Two-time reigning AFC South champions, the Houston Texans are headed to Jacksonville winless and wary of losing further ground.
Winners of the division eight of the last 14 years, Houston lost at the Rams in Week 1 and another tight one to Tampa Bay in their Texans’ home opener Monday night. At (0-2), they are moving further away from recent playoff showings and already two games back in the division.
Houston has a chance to start making up ground Sunday, opening division play at Jacksonville (1-1), a destination that has been all sunshine for the Texans in recent seasons. They’ve won their last seven games with 12 wins in the last 14 against the Jaguars.
“Our guys are eager to get going. That’s what I felt from our team meeting,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “… They understand how small of a margin it is to win in this league.”
The Jaguars are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 start eluded them in late in last week’s loss at Cincinnati.
While they intercepted backup quarterback Jake Browning three times after Joe Burrow left the game with a toe injury, the Bengals threw the last punch. Browning marched the Bengals on a 92-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with 18 seconds left.
Even in a loss, there have been bright spots for Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ defense leads the league with six takeaways and five interceptions.
The Jaguars’ offense ranks fourth in yards per game (389.0), No. 1 in rushing yards per game (169.5) and Travis Etienne ranks second in rushing yards (214) behind only Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.
Record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hasn’t yet found his rhythm. On a team-high 19 targets, he has just five catches for 60 yards, a slow start after he racked up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Thomas received online criticism for a perceived lack of effort and a few plays he missed in Sunday’s loss. Coen said Monday that Thomas has been playing through a sore wrist, which first showed up on Wednesday’s practice report although he was a full participant. Thomas was limited Thursday but was cleared to play Friday.
“We had some really good conversations,” Coen said of Thomas. “Everybody was frustrated. But at the end of the day, he’s got a great opportunity to bounce back, as does the rest of our team, and (I) feel really confident about that.”
Houston has lost its first two games by a combined six points.
It took a 19-14 lead over the Buccaneers with 2:10 left on Monday, but Tampa Bay responded with a touchdown drive of its own, taking the lead back with six seconds left to hand the Texans another loss.
While the defense has done enough, the offense isn’t clicking yet under first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The Texans rank 28th in total yards (265.5 per game) and dead last in scoring offense (14 points per game).
C.J. Stroud, the 2023 offensive rookie of the year, has just 395 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
He hasn’t been helped by a depleted receiver room with Tank Dell on injured reserve. Free agent acquisitions Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios were sidelined with hamstring injuries before participating in limited fashion Wednesday.
Stroud is optimistic the veterans will boost a relatively young receiving room.
“Kirk will help those guys as he’s in the room,” Stroud said. “On gamedays, they can see him, how he works.”
Cornerback Jaylin Smith (hamstring) did not practice this week for the Texans and was ruled out. All other players are cleared to play.
The Jaguars ruled out rookie offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (knee), while starting left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle) is questionable.
–Field Level Media
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