BIG win.
BIG plays all day long.
Let's dive into some of the best of the 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2nd quarter
7:22 remaining
Jaguars lead 10-7
3rd and goal
+3.5 yard line
The Texans put QB C.J. Stroud in shotgun/empty with 11 personnel on the field (1 TE, 1 RB, 3 WR). Three receivers went to the right side while two went to the short side/left side. The Jaguars played match coverage on the Texans, but when WR Nico Collins lined up in the slot on the left with Dare Ogunbowale as the outside receiver, I knew EXACTLY where this ball was going. S Andre Cisco lined up across from Collins and that's a mismatch. But what helped this play was that Dalton Schultz's corner route on the other side caught the attention of the middle safety. When that safety vacated to cover Dalton on the right side, a huge hole opened above the S in Houston in the end zone as Nico split Cisco and the LB. Neither one carried Nico up the field, in other words they sort of "you got him/no, you got him" released him wide open. Stroud isn't going to miss his guy and didn't. He fired to the end zone and Collins reeled in the TD for the Texans to take the lead 14-10.
4th quarter
1st play of the quarter - 15:00 remaining
Jaguars lead 20-17
4th and goal
+1.5 yard line
Talking to DeMeco Ryans after the game, he noted to me how valuable it was to have the end of the quarter break right before this play. On the sideline, the defensive staff discussed with the players a potential QB sneak, something 6-foot-6 Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence executes well. But the Jaguars then came out in shotgun/empty - all receivers and running backs out away from the backfield. Immediately, Andre Ware and I thought the exact same: QB Draw. DeMeco thought the same thing. Nearly every defensive Texan knew that QB Draw was coming. And, so did Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr. The former Jaguar was locked up with current Jaguars right guard Brandon Scherff and instantly saw Lawrence start forward for the end zone. Fatukasi shed Scherff away from the lane Lawrence found. Mario Edwards Jr was doing the same on the other side. They essentially pinched Lawrence into a small space and then brought him to the ground 36-inches short of the end zone for what would've been a 2-score lead. What a play for Foley, Mario and the defense!!
4th quarter
2:47 remaining
Jaguars lead 20-17
1st and 10
-44 yard line
The Texans put 11 personnel on the field, three receivers in a bunch to the top of the formation on the right side - Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Robert Woods. That put RB Dare Ogunbowale to the left side with TE Dalton Schultz as an inline TD. Woods went in motion to draw eyeballs with some eye candy. But, the real focus on this play was Diggs/Collins and the dagger concept. As such, eyes should be on Diggs and Collins. Diggs was the point man on the bunch and took off up the field, with the hope of clearing out the middle/underneath area for Collins. He did that perfectly. Then, Nico ran the dig route into the void. Stroud play faked to Dare and had a nice little pocket to step into a throw to Nico across the middle. He ripped a fastball to #12, who caught the ball on the run. Nico's catch-and-run helped set up the game winning touchdown a few minutes later.
4th quarter
0:22 seconds remaining
Jaguars lead 20-17
2nd and goal
+1 yard line
Two years ago against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Texans got burned on a play action roll pass three different times on a final TD scoring drive that solidified a win for the Chargers that day. Every single time that I see a team use that play, I think about the "Chargers". Today, it was the Texans time to use the "Chargers" play…and it was for the game winner. The Texans put British Brooks in the game with RB Dare Ogunbowale, with TE Cade Stover and WR Stefon Diggs to the right side of the formation. Stroud spun and showed the ball as if he was going to hand the ball to Brooks on an inside belly handoff. But, he made the fake and rolled to his right. As he did, Ogunbowale shot to the flat. The Jaguars were in man coverage so Diggs ran interference for Dare as Diggs ran to the pylon, shielding any defender from getting to Dare. Jaguars LB Chad Muma, charged with covering Dare, was caught inside as Stroud flipped the ball to a wide open Dare for the game winning touchdown.
