Battered Brunell Befuddles Bengals

CINCINNATI — Mark Brunell’s swollen hand shook uncontrollably. Blood streamed from two nasty cuts on the index finger as trainers broke out the bandages.

Done for the day? No way. Jacksonville’s battered quarterback was just about to decide the game.

Brunell overcame eight sacks, a sore thigh and a mangled finger on his passing hand Sunday, throwing two touchdown passes that rallied the Jaguars to a 14-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

With his finger wrapped by two bloody bandages, he threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Keenan McCardell early in the fourth quarter that added to his reputation for toughness.

“His hand was shaking and he couldn’t stop it,” tight end Kyle Brady said. “Blood was coming out everywhere. Then he jumps back in there. He’s as tough as anybody out there.”

Brunell’s painful performance decided a game between 4-8 teams that started fast--both opened the season 2-0--and faded even faster. Cincinnati is assured of its 11th straight losing season.

The Bengals matched their franchise record with eight sacks--rookie end Justin Smith had three--but couldn’t stop Brunell when it mattered.

They had trouble stopping Jimmy Smith all day; the Jaguars’ top receiver had nine catches for 119 yards.

After Cincinnati’s Corey Dillon ran nine yards for a touchdown and Neil Rackers made a 47-yard field goal with 5:41 left in the third quarter, the Jaguars seemed to suffer a decisive blow when Brunell smacked his passing hand on Mark Roman’s facemask during his follow-through. Jonathan Quinn took his place, made a handoff and the Jaguars were forced to punt.

Two minutes later, the Jaguars got the ball back--and Brunell too.