The Houston Texans are fresh off their first victory of the 2026 season and are looking to build on that momentum against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
All three phases of the Texans were in sync this past weekend, and they dominated the Tennessee Titans from start to finish.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud was throwing the ball with a ton of confidence, which he has done throughout the season. He was able to make plays with his legs, extend plays when needed, and consistently put the offense in positions
to succeed.
Houston’s defense was dominant from start to finish. They made Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s life miserable, making it extremely difficult for him to establish any sort of consistent rhythm.
This was DeMeco Ryans’ first game back calling plays for the defense, and the unit finally looked like what most expected entering the season. That defense needs to start stacking good performances, and the talent is absolutely there.
The Texans have one of the most talented defensive units in football, but their inability to close out games has been a major reason for their disappointing start. If they can continue playing the way they did against Tennessee, this team has a legitimate opportunity to turn things around.
The upcoming matchup against Jacksonville will not be easy, especially considering the Jaguars have been playing competitive football. Houston will need another complete performance on both sides of the ball if it wants to come away with its second consecutive victory.
Texans vs. Jaguars: FanDuel Betting Odds
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Texans enter this matchup as underdogs, meaning oddsmakers currently favor Jacksonville to come away with the victory.
Despite that, Houston has plenty of reasons to feel confident heading into this matchup. Stroud has looked comfortable operating the offense, and the defense finally showed signs of returning to its dominant form.
One of the biggest factors will be whether Houston can establish a consistent rushing attack and avoid putting Stroud in difficult situations. The Texans have the offensive weapons to make plays against Jacksonville, but they need to execute consistently throughout all four quarters.
The Jaguars will certainly present a tougher challenge than Tennessee, and playing overseas adds another element to the matchup.
For Houston, the formula is relatively simple. If the offense continues moving the football and the defense plays up to its potential, there is no reason the Texans cannot compete with Jacksonville.
A victory would put Houston in a much better position moving forward, especially after starting the season with four consecutive losses. The Texans have plenty of ground to make up, but another win could go a long way toward getting this season back on track.
Jacksonville enters Sunday’s matchup as a slight favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Jaguars are currently 2.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 42.5 points.
The Texans are listed at +118 on the moneyline, while Jacksonville sits at -138. That tells you just how competitive this matchup is expected to be, despite the difference in the two teams’ records.
Houston is coming off a dominant 26-3 victory over Tennessee, while Jacksonville enters the game at 4-1. The Jaguars have gotten off to a much better start, but the Texans have shown that they can compete with talented teams, even if the results have not always gone their way.
This is also an AFC South matchup, making it even more important for Houston to come away with a victory. Falling further behind Jacksonville in the division standings would make an already difficult start to the season even harder to overcome.
The Texans have the talent to win this football game, but they need to build on what they showed against Tennessee. If Stroud continues playing with confidence and the defense delivers another strong performance, Houston has a real opportunity to leave London with its second consecutive win.
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