahead 15-10 early in the third. Owens beat Tyron Brackenridge, who was filling in for injured starter Rashean Mathis, and high-stepped the last 20 yards into the end zone.

Owens emphatically dunked the ball over the goal post following his second TD catch of the season. But it was the last bit of celebration Buffalo’s offense mustered.

“All for nothing when you don’t get the win,” Owens said. “I’m glad for the opportunity to make big plays, what I’ve always wanted to do. We came up short.”

The Bills botched the extra-point attempt, then got the ball back when Garrard scrambled out of the pocket and fumbled. But they couldn’t do anything against Jacksonville’s blitzing defense.

Garrard made amends for his mistake, taking possession with 6:12 remaining, completing four consecutive passes and moving the Jaguars to the 12-yard line. Jones-Drew took over from there, running five times but coming up short on second-and-goal from the 1. Facing third down, Garrard dropped back and floated a pass to Sims-Walker in the corner of the end zone.

Garrard also ran for the 2-point conversion.

“We never doubted David at all,” said Sims-Walker, who caught eight passes for 91 yards. “David has confidence and we have confidence in him. That’ll never change, no matter if he throws five, six picks in a game.”

Fitzpatrick threw for 297 yards. He moved the Bills into Jacksonville territory in the closing seconds, but his fourth-down pass to Owens was tipped and then picked off by Anthony Smith.

“Emotional week for all of us and this was an emotional loss for us,” Fewell said. “I thought our guys fought their hind ends off. They battled down to the wire. We just didn’t get it done.”

NOTES: The Bills have now been outscored 109-40 in the fourth quarter. ... The already-banged-up Bills had more injuries. RB Marshawn Lynch (shoulder), G Eric Wood (broken leg), G Seth McKinney (knee) and DT John McCargo (calf) left the game and did not return. Wood will remain in Jacksonville overnight. ... Jaguars DE Bryan Smith (shoulder) left the game. ... Jaguars WR Torry Holt has caught a pass in 163 consecutive games. ... Jones-Drew has 13 TDs, including at least one in five straight games.