JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- James Stewart had a career night and Mark Brunell had another great game. But as much as anyone, Tom Coughlin gets the credit for the Jacksonville Jaguars' latest victory.

Tired of watching his team grind and kick field goals, Coughlin took a well-timed gamble Thursday night that propelled the Jaguars to a 20-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

	Jacksonville's James Stewart stretches for a TD against Pittsburgh's Joel Steed (left).

The Jaguars earned the first sweep of their AFC Central rivals and improved the NFL's best record to 11-1.

Losses by Kansas City and New England on Sunday would clinch the AFC's first playoff spot for Jacksonville, which grabbed momentum thanks to Coughlin's boldest call of the season.

With his offense moving but not scoring much, the coach opted to go for a fourth-and-1 at the Steelers 24, bypassing a field goal that would have given Jacksonville a 9-6 lead late in the third quarter.

He sent Stewart off tackle for the first down. Then, after a penalty pushed Jacksonville back, Brunell made his best throw of the night, a 27-yard touchdown to Jimmy Smith that looped just over the outstretched hands of a leaping Dewayne Washington.

"That was an attitude play," said receiver Keenan McCardell. "That was something to show the Steelers, this is what's going to decide the game."

Coughlin said he listened to the pleas from the offensive line, which wanted to keep the ball moving toward the end zone. Tony Boselli said the gesture was appreciated.

"They hadn't shown they could stop us," Boselli said. "We were moving the sticks and grinding it out. We knew we were going to get it in there sooner or later."

With a 13-6 lead, Jacksonville let the defense preserve the victory, another good gamble considering the Steelers (5-6) had big trouble moving the ball all night.

Making his first start since 1996, Mike Tomczak did very little to spark the Pittsburgh offense, puncturing the theory that Kordell Stewart was the problem. The Steelers gained just 235 yards, made 15 first downs and scored its two field goals thanks mainly to the field-position edge it played with the entire game.

Another fitting symbol for this struggling franchise in turmoil: this was the third straight game in which the Steelers failed to score a touchdown against Jacksonville.

"It's a fine line between success and not having it," Tomczak said. "We were close on a lot of plays. But this team has a lot of pride and heart. We won't accept losing because we have a coach who won't accept it."

The Jaguars produced more offense than the 20 points would suggest.

Playing in the absence of the injured Fred Taylor, Stewart ran for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown. Smith and McCardell each surpassed the 100-yard mark for the second straight week Smith had 10 catches for 124 yards and McCardell had five receptions for 113 yards.

Brunell, completely healed from a rib injury that hindered him earlier in the season, finished 25-for-37 for 308 yards. This marks the first time he's gone over 300 yards in three straight games.

GAME NOTES

For winning, Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin gave the team Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. The Jaguars have allowed 131 points through 12 games, the second-best mark since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978. The 1985 Bears hold the record of 127. Tony Brackens was named AFC defensive player of the month for second straight month. Had one sack to reach 27½ for his career and pass Joel Smeenge for the Jaguars record. Mike Tomczak drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the second half for slamming into Jaguars cornerback Fernando Bryant while Bryant was strutting after defending an incomplete pass. James Stewart finished the game with 810 yards, his career high for a season.

"Everything is clicking right now," Brunell said. "Certainly, the production is great and it's not just me. Guys are making plays. Jimmy and Keenan were fabulous tonight. The protection was great. We were able to run the football. And I feel much more healthy than I have. That certainly is important."

The Steelers lost their fourth straight and now have 10 days to stew in their own problems, which include Bill Cowher's job future, Stewart's job description and, most notably, an offense that moves no better with Tomczak at quarterback.

"This isn't all about Mike Tomczak, it's about everyone," Cowher said. "It's a football team. We've got four games to go. We've got to find a way to win football games."

Tomczak finished 19-for-39 for 193 yards and couldn't gather any momentum, the way he did last week in a failed comeback effort against Cincinnati. Back in his Slash role, Stewart was little factor, catching three passes for 21 yards.

Meanwhile, until Coughlin's bold play-call, the Jaguars struggled under the weight of bad field position and their own mistakes.

They started nine of their 10 drives inside their 20-yard line. In the first half, they produced just a pair of Mike Hollis field goals. Two other promising drives ended because of miscues -- a lost fumble and a bad snap in the shotgun that cost the Jaguars 15 yards on third down.

"Those things are going to happen," Brunell said. "But it didn't hurt our confidence at all. We always felt we could move the ball. That's the mark of a good football team. We were able to overcome adverse times."