Jaguars 24, Texans 21: How Jacksonville Improved in AFC South Rematch

How did the Jaguars pull off one of their biggest wins of the season?

In Week 3 of the NFL Season, the Duval Devout watched their beloved Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) get blown out by the Houston Texans (6-5) and their rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. For all the disappointment from that game for the fans, conventional wisdom says that “it’s never as bad or as good as you think it is”. That Week 3 loss isn’t looking as disappointing as it seemed on September 24^th, likewise, the victory this past Sunday isn’t necessarily a lock for the division.

That being said, here’s what’s better (and worse) coming out of the Jaguars 24-21 road win over the Texans.

Sacking the Quarterback

Granted, the Texans were starting their fourth different center this past Sunday, but the Jags put up four sacks on the day compared to the previous game where neither team recorded one. The issues with the Houston interior offensive line are made evident with Roy Robertson-Harris recording one of them. But the day’s history was made by Josh Allen putting up 2.5 sacks (the other half going to Travon Walker). With his contribution, Allen is officially the second-highest Jaguar in sacks.

Not a bad day for a squad that is constantly criticized for the lack of a pass rush.

Special Teams

The fact that the Jags looked better with Parker Washington in lieu of the injured Jamal Adams as a special team corps should speak volumes to how much they struggled on September 24^th. While the most painful memory for the Duval Devout was the kick return touchdown from fullback Andrew Beck, field goal kicker Brandon McManus also had his own issues that day. He went from going 1-of-3 in field goals during Week 3 to 3-of-4 booting in nine points including one from 53 yards out.

The argument could be made that he should have been 4-of-5 if the coaching staff opted for the chip shot field goal with one second left in the first half, but that’s a separate conversation. The punchline remains that instead of being a net negative in points, the Jags got nine points from special teams’ contribution.

The Passing Game

While harping on stat lines can be an endeavor of incomplete analysis, it’s hard to argue with Trevor’s improvement completing 27 of his 40 passes for 279 yards with a touchdown and an interception in late September compared to connecting on 23 of his 38 throws for 364 with a touchdown and an “interception” as well as a rushing touchdown in Houston.

The interception in quotes for this past Sunday is a thanks to a missed defensive pass interference call that was so bad, even the TV broadcast put it on blast. It was also responsible for handing the Texans seven points. Regardless of this, Lawrence and the Jags were far better in the rematch.

Moreover, Calvin Ridley had a second straight solid performance. While fans will remember the dropped touchdown, Ridley finished the day with 89 yards on five catches with a score as well as a snag for a two-point conversion that was key in the day’s victory.

The Upcoming Schedule

Thanks to the redemption in Houston, the Jags are in favorable standing with three straight games against AFC North teams in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Baltimore on the schedule. Meanwhile, the Texans face three struggling teams in Denver, the New York Jets, and Tennessee.

While the Jags are in the driver’s seat to win the AFC South, they also face a bumpier road than the Texans.