Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable!
This week, we’re previewing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first divisional matchup and second London game of the season. They’ll face the Houston Texans in what will surely be a scrappy, hard-fought bout.
Question 1: What’s your top question/concern about the Jaguars this week?
Dillon Appleman: The offensive line is easily my biggest concern for obvious reasons. The line already hadn’t been playing at a very high level through the first five weeks, and now
the unit just lost its most reliable piece: left tackle Anton Harrison. The Jags are lucky to have an experienced backup like Walker Little to fill that spot, but he’ll need some help on Sunday if the team is going to keep the Texans’ pass rush at bay.
Travis Holmes: It’s impossible to overstate my concerns about the task ahead for this Jacksonville offensive line. The Jaguars are facing one of the league’s top teams in sacks without their starting right tackle and with a left guard who is limited at best after spending the week on the injury report, plus a center, right guard, and right tackle who have all struggled to some degree in 2026. This feels like a recipe for a gift-wrapped seven-sack performance, much like the one the Seahawks defense delivered in 2025. With potential leaks at any of the five positions and tight end Nate Boerkircher also nursing a back issue, bullets could be flying at Trevor Lawrence from every angle on Sunday.
Gus Logue: My biggest concern this week is easily the Harrison-less offensive line, so I’ll frame my biggest question differently: How aggressive will DeMeco Ryans be after taking over defensive playcalling duties for the Texans defense last week? Like many disciples of the Cover 3-heavy system originally popularized by the Legion of Boom, Ryans prefers a “Pros vs. Joes” philosophy rather than being an “Xs and Os” connoisseur. He deploys relatively basic defensive structures to allow his ultra-talented players to play fast and physical. Even without Harrison available, the Jaguars will have a good chance to win if Ryans calls defensive plays the way he always has — but if he decides to turn up the pressure dial and throw in some creative blitzes rather than allowing Jacksonville to double-team Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter all game, Trevor Lawrence could be in trouble. I don’t think the Jags have to “beat” Anderson Jr. and Hunter, but they do have to beat the blitz.
Henry Zimmer: I am going to be so bold as to say the offensive line is going to be a huge concern this week. Will Anderson Jr. is playing out of his mind, and now it is up to the likes of Cole Van Lanen and Walker Little to stop him. Oh brother.
Question 2: What’s the key to a Jaguars victory this week?
Dillon: 1st down success on both sides of the ball. On offense, getting chunk gains on 1st down would go a long way in ensuring those Texans pass rushers can’t just tee off in obvious passing downs. On defense, the run defense isn’t in question, but I wouldn’t count on the Texans to test that unit much on Sunday. That means the quick pass game on 1st down will be key for them. Gotta prevent easy slants and screens on early downs.
Travis: Whether Jacksonville can stop the run when Houston leans on its jumbo personnel packages featuring six or more offensive linemen. In Week 5, the Texans used their jumbo look on 1/4 plays against Tennessee, running the ball on 81% of those snaps with a success rate just over 44%. This closely mirrors what the Texans did during Davis Mills’ 19-point comeback against the Jaguars last season. Houston’s running backs finished that day with 19 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. A 5.8-yard-per-carry average is winning football, and I expect Houston to try the same approach on Sunday to keep Jacksonville’s defense honest. Whichever offense can establish the run against these dominant defensive fronts will clearly have the edge in this matchup.
Gus: Winning the redzone battle. Both of these offenses should find success in the middle of the field and put together lengthy drives, so the result will come down to execution in scoring territory. Who makes more hero throws on the run between Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud? Who puts the ball in harm’s way more often? Which receivers come down with the 50/50 jump balls? Which cornerbacks break it up? Which defensive line makes the goal-line stand? Jacksonville will certainly look to improve from its redzone showing against Philadelphia last week.
Henry: If the Jags can get the ball safely and effectively out of Trevor Lawrence’s hands before that pass rush gets home, this is a very winnable game. The secondary for the Texans isn’t excellent (23rd in pass defense), so you can easily have winnable matchups there. If the time is provided, of course.
Question 3: Who will be an X-factor for the Jaguars this week?
Dillon: I’m sure the offensive line will be a popular answer here, but I’m going to go with Travis Hunter. The Texans have no run game, so I’m expecting a heavy dose of Nico Collins on Sunday. It’ll be an interesting stylistic matchup for Hunter when he’s lined up with the imposing Collins, but I think he’ll have opportunities to make a play on the ball and potentially create a turnover.
Travis: Whether for better or worse, Sunday’s X-factor for Jacksonville will be starting left tackle Walker Little. If he can somehow pull a 2022 playoff-caliber performance out of his bag and replicate what he did against Khalil Mack, it would go a long way toward helping the Jaguars walk away with a victory. However, if Little struggles and needs consistent help to slow down Will Anderson Jr. (7.5 sacks) and/or Danielle Hunter (3 sacks), Jacksonville’s passing game may never get out of the park.
Gus: Jacksonville’s new starting running back has been as good as we could’ve hoped to start this season. According to NFL Pro, Bhayshul Tuten has forced a missed tackle on 37.0% of his carries (the fourth-highest rate among 40 qualifying RBs) and 47.2% of his rushing yards have come after forcing a missed tackle (the second-highest rate). But Houston’s defense ranks second this season with 3.3 yards allowed per designed run and 3.6 yards per missed tackle on running back runs. Can Tuten continue putting the rushing offense on his back? Or will the Texans’ defense prove to be too much?
Henry: Despite me talking about tackles earlier, I am going to say Robert Hainsey is the X-Factor this week. There was something very wrong between Hainsey, Lawrence, and Liam Coen last week. That needs to be super clean and crisp so the Jags don’t rack up another week full of procedural penalties. If the Jags are going to go to a quick game to avoid Anderson and Danielle Hunter, it starts with Hainsey.
Final score prediction?
Dillon: Jaguars 27, Texans 23
Travis: Jaguars 13, Texans 20
Gus: Jaguars 20, Texans 17
Henry: Jaguars 17, Texans 20
What are your Week 6 predictions, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!
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