2024-09-30 04:30:03
(This story has been updated to add new information and to add a photo or video.)
Is it desperation time for the Jacksonville Jaguars? At 0-3, the Jags are still in search of their first victory of 2024, and they’ll next have to take on the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.
The Jaguars went down hard to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, the sixth-heaviest defeat in franchise history and a game that further opened up questions about the direction of this team — including for owner Shad Khan. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had another rocky day behind center, throwing for only 178 yards in the 47-10 loss.
However, the Jaguars have won their last two trips to Houston, including 24-21 last year, overcoming a 304-yard performance from Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Texans also ended last week in the loss column at the hands of the Vikings.
The Jaguars are 0-4 and have lost 9 of their last 10 going back to 2024. Is it game over for Doug Pederson in Jacksonville? Fans can vote here.
Here’s what Jags fans are saying after Sunday’s loss in Houston. –Juston Lewis
Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette grades the Jaguars’ performance in a 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans based on execution, effort and game circumstances. See the report card here.–Gene Frenette
Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen was evaluated for a concussion during the second half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans. Here’s what we know. –Juston Lewis
Bruised and battered by an ever-growing injury list, burned and stung by the combination of C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins, the Jacksonville Jaguars defense dominated the Houston Texans for most of the second half on Sunday, enabling the offense to take the lead. But not the ending. –Garry Smits
In the end, it was another heartbreaking loss. The Jaguars fell 24-20 after a last-minute touchdown by the Texans, former Jaguars running back Dare Ogunbowale to be more specific. That came not long after the Jaguars were stopped on fourth down a few inches short of scoring what should have been a game-winning touchdown. –Demetrius Harvey
The lateral brigade comes up short (99 yards short, with Travis Etienne Jr. downed at the 1). The Jaguars are now 0-for-September. –Clayton Freeman
This has been the Nico Collins show for the Texans, up to 12 receptions for 151 yards as an elite target for C.J. Stroud. He grabbed another pass over the middle to launch Houston into field goal range. Stroud’s pass to Dalton Schultz nailed down a first down at the 1. Then, Stroud rolled out and passed to former Jag Dare Ogunbowale for a 1-yard score. The Jags have 18 ticks to prevent an 0-4 start.
Texans 24, Jaguars 20, 0:18 4th. –Clayton Freeman
The Texans are knocking on the door, already in field-goal range after C.J. Stroud’s completions to Nico Collins and Dare Ogunbowale. Houston is at the 20. Can the Jaguars, leading 20-17, keep them out of the end zone? –-Clayton Freeman
Trevor Lawrence and the offense couldn’t put it away on this drive. It’s a three-and-out, including a risky pass on second down and a third-down attempt for Christian Kirk that got swatted down. After Logan Cooke’s punt, C.J. Stroud and the Houston O can go back to work. The Jaguars drained less than a minute off the clock and did not force Houston to burn any of its two timeouts. Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 2:54 4th. –Clayton Freeman
The penalty-prone Texans can’t get out of their own way on offense. Laremy Tunsil got flagged for holding to push Houston back. Then, the Jaguars’ second-half defense maintained its momentum, including a jarring hit by Antonio Johnson to break up a second-down pass. Nice run support by former Gator Ventrell Miller on the possession as well. The Jags get the ball back and a couple of first downs might do it. Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 3:51 4th. –Clayton Freeman
The Texans will get the ball back after Trevor Lawrence threw into traffic on third down, nearly an interception. He also narrowly missed on a deep ball with Christian Kirk. Houston gets it back deep in their own territory after the latest Texans penalty, for unnecessary roughness. Steven Sims was penalized for throwing an elbow while on the sideline. Up to 11 flags on Houston, for 84 yards. Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 5:34 4th. –Clayton Freeman
Penalties, nearly double digits now, have killed offensive momentum for Houston today. Just after C.J. Stroud converted third-and-18 to Dare Ogunbowale, entering field-goal range, the Texans slammed to a halt. Stroud scrambled for a first down that was nullified by holding on Laremy Tunsil, and two plays later, Roy Robertson-Harris sacked the QB to eliminate any Houston hopes of a field goal. Time may become a factor soon. Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 8:31 4th. –-Clayton Freeman
The ground game has come to life for the Jaguars… until the finish of the drive. Sparking that drive was a 13-yard run by Travis Etienne Jr., then a 58-yard surge by Tank Bigsby that nearly ended in a touchdown. But Bigsby stepped out of bounds at the 4, and three tries from near the goal line couldn’t break through, the last a third-down pass from Trevor Lawrence that appeared to strike Gabe Davis in the facemask under coverage from Derek Stingley Jr. Doug Pederson elected to go for fourth down, but Lawrence was stuffed on a quarterback draw by former Jag Foley Fatukasi. Houston takes over at the 1. Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 14:57 4th. –-Clayton Freeman
Doug Pederson faces fourth and goal from the 2. What will be the decision? –Clayton Freeman
It’s Trevor Lawrence’s best drive of the game, and the Jags are back in front in the Lone Star State. The finishing play was a 9-yard drive to Christian Kirk along the sideline. Brian Thomas Jr. delivered the big plays in between, including a 32-yard catch and a rush for 13 yards. The LSU rookie is in the spotlight today, with four catches for 69 yards.
Jaguars 20, Texans 17, 6:16 3rd. –Clayton Freeman
The pass rush has been a lot more active for the Jaguars since halftime. It’s not yet translating into sacks or turnovers, but they are beginning to hurry C.J. Stroud. He had to throw on the run and missed Stefon Diggs on third down, leading to a punt. Texans 17, Jaguars 13, 10:16 3rd. –Clayton Freeman
Just when the Jags seemed to be building some momentum, advancing across midfield on Trevor Lawrence’s passes to Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas, it all came to a halt. Thomas was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a reception for a first down, backing the Jags up. Lawrence had already overthrown Kirk and Gabe Davis on deep balls (potentially a TD to Kirk), and after a Luke Farrell drop and a Texans sack in which Lawrence retreated for a loss of nearly 15, the Jags punted the football away. A missed chance for points. Texans 17, Jaguars 13, 11:08 3rd. –Clayton Freeman
A good series for the Jaguars’ pass defense. Buster Brown delivered a crunching hit to Stefon Diggs to jar a second-down pass loose, and Antonio Johnson deflected a third-down throw from C.J. Stroud. The Jags needed that stop. Texans 17, Jaguars 13, 14:01 3rd. –Clayton Freeman
It’ll be Houston football to begin the second half. –-Clayton Freeman
That’s halftime. A far better first half for the Jags than last week, but still a lot to work on: C.J. Stroud has handled everything the Jaguars have thrown at him, and Trevor Lawrence’s passes have been only slightly productive (11 of 17, but only 82 yards, 4.82 yards per attempt). –Clayton Freeman
Missed opportunity that time for the Texans. C.J. Stroud, who has been close to flawless, missed a wide-open Nico Collins in the end zone with a high pass. Otherwise, he has been terrific, overcoming numerous penalties — five in this quarter alone — to advance inside the 20. Ka’imi Fairbairn still booted a 30-yarder to extend Houston’s edge. Stroud is 15 of 19 for 215 yards.
Texans 17, Jaguars 13, 0:03 2nd. –Clayton Freeman
The veteran Houston left tackle, a former standout at Columbia High School in Lake City and a four-time Pro Bowler, is now on the sideline with an ankle injury. The Texans have announced that he is questionable to return. –Clayton Freeman
Decision time for Doug Pederson, and the Jaguars’ coach opted for… the field goal. Faced with fourth and 1 on the Houston 34 after Trevor Lawrence missed Travis Etienne Jr. on third down, Pederson sent on the field goal unit despite what looked like Lawrence’s pleas to go for it. Kicker Cam Little drilled his field goal right between the uprights from 52 yards to narrow Houston’s lead. But the Texans remain in front.
Texans 14, Jaguars 13, 3:49 2nd. –Clayton Freeman
After an ineffective Jaguars possession, one in which Trevor Lawrence nearly retreated to his own end zone before throwing away, the Texans recapture the lead on a seven-minute march. C.J. Stroud continues to pick apart the Jaguars’ secondary, boosting his numbers to 10 of 12 for 143 yards. A defensive holding flag on Antonio Johnson kept Houston going after the Jags had made a third-down stop, and the Texans took advantage with Stroud’s 4-yard TD pass to Nico Collins.
Texans 14, Jaguars 10, 7:19 2nd. –Clayton Freeman
It’s the Jaguars’ best start for three weeks. Can they keep it up? –Clayton Freeman
Good news for the Jags: Travis Etienne Jr. is back in the action for Jacksonville after missing one series. –-Clayton Freeman
The Jaguars needed a stop and got one. C.J. Stroud crossed midfield but Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen dialed up the pressure and hurried Stroud into an incompletion. The Texans passed up the possible Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal from 60 yards and instead opted to punt, pinning Jacksonville inside the 10. Jaguars 10, Texans 7, 0:18 1st. –Clayton Freeman
Not good news for the Jags. Travis Etienne is now listed as questionable by the Jaguars. No announcement of when the injury occurred, but the blitz pickup on the opening drive appears to be the most logical possibility. –Clayton Freeman
Something to watch: No Travis Etienne on that drive, with Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson getting the snaps in the backfield. Nothing announced yet, but Etienne incurred a heavy hit in blitz pickup on the first drive.
A good drive but a missed opportunity after Bigsby broke away for a 20-yard rush across midfield. A false start penalty on Ezra Cleveland halted the momentum of the drive, and Trevor Lawrence overthrew Brian Thomas Jr. on a potential TD pass, but rookie Cam Little still made a 42-yard field goal to restore the lead.
Jaguars 10, Texans 7, 2:41 1st. –-Clayton Freeman
The Texans made that drive look pretty easy against the Jaguars’ depleted defense. C.J. Stroud completed three crisp passes to Nico Collins, the league’s receiving yardage leader, advancing the football inside the 20. Houston then called for a receiver pass designed to go from Stefon Diggs to Stroud, but Diggs saw an enormous hole and rushed directly to the end zone. So much for that lead for Jacksonville.
Texans 7, Jaguars 7, 7:23 1st. –Clayton Freeman
How did Logan Cooke do that? The Jaguars’ multi-talented punter has a range of punting skills, including punts — like that one — that prove too hot to handle. –Garry Smits
Special teams, special teams, special teams. After Houston’s miscue, Trevor Lawrence made the Texans pay, lofting a 2-yard TD pass to rookie Brian Thomas Jr. in the back of the end zone. Here’s an unfamiliar feeling for Jaguars fans: a lead.
Jaguars 7, Texans 0, 12:44 1st. –Clayton Freeman
The Jaguars’ drive stalled near midfield after two passes from Trevor Lawrence to Christian Kirk, but they end up in superb field position. Houston returner Steven Sims muffed a Logan Cooke punt and the Jags’ Daniel Thomas recovered inside the Texans’ 5. Prime position for the Jags with 12:48 1st. –Clayton Freeman
Trevor Lawrence and the offense are on the field in Houston. Follow along for updates. –Clayton Freeman
For Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, the answers might not be laid out in front of him or the team, but he doesn’t see the team losing confidence even after a 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Here’s why. –Demetrius Harvey
ESPN analyst and former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky’s opinion is that the former first overall pick is “pressing,” looking to make a big play when it’s not there rather than settling in on more routine plays. –Demetrius Harvey
Where to begin? The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t playing good football right now. At 0-3, the team has another challenge ahead of it against the Houston Texans, the next opportunity to get in the win column. Here’s a look at the key questions.–Demetrius Harvey
If the Jacksonville Jaguars could get a hold of Tommy Lee Jones’ “neurolyzer” from the movie “Men in Black,” they’d use it to erase the world’s memory of what happened on Monday Night Football last week. Do any of our experts believe the Jaguars can finally rebound and get a win, or will they be left for dead at 0-4? –Tim Walters
The Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) entered this week’s matchup against the Houston Texans (2-1) in bad shape after suffering multiple injuries on both sides of the football. –Demetrius Harvey
Houston is still in first place in the division, while the Jaguars are one of three winless teams entering Week 4. Can Jacksonville get off the schneid? Here’s what the national experts think.–Kirkland Crawford
Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) said they needed to block out the noise. This week’s mantra in the ramp-up to play the Houston Texans (2-1) on the road? Enough talk; just go play. –Demetrius Harvey
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun had never missed a start for the team in 39 games and had played in 100 of 101 games in his seven NFL seasons. He’s now going to miss the next four. –Garry Smits
Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville is many things: entertainer, acrobat, daredevil and the team’s biggest cat. Add author to his talents. –-Garry Smits
It can’t keep happening. The Jacksonville Jaguars are at a genuine crossroads, not just with their season but also with the franchise’s direction for years to come. No one would have batted an eye if you had said before the year that the Jaguars would be 0-3 to start after playing three teams that made the playoffs a season ago. The issue is how the team lost. –-Demetrius Harvey
Both the Jaguars and Texans are coming off losses against surging opponents last week. Which one will stop the skid Sunday? Check out the full pregame predictions from the Times-Union staff and from the USA TODAY Network’s national experts.
Demetrius Harvey, Florida Times-Union: We might as well start listing the opposing team first nowadays. The Jaguars are just not in a position to deserve the benefit of the doubt. The issues offensively feel tough to get over against a good Texans defense. Houston could be down two wideouts, so they won’t score as much. I’ll give Ryan Nielsen’s unit some grace even after one of the worst performances in team history. Texans 24-14.
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Jacksonville looks lost right now. Trevor Lawrence’s mechanics are out of sorts, the offensive line isn’t doing him any favors and the defense just got torched by the Bills. Houston should be looking for a big bounce-back; I could see this one getting ugly. Texans 27-13.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Sunday:
Tight end Evan Engram remains out of action, while the Jaguars also have several new additions to their list of injuries. See the full injury report here.
Hurricane Helene packed a punch across the Southeast this week, but it shouldn’t affect the Jaguars-Texans game, which will be played indoors.
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