On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars found a way to improve to 2-1 on the season, despite playing an imperfect game at EverBank Stadium. The defense racked up two sacks, three turnovers, and five three-and-outs against the Texans. Jacksonville’s win results in a 2-0 record at home, 1-0 in AFC South play, and place Houston at 0-3 on the season, fighting for their playoff lives early. Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 3 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans.
Live blog:
Catch
up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!
Pregame Notes:
The following Houston players did not play in this one: QB Graham Mertz, OT Blake Fisher, RB Dameon Pierce, RB British Brooks, TE Brenden Bates, WR Braxton Berrios, DE Darrell Taylor. WR Christian Kirk was active for the first time this season for Houston, facing his former team in Jacksonville.
Additionally, OL Wyatt Milum, RB Cody Schrader, DL Danny Striggow, DL B.J. Green II, DT Khalen Saunders Sr, and S Kahlef Hailassie were all inactive against Houston. LG Ezra Cleveland was active after being limited throughout the week with an ankle injury along with CB Montaric Brown (ankle) making his season debut.
1st Quarter
The Texans kicked off the affair on offense, with both teams trading quick three-and-outs after short third-down completions. After the 42-yard punt went out of bounds, Houston was set up with prime field position at their own 48-yard line. However, their offense again stalled with Ka’imi Fairburn missing a 52-yard field goal attempt, wide right. Jacksonville then put together their best drive of the day, methodically working their way down the field on a 9-play, 58-yard, 4:34 touchdown drive where the team was helped by a third-down pass interference penalty in the endzone on Houston to provide a new set of downs. RB Bhayshul Tuten capped the series on the following play for a one-yard touchdown – his first rushing touchdown on the season. (Jaguars 7, Texans 0)
The Jaguars defense, smelling blood in the water forced another three-and-out after a Dennis Gardeck pass deflection, followed by a Devin Lloyd second down pressure, resulting in a Travon Walker clean-up sack.
2nd Quarter
The Jacksonville offense received the ball back at their own 31-yard line after an illegal block in the back penalty on the return. However, the offense again went cold after Lawrence missed a streaking Dyami Brown deep on second down, resulting in an eventual punt.
Houston CB Derek Stingley notably left the game following this series, with a rib injury, never to return. Houston showed signs of life, offensively, with their best drive of the day, a 13-play, 71-yard, 6:51 drive. Despite the success in the air for Houston, Jacksonville held in the redzone, bending without breaking, to force a 27-yard field goal, instead of surrendering a touchdown. Notably, Jacksonville Eric Murray temporarily left the game on the drive, after being penalized for unnecessary roughness. He returned after the half. (Jaguars 7, Texans 3)
The Jaguars offense then went three-and-out on the following series. With Stingley still out for the Houston secondary, the Jacksonville offense called a timeout before the third-and-six play, yet Brian Thomas Jr remained on the sideline as Lawrence’s deep ball attempt for Parker Washington fell incomplete. The Jacksonville defense held CJ Stroud’s offense to another three-and-out on the following series. However, Jacksonville’s offense was unable to capitalize, with their own three-and-out after a third-down Trevor Lawrence sack by Will Anderson. This was Jacksonville’s third offensive three-and-out of the half. However, Jacksonville’s defense then forced their fourth three-and-out of the first half of the Houston offense. Jacksonville’s offense was unable to move the ball within field goal range, with a third down incompletion to TE Hunter Long.
Halftime Stats:
- Score: Jaguars 7, Texans 3
- Time of possession: Jaguars 12:47, Texans 17:13
- Sacks: 1 sack for each team
- Turnovers forced: Zero turnovers for either team
- Rushing yards: Jaguars 11-yards, Texans 50-yards
- Yards per rush: Jaguars 1.8, Texans 4.5
- Passing yards: Jaguars 77, Texans 57
- Passing yards per attempt: Jaguars 3.3, Texans 2.7
- Redzone: Jaguars 1-1, Texans 0-1
- Penalties: Jaguars 6 for 45-yards, Texans 5 for 36-yards
- Points off turnovers: Zero
3rd Quarter
Jacksonville’s offense showed some initial signs of life after the half, as they put together a 52-yard field goal drive. However, after the Cam Little made attempt, Houston was flagged for leverage, a 15-yard penalty. The offense was unable to pick up another first down, resulting in a 39-yard Cam Little field goal, three plays later. (Jaguars 10, Texans 3)
Houston was again held to their fifth three-and-out of the matchup, as Josh Hines-Allen and Arik Armstead met at the quarterback, sacking CJ Stroud on third down. Jacksonville then failed in their attempt to extend their lead with a 5-play, 25-yard drive, capped by a Cam Little 47-yard missed field goal attempt – his first miss of the 2025 season.
4th Quarter
With Houston driving into scoring range, the Jacksonville defense again held, with Jourdan Lewis intercepting a CJ Stroud second down attempt to Christian Kirk. This was Jacksonville’s seventh turnover of the season, and their league leading sixth interception.
Trevor Lawrence then gave the ball right back with an inexcusable interception into double coverage.
The interception was immediately followed by a deep Nico Collins touchdown, with Tyson Campell in coverage. Campbell bit on the out-and-up by Collins leaving no one in coverage in the secondary. The Jacksonville offense was then unable to convert, going for it on fourth-and-two from midfield, with the pass being deflected at the line of scrimmage, incomplete. The Jacksonville defense again got the ball back with 3:58 left in the matchup via a Tyson Campbell forced fumble. After giving up the touchdown to Collins, Campbell forced the redzone fumble by Collins, recovered by Devin Lloyd. Lawrence then connected with Brian Thomas Jr on his best play of the day, a 46-yard catch and run, followed up by a 10-yard Travis Etienne touchdown rush (where it seems Houston surrendered the touchdown purposefully). (Jaguars 17, Texans 10)
Houston received the kickoff down seven, with 1:48 left, and two timeouts remaining. As Stroud led Houston into field goal range, Josh Hines-Allen deflected Stroud’s pass with 27-seconds remaining, resulting in an Atonio Johnson interception. Jacksonville’s defense wrapped up the day with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, all within the redzone.
Best highlight:
The Jacksonville defense closed the book on Sunday with a CJ Stroud pressure resulting in a game-sealing interception for our best highlight of the game.
Biggest play(s) of the game:
According to rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Expected Points Added (EPA) was CJ Stroud’s touchdown to Nico Collins (-4.3 EPA for Jacksonville).
Per rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Win Probability was Tyson Campbell’s forced fumble of Nico Collins, recovered by Devin Lloyd (+21% win probability for Jacksonville).
Key stats (traditional):
- QB Trevor Lawrence: 20/40 for 222-yards (5.6 YPA), with no TDs and 1 interception (56.5 passer rating)
- RB Travis Etienne: 15 rushes for 56-yards (3.5 YPC), with 1 rushing TD
- TE Brenton Strange: 6 catches for 61-yards on 7 targets (10.2 YPR)
- WR Brian Thomas Jr: 2 catches for 55-yards on 6 targets (27.5)
- DE Josh Hines-Allen: 2 tackles (1 solo), 3 QB hits, 0.5 sacks (forced final interception)
- CB Jourdan Lewis: 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception
- CB Tyson Campbell: 7 tackles (7 solo), 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble forced
View the full box score here
Game balls:
- Special Teams: P Logan Cooke: 6 punts, 48.8 avg, 2 inside of the 20-yard line, and a long of 60-yards
- Defense: CB Jourdan Lewis: 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception
- Offense: TE Brenton Strange: 6 catches for 61-yards on 7 targets (10.2 YPR)
PFF notable player:
The team over at Pro Football Focus noted the following:
TBD
Notable absences:
The following Jacksonville players did not participate in Sunday’s matchup due to noted injuries throughout the week:
- OL Wyatt Milum (knee)
Healthy Scratches:
- RB Cody Schrader
- DL Danny Striggow
- DL B.J. Green II
- DT Khalen Saunders Sr
- S Kahlef Hailassie
The following players left Sunday’s game due to injury:
- WR Dyami Brown (shoulder)
Full highlights:
- You can watch the top plays of the Week 3 matchup on the NFL’s YouTube channel here.
Post-game lingering questions:
1. Stacked boxes = trouble?
Entering the game, just three of Travis Etienne’s 30-rushes came against stacked boxes, per Next Gen Stats. Houston changed that math significantly on Sunday, showing one safety looks often on early downs against Jacksonville and limiting the early down run game. Coach Coen spoke on Houston’s tendency to play five down linemen on early downs on Sunday, resulting in tougher sledding early on. Jacksonville ran the ball better in the second half, with 75 of the team’s 86-rushing yards coming after the break.
2. Seriously. What’s going on with Brian Thomas Jr?
Brian Thomas Jr was taken off of the field on multiple third-down plays, in lieu of Parker Washington and Tim Patrick. This occurred in a one-score game, as he struggled with multiple drops. Thomas exploded with a late 46-yard catch-and-run on a scoring drive to calm the stadium boos, but the question must be asked, what’s going on here?
3. Penalties and drops continue
Jacksonville ended the day with 9-penalties for 70-yards, with a few questionable illegal shift calls (again). One illegal shift (Brown), an illegal block (Miller), two offensive holdings (Little and Mekari), two false start (Strange and Mudnt), three unnecessary roughness (Murray – 2, and Gardeck), two defensive holdings (Campbell and Gardeck).
Despite the multiple drops from Brian Thomas Jr, the late one from Parker Washington, and the 9-called penalties on the day (11-total), the team found a way to come out of Sunday with a victory while obviously playing not their cleanest game. There are worst things than being 1-0 in the AFC South, while playing your B or C game. What are your thoughts from tonight’s game, Jaguars fans? Who surprised you most or disappointed you with their play tonight? Let us know in the comments.
