The Houston Texans (8-7) will close the 2015 regular season with the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon CT at NRG Stadium, as the team celebrates Fan Appreciation Day, presented by FOX Sports Southwest.
Houston can clinch the AFC South Division for the first time since 2012 this weekend with a win over Jacksonville or an Indianapolis loss to Tennessee. The Texans can also clinch, based on the strength of victory tiebreaker, if any one of a number of teams win on Sunday.
Last week, the Texans scored a season-high point total and defeated the Titans, 34-6, at Nissan Stadium. With the victory, Houston won all three road divisional games in a single season for the first time in franchise history. QB Brandon Weeden started for an injured QB Brian Hoyer and completed 15-of-24 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a career-high 116.7 passer rating. He became the first player in team history to record two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a game.
WR DeAndre Hopkins led the team with seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, as he notched the fourth-most receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,432) in a season in Texans history.
Defensively, Houston did not allow a point in five straight quarters, dating back to its Week 15 at Indianapolis contest, which tied a franchise record. S Quintin Demps scored his first career defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery, while S Eddie Pleasant picked up his second interception of the season.
Jacksonville is coming off a 38-27 road loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. Despite trailing 24-0 in the first half, the Jaguars battled back behind four touchdown passes from QB Blake Bortles, who now has 35 on the year, second-most in the NFL. Wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns each have 10-or-more touchdowns this season, as Robinson is tied for the league lead with 14. Defensively, the Jaguars are led by linebackers Telvin Smith (128) and Paul Posluszny (123), who have both eclipsed the 100-tackle mark in 2015.
