Quick Hits: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans Preview

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With lots of interdivisional games happening this week, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the AFC South division lead is on the line when the 7-3 Jacksonville Jaguars claw their way into NRG stadium to face the Houston Texans. Many believe the Jags are one of the best teams in the AFC right now, while many also believe the Texans are the hottest team in football right now.

Something will have to give.

This game also features the last 3 AFC Offensive Player of the Week recipients in the same matchup. Week 9 saw H-Town quarterback C.J. Stroud grab the honors. Week 10 went to Houston’s tailback Devin Singletary and week 11 was taken by Jacksonville’s QB Trevor Lawrence.

Historically, Houston leads the series, 29-14, having won 10 of past 11 games.

Oddly, the 2 teams have never met in the playoffs, although that might change very soon.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS WEEK 12 STATS

QB TREVOR LAWRENCE completed 24 of 32 atts. (75 pct.) for 262 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with season-high 119.5 rating & had 2 rush TDs last week, his 4th game this season with 75+ comp. pct., tied-most in NFL. Has 100+ rating in 3 of past 4 overall & in each of 4 road games in 2023. Passed for 279 yards in Week 3 meeting.

RB TRAVIS ETIENNE rushed for 52 yards last week. Has 50+ rush yards in 7 of past 8. Has 514 scrimmage yards (128.5 per game) & 6 TDs (5 rush, 1 rec.) in 4 road games this season, with TD in each game. Has 392 scrimmage yards (130.7 per game) in 3 career games vs. Hou., with 110+ scrimmage yards in each game.

WR CALVIN RIDLEY led team with 7 catches for 103 yards & season-high 2 TDs last week, 5th-career game with 2+ rec. TDs. Has 80+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3 overall & in 3 of 4 road games this season. Had 5 catches for 88 yards & TD in only career game at Hou. (10/6/19 w/ Atl.).

WR CHRISTIAN KIRK has 45+ rec. yards in each of past 9 games. Had 54 rec. yards & TD catch in Week 3 meeting.

TE EVAN ENGRAM has 5+ catches in 3 of 4 road games this season. Had 7 catches for 67 yards in Week 3 meeting. Ranks 3rd among TEs with 59 catches in 2023, 4th-career 50-catch season.

LB JOSH ALLEN had half sack last week & has 0.5+ sacks in 2 of past 3. Had sack & FF in last road meeting. Has 7.5 sacks in his past 7 vs. divison, with 0.5+ sacks in 6 of 7 games.

LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN had 6 tackles & 3rd FR of season in Week 11. Has 6+ tackles in all 10 games this season. Had 14 tackles in Week 3 meeting.

LB DEVIN LLOYD aims for 6th in row with 9+ tackles.

LB TRAVON WALKER had half sack & PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Had career-high 2 TFL in Week 3 meeting.

HOUSTON TEXANS WEEK 12 STATS

QB C.J. STROUD completed 27 of 37 atts. (career-high 73 pct.) for 336 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 5th game this season with 300+ pass yards & TD pass, tied 3rd-most ever by rookie. Joins Joe Burrow (2020) as only rookies ever with 300+ pass yards in 3 straight games. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 2,962 pass yards, 4th- most ever by player in 1st 10 career games.

RB DEVIN SINGLETARY rushed for 112 yards & TD last week & has 100+ rush yards in consecutive games for 1st time in career. Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD.

RB DAMEON PIERCE has 172 scrimmage yards (86 per game) in 2 career games vs. Jax., with rush TD in each game.

WR TANK DELL set career highs in catches (8) & rec. yards (149) & had TD catch last week, his 3rd game with 100+ rec. yards this season, 2nd-most among rookies. Aims for 4th in row with 6+ catches, 55+ rec. yards & rec. TD. Has 70+ rec. yards & TD in catch in 3 of 4 home games this season. Had 5 catches for 145 yards & TD in Week 3 meeting. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 659 rec. yards & 6 rec. TDs.

WR NOAH BROWN has 150+ rec. yards in each of his past 2 games. Had 2 rec. TDs in only career game vs. Jax. (12/18/22 w/ Dal.).

WR NICO COLLINS aims for 3rd in row with 50+ rec. yards.

TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 5th TD catch of season last week & is 1 of 4 TEs with 5+ rec. TDs in each of past 3 seasons.

LB BLAKE CASHMAN had career-high 19 tackles, sack & PD last week, tied 2nd-most tackles by player in a game this seson.

DE WILL ANDERSON (rookie) had 2 TFL & 3rd-career sack last week & has sack in 2 of past 3. Aims for 3rd in row at home with sack.

CB DEREK STINGLEY had 6 tackles, 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. Had INT in only career game vs. Jax. (10/9/22).

Let’s all give thanks for Demo Ryans, Nick Caserio and the 2023 Houston Texans!

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STROUD CONTINUES HISTORIC ROOKIE SEASON

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks second in the league with 2,962 passing yards, the fourth-most by a player in his first 10 career games in NFL history.

With 263 passing yards against Jacksonville on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Stroud will surpass JUSTIN HERBERT (3,224 passing yards) for the second-most passing yards by a player in his first 11 career games in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (3,434) had more.

STROUD CONTINUES HISTORIC ROOKIE SEASON

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks second in the league with 2,962 passing yards, the fourth-most by a player in his first 10 career games in NFL history.

With 263 passing yards against Jacksonville on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Stroud will surpass JUSTIN HERBERT (3,224 passing yards) for the second-most passing yards by a player in his first 11 career games in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (3,434) had more.

One of Stroud’s top targets this season has been fellow rookie TANK DELL, who ranks second among all rookies this season with 659 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. Dell has recorded a touchdown reception in each of his past three games.

With another touchdown between Stroud and Dell, the two will become the sixth rookie quarterback-receiver pairing in NFL history to connect for at least seven touchdowns and the first since Indianapolis’ ANDREW LUCK and T.Y. HILTON in 2012 (seven touchdowns).

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