The Texans, led by backup quarterback Tom Savage, rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-20 at NRG Stadium.
The Texans, who trailed for most of the game, took the lead with a late fourth-quarter touchdown run by Lamar Miller, who had 22 carries for 63 yards on the day. Savage completed 23-of-36 passes for 260 yards. DeAndre Hopkins had a season-high eight catches and led the Texans with 87 yards receiving. Nick Novak was a perfect 4-of-4 with field goals from 39, 45, 43 and 27 yards.
The Texans defense, playing without injured starters Whitney Mercilus and Johnathan Joseph, held Jacksonville to just 150 net yards of offense. Benardrick McKinney led the team with seven tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss. Jadeveon Clowney also recorded one sack, two quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, and one pass defensed. Houston defensive unit held Blake Bortles to just 12-of-28 through the air for 92 yards and one interception.
The Jaguars took an early 13-0 lead, after Brock Osweiler threw interceptions on back-to-back possessions. Osweiler was then replaced by Tom Savage in the second quarter. Osweiler completed 6-of-11 for 48 yards before exiting the game.
The Jaguars scored ten points off Osweiler's two interceptions, including a one-yard touchdown run by Bortles. Savage then entered the game with 8:31 left in the second quarter. His first offensive series stalled after an unsuccessful fourth-and-goal attempt.
Houston's first points of the game came on a safety when Jacksonville was called for offensive holding enforced from its own endzone.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Savage led the Texans on a six-play, 40-yard scoring drive with back-to-back passes to Ryan Griffin and DeAndre Hopkins. Novak's 39-yard field goal cut the Jaguars lead to one possession.
The Texans trailed 13-5 at halftime.
Novak added a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Marquise Lee returned it 100 yards for the score, giving the Jaguars a 20-8 lead.
The Texans pulled ahead with 2:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. Savage completed passes to Will Fuller V, Ryan Griffin, and Lamar Miller for 10, 8, and 10 yards, respectively, on the scoring drive. Miller's one-yard touchdown run capped off a 8-play, 52-yard drive, giving Houston a one-point lead.
Houston's defense kept Bortles and the Jaguars offense scoreless in the final quarter. Safety Quintin Demps intercepted Bortles on Jacksonville's final possession of the game. Savage ended the Week 15 win in victory formation as the Texans improved to 8-6 on the season.
Houston will host its final home game of the regular season on Saturday night with a primetime Christmas Eve game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Check out the best photos of the Texans as they take on the Jaguars at NRG Stadium.
