Tag: Texans vs. Jaguars

Texans bolster defensive line depth with latest addition

Tommy Togiai is sticking around with the Houston Texans for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Tommy Togiai spent the last three games as an elevated player from the Houston Texans’ practice squad.

His performance was good enough to land him a spot on the active 53-man roster.

The Texans are signing the veteran defensive tackle to the active roster, according to the team’s latest transaction list.

In a corresponding move, Houston is placing cornerback Ka’dar Hollman on injured reserve after Sunday’s game. Hollman, who started two games for Houston, recently suffered a torn ACL in Week 12’s loss against the Tennessee Titans.

The Texans were caught at a crossroads with Togiai entering Week 13. If they planned on promoting him from the practice squad again, it would have to be permanent since they previously elevated him three times from the NFL limit.

According to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson, the two sides agreed to terms on a two-year contract through the 2025 season. Through three games, Togiai has five tackles and one sack.

The Texans kickoff at EverBank Stadium before the bye week at noon CT.

Could Texans end Jaguars season with a win in Week 13?

If the Houston Texans win, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ season could be over before Week 14.

The Houston Texans can’t clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. 

They can, however, end all talks of an improbable comeback out in Duval County for 2024. 

Sitting at 2-9 and in last place in the AFC South, a loss to the Texans (7-5) on Sunday would knock Jacksonville out of its divisional running, per NFLplayoffscenarios.com.

Houston must win to knock Jacksonville out of the divisional race, but more chaos must occur for the Jaguars to be completely eliminated from the postseason conversation altogether.

The favorites to land the No. 1 overall pick, Jacksonville would be eliminated from postseason contention by losing paired with the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) and Denver Broncos (7-5), both winning or tying their Week 13 matchups, against the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) and Cleveland Browns (3-8), respectively.

The Texans would improve to 4-1 in the AFC South with a victory over the Jaguars and could clinch a playoff berth in several weeks following a Week 14 bye. 

Houston is looking to return to its winning ways after falling short of a comeback against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12. Will Levis tossed two touchdown passes, including a game-winning 70-yard score to tight end Chig Okonkwo in the fourth quarter. 

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT on FOX. 

Texans can keep keep two streaks alive with win over Jaguars

The Houston Texans haven’t lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road since 2017, but another record could be intact with a win on Sunday.

After losing four of their last six games, the Houston Texans must regain their old identity should they plan on making a run in the AFC Playoffs.

A victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, means more than just bragging rights in the AFC South.

The victory carries a much grander tone toward both the last-place Jags and the division as a whole.

Houston is looking to secure its consecutive road win against AFC South opponents at EverBank Stadium. The Texans haven’t lost an interdivisional matchup away from NRG Stadium since a 31-3 loss on Oct. 17, 2021, at Indianapolis.

Sitting at 1-0 on the season following a Week 1 victory over the Colts, Houston could be in line to secure a four-plus win season in the division with a victory. The Texans can’t clinch a playoff berth this week, but it would set up a potential 5-1 finish in the division entering Week 18’s road test against the Tennessee Titans in what could factor in the postseason seeding.

There’s another record that could remain intact with a victory on Sunday. Houston hasn’t lost in Duval County since Dec. 17, 2017, when the team was already down countless starters, including then-quarterback Deshaun Watson, en route to a 4-12 finish.

Since 2017, the Texans have been 5-0 at EverBank and 6-0 in road tests against Jacksonville. The two played in 2019 in London, where Houston secured a 26-3 victory.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

All 32 NFL teams (including the Texans) ranked by FPI ratings

Here’s how the Texans rank in FPI rankings among all 32 other NFL teams entering Week 13’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Twelve games into the season, the Houston Texans (7-5) are trending down. Entering Week 13, the AFC South favorites have a 1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 11th in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9), who play host to Houston this weekend at EverBank Stadium,  are ranked 29th with a -5.9 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (10-1): 9.0
  2. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): 6.6
  3. Buffalo Bills (9-2): 6.1
  4. Green Bay Packers (8-3): 5.7
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2): 4.8
  6. Kansas City Chiefs (910-1): 4.6
  7. San Francisco 49ers (5-6): 3.0
  8. Minnesota Vikings (9-2): 2.8
  9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6): 2.2
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): 1.5
  11. Houston Texans (7-5): 1.2
  12. Arizona Cardinals (6-5): 0.9
  13. Washington Commanders (7-5): 0.5
  14. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3): 1.1
  15. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): 0.4
  16. Miami Dolphins (5-6): 0.0
  17. Los Angeles Rams (5-6): -0.2
  18. New York Jets (3-8): -0.3
  19. Atlanta Falcons (6-5): -0.4
  20. New Orleans Saints (4-7): -0.6
  21. Cleveland Browns (3-8): -0.9
  22. Seattle Seahawks (6-5): -1.0
  23. Denver Broncos (7-5): -1.1
  24. Chicago Bears (4-7): -1.3
  25. Indianapolis Colts (5-7): -2.5
  26. Tennesee Titans (3-8): -4.9
  27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9): -5.0
  28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9): -5.9
  29. Carolina Panthers (3-8): -6.6
  30. New England Patriots (3-9): -7.7
  31. Dallas Cowboys (4-7): -8.2
  32. New York Giants (2-9): -8.5

Houston, losers in three of the last four matchups,  will aim to improve its rating when they take on the Jaguars before the bye week in Week 13. Houston’s ranking dropped by one from last week following a 32-27 loss against the Tennessee Titans.

Texans vs. Jaguars: Announcers set for Week 13 game

The folks over at FOX will be on the call Sunday afternoon as the Houston Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Houston Texans (7-5) will hit the road and head south to battle the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) in Week 13 for what could have divisional hopes on the line.

The Texans are coming off perhaps the worst loss in the DeMeco Ryans’ era after the Tennessee Titans marched into NRG Stadium to secure a 32-27 victory. Will Levis’ breakout performance helped Tennessee end a two-game losing streak and give Houston its first divisional loss of 2024.

Sunday’s AFC South will be televised on FOX locally and in certain parts of the country. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Daryl Johnston (analyst) will work the broadcast booth. Laura Okmin (sideline reporter) will conduct pregame interviews, halftime updates and postgame interviews as well.

The Texans have opened as a 5.5-point road favorite against the Jaguars in Week 13, according to BetMGM. The over/under is set at 43.

Jacksonville should be well-rested after entering Week 12’s bye. The bigger question is surrounding the status of Trevor Lawerence. The former No. 1 overall pick has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, leading to former Patriots starter Mac Jones to take over as QB1.

In two games, Jones has completed 61.7% of his pass attempts for 277 yards and three interceptions.

The Texans must find a stable option at the nickel position if they plan on remaining an elite defense without Jalen Ptire. The third-year multi-purpose defensive back is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a torn pec during Sunday’s loss at home.

“He’s been a true impact player for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Just being around the ball. Just causing interceptions, forcing fumbles, he’s just been really active, very instinctive player for us, he’s been all over the field. And he’s made a lot of plays for us. And just miss his instincts, miss his playmaking ability, we’re going to miss that.”

Kickoff from EverBank Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Tom Brady still believes Texans are a Super Bowl contender

If the G.O.A.T. thinks you can still win a Super Bowl, you can still find a way to secure a Lombardi Trophy.

Why should fans of the Houston Texans calm down after the team’s 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3?

Well, Tom Brady isn’t worried and he knows a thing about making it to the Super Bowl.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion and often considered G.O.A.T. of the NFL listed the Texans fifth on his power rankings of teams headed into Week 4. The quarterback-turned-broadcaster for Fox labeled Houston as his best team with a loss entering October because of the offensive personnel.

“They’re going to bounce back quickly against the Jags,” Brady said of Houston’s overall persona. “I know their offensive line has a little room for improvement. They’ve given up a lot of sacks over the past couple of games, but I know this Texans team is going to be in contention all season long.”

Brady, who won six titles in New England, knows the value of a stable offensive line. The Texans were hindered by lackluster play Sunday and carless penalties, including five against Laremy Tunsil.

Entering Week 4’s contest against Jacksonville, the Texans have allowed 12  sacks, fifth-most in the NFL.

Report: Texans WR Tank Dell not expected to play vs. Jaguars

Tank Dell’s status for Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars is not looking promising for the Houston Texans.

The hits keep coming for the Houston Texans entering Week 4’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, wide receiver Tank Dell is unlikely to play in Sunday’s home matchup due to painful bruised ribs suffered at the end of a road loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Dell missed the last two practices with what’s been ruled a chest injury, though he also is dealing with ailments to the hand and wrist. Fellow receiver Nico Collins was limited in practice, but his status could be more of a precautionary element.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday that Dell will be “day to day” and they will “see how he continues to progress” throughout the week following his departure in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Ryans also defended his decision to keep Dell, along with a majority of starters, in the game late despite being down by three scores entering the final drive.

“Injuries can happen at any given time,” Ryans said. “What if the injury happened first play of the game? Should he be out there? We can’t control when injuries happen. Guys are going to play. That’s part of our game, part of the nature of the business.

“Nobody can predict when injuries happen or when a guy should be in or shouldn’t be in.”

https://twitter.com/NickSchwagerNFL/status/1839079177791676509

Dell, who served as the Texans’ No. 2 target after being drafted out of the University of Houston last season, was off to a slow start in wins over the Colts and Bears, totaling four catches for 34 yards. In Week 3, he collected a season-high five catches for 62 yards before leaving late.

Last season, he caught 47 balls for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games before he broke his left fibula against the Denver Broncos in early December.

https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1839349734261301729

“We’re confident the guys we have that are going to step up,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Thursday. “If Tank can’t go, it’s not really going to make anybody blink. It’s just next man up.”

With Dell potentially sidelined, the Texans have plenty of depth at the position, including Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Steven Sims and John Metchie III.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce expected to return vs. Jaguars

According to reports, Dameon Pierce should be back in the huddle for the Houston Texans this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While the Houston Texans could be without running back Joe Mixon for another week, they could have one name coming off the injured list.

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Dameon Pierce is expected to resume activities and play in Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The third-year running back has been dealing with a hamstring issue and hasn’t played since Week 1.

In Week 3’s 34-7 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Houston turned to former second-round pick Cam Akers as the lead back. Despite finding the end zone on a 6-yard pass from C.J. Stroud, Akers averaged 2.9 yards per attempt on nine carries.

https://twitter.com/NickSchwagerNFL/status/1838990448968220766

The Texans could make him the feature back against the winless Jags, but having Pierce would elevate the run game and take pressure off Stroud to win vertically.

Mixon, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 2’s win over the Bears, didn’t practice last week. The 2021 Pro Bowler didn’t make the trip to Minneapolis and could be held out until Week 5’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

“We will see where those guys are as the week goes on,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said of Pierce and Mixon’s status.

Houston hasn’t been able to duplicate its Week 1 success on the ground without Mixon. Over the past two games, the Texans have averaged less than 3.1 yards. They’ve yet to find the end zone on the ground, too.

Kickoff in the second divisional game of the season is scheduled for noon CT.