JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville's top receiver, 6-foot-6 Matt Jones, could be forgiven if his head was not fully in the game last night. He has a trial scheduled Friday on a felony cocaine possession charge in Fayetteville, Ark.

Jones has been free on $2,500 bond, and faces 3-10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine if convicted. But Jones looked as if he had no troubles in the world as he became involved in three big plays to help the Jaguars take a 14-7 lead in the first quarter last night.

Jones, Jacksonville's most productive wide receiver, caught two third-down passes to keep a long drive going. He then went deep from the 40 and reached up to catch David Garrard's pass with Ike Taylor right on him.

The pass fell incomplete, but Taylor was called for pass interference, a 39-yard penalty that gave the Jaguars a first down at the 1. Maurice Jones-Drew scored on the next play.

Jones' trial is scheduled two days before Jacksonville plays in Denver Sunday.

Jeff Reed just polished off a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter -- making him 8-for-8 this season -- when he was called on again, this time to prevent a score.

Reed kicked off after his score and Brian Witherspoon fielded it on the goal line. The rookie with the 4.1 speed flashed off the left side and was about to break into the open when Reed lowered his head and tripped him at the 38.

As it was, that 38-yard return was the longest against the Steelers this season, but the Jaguars did not make it past the 42. They punted and four plays later the Steelers scored on Nate Washington's 48-yard reception to take their first lead of the night, 17-14.

Jacksonville had a legitimate sellout last night, thanks to the thousands of Steelers fans who turned out. Steelers fans covered Northern Florida like fire ants for a few days leading up to the game. They jammed the bars and hotels from Jacksonville Beach to Ponte Vedra Beach and swarmed over downtown Jacksonville.

The Jaguars last night would have loved to uncover the 10,000 seats they don't use at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. They easily could have filled them with more Steelers fans. However, the Jaguars have covered those seats since the 2005 season and must declare before the season whether they will do so or not.

The stadium holds about 77,000, but its capacity is down to about 67,000 with the covers.

The Jaguars originally covered the seats to help sell out the stadium and avoid the local TV blackout. It has not been a success. Last season, there were 10 local blackouts across the NFL -- three in Jacksonville, three in St. Louis, two in Oakland and two in Atlanta. Jacksonville was the only one of the four to make the playoffs.

The Steelers piled up 300 yards in total offense in the first half and Ben Roethlisberger had 239 yards passing in those two quarters. Those are more yards than Roethlisberger had in any one game this season and just five yards fewer in total yards than in any of their first four games.

Steelers: quarterback Dennis Dixon, running back Carey Davis, running back Willie Parker, linebacker Andre Frazier, tackle Tony Hills, defensive end Nick Eason, defensive tackle Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel.

Jaguars: cornerback Drayton Florence, safety Reggie Nelson, running back Chauncey Washington, center Brad Meester, guard Chris Naeole, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, wide receiver Troy Williamson, wide receiver Dennis Northcutt.

Rookie wide receiver Limas Sweed dressed for the first time in the NFL because of all the injuries to the inactive Steelers. ... The Steelers won the coin toss and, unlike last week, chose to receive the opening kickoff rather than defer the choice. ... Will James, an eighth-year pro who played at Western Illinois, replaced the injured Florence as the starting right cornerback for Jacksonville. James, born William James Peterson in Uniontown, grew up in Brownsville and also played for the Giants, Eagles and Bills. ... Rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall's broken shoulder will require surgery but it has not yet been scheduled. ... Steelers offensive tackle Marvel Smith left the game at the end of the third quarter with cramps. He was replaced by Trai Essex. ... Steelers receiver Dallas Baker left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. ... David Garrard's 32-yard pass completion to wide receiver Mike Walker in the third quarter was the longest play against the Steelers this season.