Tag: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Jaguars vs. Texans: Week 5 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

The Jags will face another winless team this week, but does that mean they will end up with a win? The Jags Wire panel isn’t too optimistic.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially entered the second quarter of their season, and with that could come a start much like the first quarter of the season where they got a divisional win. A big reason for that is because this week’s opponent, the Houston Texans, seem to be dealing with some turmoil of their own and will come into Sunday’s game winless.

Simply put, for the Jags to get back on the right track they will need their defense to show some kind of resistance to the opposition. That might prove to be easier said than done with Josh Allen already rule out and Myles Jack’s status up in the air.

Regardless as to who takes the field, it’s time to give out our weekly predictions. And, yes, we think it’s going to be a rough one.

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Texans 31, Jaguars 28

As I’ve said in the past, the Jaguars always have a chance to win, but it’s just a matter of whether they put together the right game plan. Their offense has been solid for the most part, however, Todd Wash isn’t holding up his end of the bargain. With his unit struggling, I honestly don’t know if the Texans will punt the ball at anytime today.

With Houston’s rush defense being the worst in the NFL, the Jags’ best hope is to rely on James Robinson and keep their defense off the field. Still, I’m going to have to go with Houston.

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Texans 31, Jaguars 20

The Jaguars have an opportunity to grant a third straight team their first win of the season. Between the Texans firing Bill O’Brien, the complete lack of a pass rush, and Deshaun Watson, I fully expect the Jags to help lead Houston to its first win. That would put the Jags in sole possession of last place in the AFC South and squarely back in the “Tank For Trevor” conversation. Until major changes are made in the defensive play calling and the Jags understand that a certain coordinator is hurting the team, the defense is going to get eaten up over the next few weeks against top notch quarterbacks and it begins with Watson.

Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis): Texans 31, Jaguars 26

The Texans just fired coach Bill O’Brian after a abysmal start to the 2020 season. With a talented roster, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for the Deshaun Watson led team. This team is better than their record and with Jacksonville’s almost non-existent pass rush, I think Watson makes the Jaguars’ defense pay.

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Texans 23, Jaguars 19

The Jaguars will have to find a way to stop the bleeding, but this probably wont be the game for them. Deshaun Watson has been highly successful against the Jags but this game may be surprisingly low-scoring considering that both teams need a win in the worse way.

Will Frost (@willfrost_): Texans 28, Jaguars 18

So, the Texans don’t have a general manager, they don’t have a coach and they also don’t have a win. This should be a victory for the Jaguars right? Unfortunately, it won’t be as easy as that.

Despite the upheaval within the Texans organization, they enter today’s game as firm favorites. The last time these two teams played Deshaun Watson had one of his better games, and against this lackluster Jaguars’ defensive unit, he’s poised to see similar production today.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): . Texans 28, Jaguars 17

The battle for last place in the division is the headline for this matchup that no one had coming into the season. The Texans have simply underperformed and have fired head coach Bill O’Brien this week and Romeo Crennel is at the helm for the Texans.

The Jags are coming off of two extremely disappointing performances and look to bounce back. This is the perfect game for them to do so. However, the Jags have struggled against the run, and with Myles Jack’s, status up in the air I expect David and Duke Johnson to be able to put up solid numbers on the ground. Deshaun Watson will also do what he always does against the Jags. As a result, the Texans will get their first win and the Jags could continue to spiral downward.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags downgrade DE Josh Allen to OUT vs. Texans with a knee injury

The Jags sustained a huge blow to their chances to beat the Texans Week 5 as Josh Allen has been ruled OUT.

After not being able to practice all week with a knee injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars officially ruled defensive end Josh Allen OUT Saturday afternoon for Week 5’s game against the Houston Texans. This news comes after Allen was ruled questionable along side several others on the final injury report Friday.

Allen’s absence is a huge blow to the Jags’ struggling defense, which hasn’t been able to generate much of a pass rush this season and has allowed a league-high completion rate of 77% against them. It also doesn’t help that the defense will be going up against one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL in Deshaun Watson, who has been an unstoppable force against the team.

With Allen now out of the lineup, first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson will be called on to step up in his place and will likely earn his first career start. The rookie will come into Week 5 with seven total tackles to his name and a sack. He’s also managed to register two quarterback hits over the span of Weeks 1-4.

It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Dawuane Smoot receive an increase in snaps to help keep Chaisson fresh. Smoot, who currently is in his fourth season,  will enter Sunday’s game with four total tackles this season (one of which is a TFL) in addition to one quarterback hit.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags place LB Quincy Williams, safety Jarrod Wilson back on active roster from IR

The Jags’ final injury report for Week 5 has a lot of fans concerned, however, the team is getting some healthy bodies back from IR, too.

After both players were designated to return from injured reserve recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars have officially elevated linebacker Quincy Williams and Jarrod Wilson to their active roster.

Additionally, the team also utilized a standard elevation roster slot to elevate defensive lineman Caraun Reid from practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

The Jags’ transactions come after they had a lot of players on their injury report Friday, specifically on the defensive side. With that being the case, most expected them to make some elevations Saturday to prepare for an important divisional game against Houston.

Wilson’s addition is the biggest out of the three because the team will be getting back one of their initial starters in him. He was placed on IR after Week 1’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Williams was a player the Jags placed on IR before Week 1 as he sustained a core muscle injury during training camp and had to have surgery for it. He was one of the Jags’ 2019 third-round selections and ended up starting in eight games despite struggling at the weak-side linebacker position. That said, many are excited for his return to the field as he brings experience to the defense and could be a tremendous help on special teams.

Reid’s addition appears to be to give the Jags some depth on the defensive line. The team had defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale (ankle) surface on the final injury report as questionable, so Reid could be taking his spot in the lineup Sunday if needed.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Will the Jags-Texans Week 5 game be on TV in your area?

Several cities in the south will be able to catch Sunday’s AFC South rivalry between the Jags and Houston on CBS at 1 pm.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will get a crack at yet another winless team in the Houston Texans Week 5, and a win would put them at a game under .500. It would also give the Jags their second win in the AFC South, which could be huge for their momentum heading forward.

The Texans, on the other hand, will be just a few days removed from the firing of their coach Bill O’Brien. Many feel that the decision is a positive one that will allow the team to play more freely, and if that’s the case, fans could be in for a good old shootout when looking at both team’s defenses.

As they typically are on Sundays, the Jags will be one of the teams slotted in the 1:00 pm EST window on Sunday (Oct. 11). Per 506 Sports, those who live in the green shaded areas will be able to see the game.

Similarly to Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Andrew Catalon will serve as the play-by-play analyst while James Lofton will serve as the color commentator for Sunday’s showdown in Houston.

The Texans will enter Sunday as the leader of the all-time series with a 23-13 record over the Jaguars. They’ve also won four of the last five meetings between the two with the last win for Jacksonville occurring Week 1 of the 2017 season.

For Jags coach Doug Marrone, Sunday’s game will be a huge one as he’s currently going through a season where it feels like his job is on the line. Not only would it end a three-game skid, but it would also put the Jags at 2-1 in their division with a winnable game coming up against the Detroit Lions.

How to watch, stream, listen to Jags vs. Texans

The Jags and Texans will be battling to avoid being fourth in the AFC South heading into Week 6 Sunday and there are many ways to tune in.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will have their first game of Quarter 2 of the season Sunday against the Houston Texans. They will be looking to start things on a high note just as they did to begin the first quarter of the season, except this time it will have to come against another AFC South rival.

A victory for the Jags would end a four game losing streak to Houston, which dates back to Week 1 of 2017. With that streak, the Texans also have a 23-13 all-time record against Jacksonville, so the Jags will be fighting against a rough history to get a win. However, with the Texans recently firing their head coach, Bill O’Brien, the Jags may have a chance to take advantage of the timing behind this game.

Here’s how you can watch, stream, and listen in on Week 5’s AFC South showdown:

Game Information

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Streaming

FuboTV (try it free)

Television

Action News CBS 47 (locally)

Radio

1010XL AM and 92.5 FM (flagship) Jaguars Radio Network

Sirius: Jaguars internet channel 814, Texans internet channel  812 (feed channel 230) 

Extras

Connect with us on Twitter (@TheJaguarsWire) and Facebook

Follow our comrades over at Texans Wire

Official page Facebook Twitter

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 5 Q&A with Texans Wire

Jags Wire sat down with Texans Wire to discuss the state of the Texans heading into Week 5 as the team looks for it’s first win.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter Week 5 in desperate need of a spark after losing three consecutive games. If they are to salvage their season and garner some momentum, they will need to acquire a victory Sunday against their divisional rivals in the Houston Texans, who have a 23-13 all-time record against them.

The Texans will come into Sunday’s game also needing some momentum as they ended Quarter 1 of the season winless. That resulted in the firing of their coach Bill O’Brien, making them the first team in the NFL to move on from a head man in 2020.

To discuss the upcoming matchup against the Texans and Jags, we sat down with our comrade Mark Lane of Texans Wire briefly and here are five burning questions he was able to provide answers for:

Jags Wire: The firing of Bill O’Brien seems to have alleviated some stress from the Texans’ camp and may lead to an energetic team Sunday. Do you think that’s a fair assessment? Also, how does the fanbase feel now?

Mark Lane: The fan base is ecstatic. There is a renewed energy definitely among Houston sports fans, even though it’s illogical because they’re 0-4 and probably won’t make the playoffs. They remind me of the Romanian people after Ceausescu was deposed in 1990.

The players are also loving it and things have started to relax around NRG Stadium. Chairman and CEO Cal McNair says he wants to see the team have fun again, and he may see that. Whether that leads to wins, that’s doubtful because their inability to stop the run, for instance, had nothing to do with Bill O’Brien.

JW: The Jags (at the end of the season) could be in the same boat as the Texans in terms of firing their staff. That said, who are some realistic general manager and coaching candidates for Houston in your eyes?

ML: Everyone is going to say Eric Bieniemy from the Kansas City Chiefs, but I think the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is a good candidate. He previously worked with the organization. He knows what to expect. He’s also a defensive minded coach and could leave Tim Kelly alone to manage the offense with Deshaun Watson.

As far as general managers are concerned, I think Will McClay, the personnel boss with the Dallas Cowboys, is an option. If they want to continue to be Patriots South, they’ll look at Nick Caserio.

JW: Do you think Romeo Crennel could maybe get this team into wildcard contention?

ML: Yes, but only because of the added playoff team per conference this season. He went 2-1 with the Kansas City Chiefs as an interim in 2011, even beating the 13-0 Green Bay Packers in his first game. The players love Crennel and they will feed off of that.

Houston also isn’t a “bad” 0-4 as they still have all of their division games remaining. Let’s say they go 5-1 in the division, which could be possible given they’ve been 4-2 the last two seasons. They’re 5-5. You’re telling me they can’t beat the Detroit Lions? You’re telling me they can’t beat the Cincinnati Bengals? You’re telling me they can’t beat the Chicago Bears?

Now you’re at eight wins. Steal one from Green Bay, New England, or Cleveland, and it’s a 9-7 finish. They may have hurt themselves by dropping three AFC games though.

JW: Who are some unknowns to watch out for Sunday on the Texans’ roster?

ML: Watch out for tight end Jordan Akins. He is a master at getting yards after the catch. Defensive tackle P.J. Hall, a former Oakland Raiders 2018 second-round pick, is a local kid from Sam Houston State, and has started to come into his own with the Texans. Though he hasn’t made much noise since Week 1, outside linebacker Jacob Martin is another one to watch out for.

JW: What are your score predictions for the game?

ML: Houston doesn’t look incompetent and finally starts to get their takeaways. Gardner Minshew and James Robinson are able to keep pace with the Texans’ offense. It isn’t ugly like Week 2 last year, nor is it a dominant performance like Week 9 of last year. Houston gets their first win of the season with a 31-27 win.

Jags vs. Texans: 3 things to know about Week 5’s matchup

The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into this Sunday’s matchup with a disappointing 1-3 record, but have a chance to add to the win column with a game against the winless – and now coach-less – Houston Texans. With the team spiraling downhill …

The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into this Sunday’s matchup with a disappointing 1-3 record, but have a chance to add to the win column with a game against the winless — and now coach-less — Houston Texans. With the team spiraling downhill thanks to a three-game losing streak, the Jags need to pick up some positive momentum before their bye next week.

If the Jags go into the bye on four straight losses, there is a high chance that the current regime could face the same fate as Texans former head coach Bill O’Brien. The Jags’ fanbase has voiced their displeasure with defensive coordinator Todd Wash after another disappointing display against a winless team and those statements will only become louder if the team doesn’t improve.

Of course, the Texans aren’t your average winless team. Their defense has been disappointing through the first four weeks of the season, but they still have Deshaun Watson under center, a man who has been a problem for the Jags. Just last year the former Clemson superstar dictated the game as Jacksonville fell 26-3 at Wembley Stadium.

As both teams are desperate to turn their respective seasons around, this has the potential to be one of the more entertaining games of the weekend despite the lack of significance from a league-wide perspective. With that in mind, here are three things you need to know going into Sunday’s game with Houston.

The Houston Texans rank dead last in rushing defense

Jaguars fans haven’t had many bright spots to enjoy during their team’s slow start to the 2020 season. However, one thing that has been a pleasant surprise in Jacksonville is the emergence of rookie running back James Robinson. The former Illinois State man has come in and established himself as a three-down back early on.

Knowing that the Jaguars’ defense has struggled early, it would be wise to try and dominate the time of possession as much as possible. The Texans’ putrid run defense will likely make this easier. So far this year, Houston has given up over 180 yards on the ground per game which should give offensive coordinator Jay Gruden a clear point of attack for Sunday’s game.

The Jaguars’ best offensive performance came in the season opener when Gardner Minshew II only threw 20 passes. Simply put, if the Jaguars can move the ball on the ground effectively then they have a good chance of winning this game.

The Texans still can’t protect Deshaun Watson

For the third straight season, the Texans are unable to keep their franchise quarterback clean. Watson has been sacked 16 times in just four games, which puts him on pace to be sacked a devastating 64 times on the season.

Much has been made of the Jags’ inability to get after their opponent’s  quarterbacks so far this year. The lack of pressure from their defense is so disappointing that former Jaguar Yannick Ngakoue has as many sacks in four games as the entire Jaguars defensive line (three).

If Watson is afforded time in the pocket to go through his reads and deliver the ball, he is as dangerous as any quarterback in football. The Jags are going to have to emphasize blitzing early — something that’s not Wash’s cup of tea.

Even with no head coach, the Texans are 6.5 point favorites

Yes, you read that correctly. Despite entering Week 5 with an interim coach (Romeo Crennel) and being winless, the Texans are favored in this game by almost a touchdown.

There are definitely ways in which the Jaguars can win this game and ensure they aren’t at the bottom of the division going into their bye week, but bookmakers across the country fancy Houston to win on Sunday.

The Jaguars should have this printed out and put on the inside of every locker at the facility. If the team takes another one in the “L” column this weekend, it will be the third game they have had against a winless team in 2020, and the third game they will have lost. With no winless opponents remaining on their schedule, this is technically the easiest game Jacksonville has left this season. Simply put, if they lose this game fans will probably start looking ahead to April.

Jaguars open the week as 5.5-point underdogs vs. Texans

The Jags entered the week as underdogs yet again with the winless Houston Texans up on the schedule.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will start Week 5 as underdogs on the sportsbooks yet again. According to BetMGM, the Jaguars are a 5.5-point underdog against their AFC South division rival in the Houston Texans.

The Jaguars are coming off of their third consecutive loss against the Cincinnati Bengals, who defeated them by a score 33-25 Sunday. The Houston Texans, on the other hand, are coming off of a close loss of their own as they failed to secure the win against the Minnesota Vikings losing by a score of 31-23.

The Jaguars are a +212 underdog on the money line meaning that a $100 wager on the Jags to win outright will win $212. The over/under is set at 54.5 points.

The Texans are on a four game winning streak against the Jags with their last win coming in November of 2019 where they defeated Jacksonville 26-3. The Jaguars are only 13-23 against the Texans in their all-time history with their last win coming in 2017 in a 45-7 blowout.

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