The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking on the Houston Texans in Week 6, their second game in London. The Jaguars are currently 4-1 and on top of the AFC South, while the Texans just won their first game of the season after defeating the lowly Tennessee Titans in Week 5.
While Jacksonville has become a powerhouse so far in the 2026 season, Houston has struggled, particularly on offense. Yet the Texans remain a threat, especially on defense, especially after head coach DeMeco Ryans took over defensive play-calling last week.
This game is also a chance for redemption after the last game between the two AFC South foes. The Jaguars led Houston by 19 points entering the fourth quarter, and allowed the Texans to come back and win, 36-29. It was the largest
blown lead in Jaguars franchise history.
Here are five key matchups to watch.
Walker Little and Cole Van Lanen vs. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter
Anton Harrison is out and headed for knee surgery, so Little is stepping in at left tackle. Van Lanen, meanwhile, is playing through lingering knee issues from last season. And this is an area where Houston thrives. Anderson has seven sacks, and Hunter just erupted for 10 pressures against Tennessee. Altogether, Houston has 18 sacks through five games.
Jacksonville’s protection has already been a recurring concern, and now, quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be facing arguably the toughest edge tandem yet. Can Little and Van Lanen keep Lawrence protected?
Travis Hunter and Jarrian Jones vs. Nico Collins and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison is now confirmed to make his Texans debut Sunday. He probably won’t play every snap, but will be reuniting with quarterback C.J. Stroud, while Collins remains the established No. 1 receiver. The Jaguars secondary is already depleted as well.
Hunter and Jones have been the standout CBs so far this season. Hunter has performed well throughout 2026, with a career-best game in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and Jones has quietly been making a ton of important plays all season. This game will be a real test, both for Jacksonville's cornerbacks and Houston's receivers.
Trevor Lawrence vs. Houston’s disguised coverage and pass rush
Houston dramatically increased its disguised coverages when DeMeco Ryans resumed defensive play-calling last week, and the Texans have one of the league’s better non-blitz sack rates. Lawrence has still been very efficient against difficult defenses, averaging 8.2 yards per attempt this year.
If Houston gets pressure, Lawrence has to identify where it’s coming from and get the ball out before Anderson/Hunter can wreck the play.
Jacksonville’s pass rush vs. C.J. Stroud
Stroud has not thrown an interception through five games, one of only three quarterbacks who have played every game without one. Jacksonville has built much of its defensive identity around takeaways, but got none against Philadelphia.
Can Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker create enough pressure to finally force Stroud into the kind of mistake he has avoided all season?
Bhayshul Tuten vs. Houston’s front seven
Tuten has been one of Jacksonville’s most consistent offensive pieces, and PFF currently has him among the highest-graded backs in football. Houston’s defense, though, has traditionally been strong against the run and looked much more like itself against Tennessee last week.
Jacksonville doesn’t want this to become a game where Lawrence has to throw 40 times against Anderson and Hunter. If Tuten can keep them out of obvious passing situations, that helps everything else.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 5 key matchups to watch in Jaguars vs. Texans in Week 6
