Jaguars Fall Short on Texans’ Late Field Goal in London
The Houston Texans have had the Jaguars’ number for the better part of the last 10 years, and that did not change Sunday in London.
Jacksonville (4-2) came into the contest on a three-game winning streak but could not do enough in a 34-31 shootout loss. Houston (2-4) quarterback C.J. Stroud showed out with his first three-touchdown day since Week 15 of last season and propelled the Texans to the divisional victory.
Houston has now won 14 of the last 17 meetings against the Jaguars, including the last time the franchises squared off. Like its recent success against Jacksonville, another factor has also been a constant: Stroud.
The fourth-year quarterback came into Sunday averaging 275 passing yards and 1.6 touchdowns in his five outings against Jacksonville. Stroud came out of Sunday with 312 passing yards, the three scores and an interception. He looked poised in the pocket and boasted a completion rate of 70.5%. Stroud’s two completions of 40-plus air yards also marked a career high.
Stroud threw his first interception of the season with 3:59 remaining in the game. Travis Hunter reeled in the pick, and Jacksonville lined up at its own 20-yard line eyeing a comeback victory. Hunter caught the second touchdown of his career on the drive prior and became the first player with a receiving score and an interception in the same game since Brian Dawkins in 2002.
“Was proud of the way he competed, made some plays for us on offense,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said of Hunter. “He definitely helped put us in a position to win that game today.”
It drove down the field, and kicker Cam Little came through for Jacksonville once again, nailing a 60-yard field goal to tie the game with 1:55 left.
Despite the Jaguars going blow-for-blow with Houston’s scoring attack for much of the day, their late resurgence wasn’t enough to top their division rival. Houston ran the clock down and got kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn in range for a 49-yard game-winning field goal.
Houston opened the scoring with a touchdown pass to backup tight end Foster Moreau with 5:47 left in the first quarter. Stroud’s first TD toss marked the first time an opposing team has scored in the first quarter against Jacksonville this season.
Self-inflicted mistakes continued to riddle the Jaguars after a handful of penalties stalled drives and extended those for Houston. Jacksonville’s defense forced a three-and-out immediately out of the halftime break but was called for 12 men on the field. The penalty handed the Texans a fresh set of downs, and they cashed in on a 13-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 10 points with 9:21 to go in the third. The deficit marked Jacksonville’s steepest of the season.
“I did think it was a cleaner game, operationally, but some of the moments in which they occurred bit us in the butt today,” Coen said.
Similarly, the Jaguars were ready to regain possession late in the third quarter, down three points, but cornerback Jarrian Jones was called for pass interference on third-and-4, moving the chains for the Texans. They scored on the following play and brought the lead back to 10.
The Jaguars’ offense also got off to a sluggish start despite having prime field position for much of the day. Jacksonville opened the game with a quick three-and-out but set up from its own 45-yard line on the ensuing possession. Trevor Lawrence targeted wideout Parker Washington on three consecutive plays, including a fourth-and-3 try that was nearly intercepted. The failed conversion led to Houston’s early 7-0 lead.
The Jaguars’ recent red-zone issues persisted following a 12-play drive that placed them at the 3-yard line. Running back Bhayshul Tuten appeared to score before tight end Brenton Strange was called for holding, pushing the Jaguars back 10 yards. Lawrence threw an interception right into the hands of Houston’s Calen Bullock two plays later, and Jacksonville came up empty.
After throwing for 331 yards last week, Lawrence appeared flustered in the pocket early. While not incredibly efficient (24 of 41), he kept the Jaguars in the contest with four touchdown passes.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence, we know who we are. We don’t need to go soul-searching or anything like that,” Lawrence said. “It’s just, how can we continue to do the little things better and better, because they cost you in these tight games.”
Despite the loss, a light shined on the backfield. Tuten secured his first multi-touchdown game of his career with two receiving touchdowns. His backfield mate Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 10 carries for 52 yards in the first half alone, both season highs. The tandem aided in Jacksonville’s near-comeback victory.
The Jaguars were within three points on their final drive of the third quarter after Lawrence captained a 69-yard series that was capped by tight end Nate Boerkicher’s first career touchdown. Tuten picked up 18 yards and his third reception to set Jacksonville up at Houston’s 1-yard line.
Texans running back Woody Marks became the first rusher to pick up more than 40 yards against Jacksonville this season. Marks came out of the game with 56 yards.
The Jaguars will head into their bye week with the Indianapolis Colts on the horizon.
“I am extremely proud of this team and confident moving forward,” Coen said
Category: Feature Sports News, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
