Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Lovie Smith has high praise for Texans RB Dameon Pierce in win over Jaguars

“He has had a consistent impact on our team,” said coach Lovie Smith about Dameon Pierce after earning his first win as the #Texans head coach.

This time Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith knew exactly what to do late in the game when his offense had the ball.

Feed his rookie running back Dameon Pierce the ball over and over again. The former Florida Gator, who had played games before at TIAA Bank Field during his college career, touched the ball seven out of the 12 plays and scored on a one-yard run to give Houston a 13-6 lead.

That score would stand as the Texans (1-3-1) got their ninth straight victory over Jacksonville (look up record) and their first victory of the season.

“He has had a consistent impact on our team,” said coach Smith about Pierce after earning his first win as the Texans head coach. “When he came into the building, we knew that he is going to finish. He is going to show toughness, and he is going to make plays.

“He is going to make you miss in the open field and doing what a number one running back should do. On a day like today, we needed to lean on the run, and I thought he was outstanding.”

Pierce missed his second 100-yard game by one yard as he finished the day with 99 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. His career high in carries is the most by a Texans running back since Mark Ingram carried the same amount against the same team in Week 1 of 2021.

He has rushed for 412 yards on the season, the third most by a Texans rookie in franchise history throughout the first five weeks of the season.

Over the last couple of weeks, the Texans’ offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has learned that Pierce is a running back who gets stronger the longer the game goes on.

When they needed him the most, he stepped up to keep a late fourth-quarter drive alive with a 20-yard run that looked like one of those tough runs you see in the video game.

On second and five from the Jags’ 22-yard line, Pierce had an out-of-body experience run that reminded his family and friends in attendance about the November 2021 game against Florida State, where he had his helmet ripped off as he ran through defenders on his way to the end zone.

Pierce took the handoff from quarterback Davis Mills and broke through five Jacksonville defenders on his way to a 20-yard run to put the Texans on the two-yard line. A couple of plays later, he would score to give the Texans the lead and, eventually, the win.

“Go country boy, go,” Pierced answered when asked what was on his mind as he made the highlighted run. “I was trying to get that touchdown. I know I had those big boys coming eventually to rally behind me, so I was just trying to fight to get in the end zone.”

When asked about his emotions after he completed the run. Pierce elaborated a little more on what he was thinking.

“I ain’t going to lie, I really felt I was tired at first,” said Pierce after the game. “After I caught my breath a little bit, I realized we needed a surge. We were just looking for somebody to make a play.”

Houston will have a week off before they head to Las Vegas on October 23rd to take on the Raiders.

[pickup_prop id=”27269″]

[lawrence-related id=77297,77247]

[mm-video type=video id=01geyxecb7yym651vke2 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01geyxecb7yym651vke2/01geyxecb7yym651vke2-e3ecbbec26bf00a354166b7191792e06.jpg]

Jags Week 1 Player of Game vs. Texans: WR Marvin Jones Jr.

While it’s hard to choose a standout after such a rough loss, the Jaguar we chose to nominate as the player of the game is WR Marvin Jones Jr.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=MYVWqayOkF-1506463-7498&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json

It was a rocky Week 1 start for the Urban Meyer-led Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost 21-37 against the Houston Texans. Defensively the team looked slow and surprisingly outmatched against a Texans offense led by Tyrod Taylor and Brandin Cooks. The Jaguars managed just one sack while giving up nearly 450 yards on offense, which is certainly not an ideal start to the season.

On the other side of the ball, Trevor Lawrence and company took fans on an up and down roller coaster experience. The team was plagued by drops, penalties, and miscues, totaling 10 penalties on the day and three turnovers. After a slow start, the offense seemed to find a groove through Lawrence’s right arm. Down early, Lawrence rallied the team, throwing a 22-yard strike to Chris Manhertz.

It was Marvin Jones Jr., however, that showed the most consistency against the Texans. While Chark might have had a huge day statistically (with 86 yards and a touchdown), it was Jones who had the better day overall. Jones hauled in five balls for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Jones made an immediate impact in the game, bringing in a beautiful 33-yard pass. It was, arguably, Lawrence’s best throw of the day.

Jones might not be as flashy as Shenault or Chark, but his role in the offense is crucial to its success. His ability to create separation and score is why the Jaguars front office thought so highly of the former Detroit Lion. Jaguars fans got to see that ability first-hand late in the game Sunday when Lawrence rebounded and connected with Jones on a 4-yard touchdown reception.

The offense can be very good — scary good even. The weapons and quarterback are there to make this a dynamic offense. Jones played a fairly clean game, and it was many of the other offensive pieces that struggled. If the team can work on the penalties, drops, and miscues, the Jags’ top-3 receivers are more than enough to make opposing defensive coordinators sweat. Can they do it is more so the question?

Jaguars inactives for Week 1 game vs. Texans

The Jags’ list of inactives for today’s game in Houston has been released. Seven players were listed, including five on defense and two on offense.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of seven inactive players for their regular season opener against the Houston Texans. The full list included five players on defense and just two on offense and is as follows.

Of the listed players, cornerback Tre Herndon (MCL sprain) and edge-rusher Jordan Smith (knee) were on the final injury report Friday.

As for the Texans, they had a list of eight players who were inactive. That included all four players who surfaced in the status column of their injury report from Friday in defensive end Jonathan Greenard, defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr., linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, and quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Listen: Talking new-look Jags with ‘Houston Sports Talk Podcast’

Anyone in the Houston market need to familiarize themselves with the new-look Jags? Well, we got you all covered as the “Houston Sports Talk” podcast had us on for a Week 1 preview.

The NFL season is here, and one of the teams who many will be intrigued by are the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are in their first year of a rebuild under new coach Urban Meyer. With that being the case, there will be a lot of unfamiliarity with this team for their division rivals in the Houston Texans, who will face the Jags Week 1 at NRG Stadium.

To help give the Houston fanbase a preview of the new-look, Meyer-led Jags, the Jags Wire joined the ‘Houston Sports Talk Podcast’ hosted by Robert Land. Among the topics discussed specifically were Meyer’s staff, Trevor Lawrence’s preseason, the Jags’ strengths and weaknesses, the confidence in the Jags, and much more.

To listen to the whole discussion, feel free to listen in the link below and also feel free to follow Land’s work of covering the Texans and Houston market through the links we placed in the previous paragraph.

Jags elevate DB Brandon Rusnak, WR Devin Smith from practice squad for Week 1 game vs. Texans

As expected, the Jags called on some help from their practice squad for Week 1’s game.

As they will do often throughout the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars elevated a pair of players from their practice squad heading into Week 1’s game against the Houston Texans. Those players were defensive back Brandon Rusnak and receiver Devin Smith.

The decision to call up Rusnak was the one that was the most expected as the Jags are down one cornerback in Tre Herndon. Herndon sprained his MCL in the first game of the preseason against the Cleveland Browns and was ruled out on Friday.

As for Smith, he’s a familiar player to Jags coach Urban Meyer, who also coached him in college at Ohio State. He’s entering his seventh season in the NFL and could help the Jags as a speed threat down the field as their sixth receiver and on special teams.

Kickoff for the Jags and Texans game will take place at 1 p.m. EST at NRG Stadium and all the information needed to tune in can be found here.

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 1 Q&A with Texans Wire

Just like the Jags, the Texans made a variety of changes this offseason and to help fans familiarize themselves with their new group, we went behind enemy lines with the Texans Wire.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans were two of the worst teams in football last season, and as a result, both kicked off a rebuild this offseason. Now, after major changes to their coaching staffs and behind center, both teams will open the season against each other.

To help our readers familiarize themselves with the new-look Texans, we sat down with Texans Wire’s Mark Lane for some insight. Here are some questions he was able to answer for us about new coach David Culley, former Jags receiver Chris Conley, and more.

Week 1 spread update: Jags now 3.5-point favorites vs. Texans

With less than 24 hours left before the game, the Jags remain the favorites for Sunday’s AFC South battle against the Texans, but this time by 3.5 points.

The Jacksonville Jaguars remain in unfamiliar territory as they are still the favorites to win Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.  This time by 3.5-points, per Tipico Sportsbook, which marks an increase of one point since our last update a few days ago.

The Jaguars finished 1-15 last season and were the underdogs in just about every game. The Jaguars are also a -180 favorite on the money line meaning that a $180 wager on the Jags will net a $100 winning if Jacksonville is victorious. The Texans are a -120 favorite to cover as a +3.5 underdog. This generally means that there is some faith that the Texans could keep the game close within three points.

One of the most notable revelations that may have influenced the line is the fact that Houston Texans All-Pro quarterback Deshaun Watson won’t start against the Jags. As many are aware, he is involved with a dispute with the team and also a lengthy legal situation that has brought his playing status for the season into uncertainty.

Watson has a 6-1 overall record against Jacksonville in his career and is undefeated in all of his starts against them. Veteran signal-caller Tyrod Taylor will get the start in Watson’s place and last faced the Jaguars as a member of the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 AFC Wild Card game. The Bills would lose that game by the score of 10-3.

As for the over/under, it’s now set at 46.5. That marks a rise of two points since our last update (44.5). When looking at the Jags’ and Texans’ last meeting, it was a 27-25 loss for Jacksonville and reached a total (52) that would qualify for the over based on the current figure.

5 Jaguars to watch in 2021 season opener vs. Texans

The Jags will begin their 2021 season in just over 24 hours against the Texans. Here are some players to watch in the process as the Jags will look to beat Houston for the first time in a while.

We’ve made it. As of tomorrow afternoon, Jacksonville Jaguars football is officially back as the team is currently in Houston awaiting their matchup with the Texans. And for the first time in what feels like a very long time, there seems as though there is room for genuine excitement around the facility.

With change comes opportunity, and there has been plenty of change in Jacksonville since the end of the 2020 season. There is a new regime, a new head coach in Urban Meyer, and at long last, there looks to be a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.

Here are five players to keep a close eye on during the Jaguars’ opener as they try and start things off 1-0.

Jags vs. Texans final Week injury report: Jordan Smith listed as a late addition with knee injury

The Jags added one player to their final injury report, putting them at a total of three players on the final listing.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ final injury report for Week 1 came back with one unexpected addition in rookie pass-rusher Jordan Smith. After not being on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s reports, Smith was listed on Friday’s as questionable with a knee injury.

Smith joined cornerbacks Tyson Campbell (calf) and Tre Herndon (knee) on the list. Jags coach Urban Meyer had been saying that Campbell would play all along, although his status came back as questionable. That said, if Smith can’t play he’d join Herndon, who was ruled OUT Friday, as two of several players who will be inactive Sunday against the Houston Texans.

Luckily for the Jags, they have six other exterior pass-rushers on the roster if Smith has to miss the game. Those players are Josh Allen, K’Lavon Chaisson, Jihad Ward, Dawuane Smoot, and Lerentee McCray. they also have Aaron Patrick available on the practice squad if needed.

There were four players to surface in the stars column for the Houston Texans, two of which were ruled out, and two of which were rule questionable. The two players ruled out were quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Lewis, and  Jonathan Greenard were the players ruled questionable by Houston.

Jags’ Tyson Campbell expected to be ruled questionable, but still will play vs. Texans

Jags second-round pick Tyson Campbell is expected to play in Houston although the team could rule him questionable on the injury report.

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t put out their final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, but Urban Meyer revealed that cornerback Tyson Campbell (elf injury) could come back as questionable once it’s revealed. Despite that, Meyer insisted that the rookie will play.

Campbell was a player the Jags drafted 33rd overall in April’s draft to add versatility to the secondary. During training camp, he spent a majority of his time at nickleback, so he could see action there as the starter Sunday. If not, it will likely be second-year player Chris Claybrooks seeing the snaps at the position.

When the Jags’ defense takes the field, they will see some new faces at some key positions for the team, but the most notable will be at quarterback. Instead of starting Deshaun Watson, they will be starting Tyrod Taylor at the position as the former first round pick awaits a trade and his sexual harassment/misconduct lawsuits to be resolved.

According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor is 1-0 against the Jags when starting in the regular season against them. That start came when he was with the Buffalo Bills in 2016. However, that team was more talented than the Texans’ offense with players like Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy aiding him. And while the Texans have respectable receivers in Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, and Anthony Miller, the Texans may have some issues up front as right tackle Charlie Heck will miss the game. With that being the case, Campbell or Claybrooks could be in a manageable situation Sunday.