• The small crowd (43,363 despite perfect weather) produced the expected — almost no traffic to battle. But it may have been the loudest crowd of the year, and quarterback Shawn Leftwich said so after the Jaguars’ 27-0 win over Houston. “Noise? Man, what noise,” he said. “And I was impressed when they did the wave (in the fourth quarter.) Must have lasted 10 minutes.”
• Why were the workers in the main parking lot always checking out one big camper? The boys inside had their own pre-game entertainment: dirty movies on a big flat-screen TV, which was easily visible from outside.
• One of the pre-game shows outside the stadium is a quiz show with an emcee asking questions of four contestants. But none competing in one round knew where Jag Coach Jack Del Rio went to college (Southern Cal.)
• The halftime contest almost had its second winner, but the contestant was just wide left on the placekick. He had advanced the ball from one end to the 15-yard-line by a pass and a punt.
• The game blimp’s side said 1-800-MEDICARE. Yes, it was sponsored by the government agency.
• Former Bolles star Travis Carroll played on the Texans’ special teams and got in a few plays with the regular defense. But he had the biggest family crowd after the game.
• When Jag running back Fred Taylor zipped 62 yards, he was followed all the way by Leftwich, who tried to catch up and be part of the blocking team. “If I had caught him, he would have scored,” said Leftwich. “I would have blocked that guy (who pushed Taylor out of bounds.)”
• First person in the winning locker room: Jag owner Wayne Weaver.
• Coach Jack Del Rio dodged questions about playing second-string quarterback David Garrard, even with the big lead late in the game. He’ll face more quarterback questions in the next two weeks, but these will by about Mark Brunell, the team’s quarterback for most of its existence who now is No. 3 and has said he won’t return next year. The Jags probably will honor their fallen hero in some way at the final game in two weeks, but playing time may not be an option. Probable: Brunell will be a game captain.
• Next game: Sunday at New England. It’s at 1. The next home game is here the following Sunday with New Orleans.