The Texans' win over Jacksonville gave the Texans a sweep over the Jaguars for the first time since 2021.
It also was the TENTH straight road division win, dating back to 2021, as well.
It was also the ninth win in ten trips to Jacksonville as well (only loss in 2017).
Let's take a look at the biggest of the BIG plays that earned them a 23-20 win over the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in Duval County.
2nd Quarter - Jaguars ball
13:33 remaining
Texans ahead 3-0
3nd and ten
-23-yard line
All week, I had thought that Derek Stingley Jr. would travel with rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. So, on this 3rd and ten, Thomas was the #1 receiver on a side and his shadow, aka Stingley . When Thomas was in this spot, on either side, I paid more attention to Stingley and Thomas. So, on this third and ten, Thomas was in a top of the numbers split with Stingley in press coverage. After the game, Sting explained to me how he knew what was coming. He said Thomas Jr. took off on a dead sprint immediately. Sting knew then what was up. Thomas sprinted on the deep post with his 4.3 speed. I've seen Sting in this situation a ton of times so I knew that he was just fine in his coverage. It MAY HAVE LOOKED like he was beat, but I could tell Stingley was just measuring where the ball was going to be thrown. QB Trevor Lawrence dropped and had only eyes for his guy Thomas and Sting knew it. Lawrence launched and Sting went and snatched the ball out of the air over a surprised Thomas, returning it 31 yards to set up Kai'mi Fairbairn's second field goal of the first half. That was Sting's third consecutive year with an interception of Trevor Lawrence - in Duval County as a rookie in 2022, at home last year and today in Duval County again.
3rd quarter - Texans ball
8:50 remaining
Tie game 6-6
1st and ten
+37-yard line
This was THE Drive. The Texans did nothing on the first drive of the second half and we all wondered whether it was going to be another second half meltdown, so to speak. But a Dalton Schultz catch and hurdle, after a Nico Collins catch for a first down, moved the ball to the 37-yard line and the offense now had momentum. It was time to get Joe Mixon involved in the game. The Texans could only put 11 personnel on the field because Dalton was hurt for the time being and so was Nico at the time. Either way, the Texans ran a weakside zone play to the right side. The Jaguars brought a run blitz and ran LB Devin Lloyd right up into the line of scrimmage. The Texans OL couldn't have blocked the front any better. The five up front walled off the defensive front, with LT Laremy Tunsil caving in the backside. TE Cade Stover did a GREAT job blocking the rolled up safety and Joe saw the cut to the backside behind Laremy and Cade. He cut it all the way back behind them and then saw the CB to that side Montaric Brown too far into the fray. Mixon then cut outside him too and ran all the way down to the six yard line after 31 huge yards. On the next play, Mixon ran in from the six yard line for the Texans second, second half offensive touchdown since the New England game in week 6. It wasn't the only one either.
4th Quarter - Texans ball
12:18 remaining
Texans ahead 16-6
3rd and ten
+22 yard line
The Texans came out with 11 personnel (one TE, one RB), three wide receivers in the game, with running back Dare Ogunbowale and TE Dalton Schultz. OC Bobby Slowik put a three by one formation to the field (on the offense's right side). The Jaguars put DIME personnel on the field and wanted to bring pressure while playing zone behind it. On the snap, the Jaguars brought S Andre Cisco on the blitz from depth and also nickel Antonio Johnson. Then, DE Travon Walker dropped off into coverage. But, the Texans OL and Dare picked it up BEAUTIFULLY. The route concept wasn't a difficult one for the Jaguars, but they lost Schultz, completely. John Metchie pushed up and started across the formation. Nico Collins went vertical up the field. The Jaguars were so concerned with those two that Schultz ran to the flat WIDE OPEN. He was not C.J's first read, but because of the time the OL afforded him, he finally saw Schultz and fired it to him for a HUGE touchdown at a key time. The Jaguars blew a coverage AGAIN in Duval County for the second straight season for a Texans' touchdown.
4th quarter - Texans ball
2:00 remaining
Texans ahead 23-20
3rd and four
-49-yard line
During the two minute warning break, Marc, Andre and myself discussed what we call here and I'll always give credit to my guys - Andre said, unequivocally, run the damn ball (I was okay with a not-so-risky bootleg). So, the Texans obliged and ended the game. They came out in 13 personnel, OLD SCHOOL I formation with Cade Stover at fullback and TE Dalton Schultz and Irv Smith Jr at the Y-TE on either side of the formation. RB Joe Mixon has said when it's nut-cutting time, he's following Cade. And…he did…on a lead zone play to the left side. So, on the play…there were some sweet blocks. Schultz and Stover doubled Jaguars star DE Josh Hines-Allen right out of the hole. WR Robert Woods came inside and cracked down on the playside linebacker Ventrell Miller with a tremendous block. LT Laremy Tunsil locked up the playside linebacker as the rest of the OL did a great job handling the down guys. Mixon hit the booster button and exploded through the hole those blocks created for nine yards. BALLGAME! Let's go home everyone!
It's been 13 LONG weeks and the Texans came out of it with eight wins, two wins in places they've never won (New England and Dallas), four out of five wins in the division, sweeps over Indianapolis and Jacksonville and a two and a half game lead up on the Colts with just four left to play. In the words, and thoughts, of everyone in the locker room, including yours truly, IT'S TIME for the bye week.
Then, it's fourth quarter time but we can rest for a few days before we discuss what's left. See ya soon, everyone!
