Jaguars at Texans: Score Prediction and Final Thoughts

An opportunity for both teams to prove plenty in this game

Prove it. That’s all we should be looking for from the Houston Texans on Sunday. There’s a variety of elements but they all end with one thing: prove it.

DeMeco Ryans said earlier this season his team didn’t handle winning well. The past three weeks have shown that to be a change for this Texans team. Now the Texans are the hunted. Rolling into a home game against a division foe with the lead in the AFC South on the line is totally different than the two-plus months ago when Houston smacked the Jagaurs around for their first win.

Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence are supposed to be a dynamic duo. Some of the failures from week three will be cleaned up. Sure, it was the Titans, but the offensive output from last week was solid by the Jaguars.

DeMeco Ryans has this defense playing really well right now. They’re physical and though there is a big play here or there, they match up well with Jacksonville. Ryans can prove he was ready for what is thought to be a good quarterback and an elite offensive mind.

Bobby Slowik can prove some things too. Dameon Pierce will play, and in his absence, the rushing attack has looked the best it has all year. If Pierce is forced into a role, and the rushing attack isn’t as good with Pierce in there, who else is to blame but Slowik?

Then there’s C.J. Stroud. He still had a good game last week overall, but three turnovers took points off the board. Jacksonville in September was a coming-out party for the quarterback. If he’s much better than he was last week the Jaguars don’t stand a chance.

This Jaguars team will bring pressure. They’re somewhere in the top ten in most of the pressure stats. Josh Allen is in the midst of a career year. Slowik and Stroud need to have something ready. Some of the blitzes by the Cardinals were well-timed in exploiting the protection of the Texans.

The Texans playing to their potential should lead to a win. The mistakes, which have popped up plenty even during the wins, could keep this game close. If the Texans are indeed already prepared to take the top spot in the AFC South, today is a chance to prove it.

AFC South Showdown Looms as Texans Keep Approach the Same

Score Prediction

I like the Texans in this one 31-27. I believe this game will be something like the Buccaneers and Cardinals game smashed together. The Jaguars might have enough to give the Texans some fits on offense but I don’t think they’re shutting down the offense of the Texans. Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson will have plenty ready for the defense of the Texans. I know I’ve written this Jaguars team could be frauds, they might have enough to hold off that label, but not enough to win.

Are the Jaguars as Good as Their Record?

Juice Scruggs is Active, The (Desmond) King Returns

The Texans announced Saturday that offensive lineman Juice Scruggs would be activated from injured reserve. Now, I don’t anticipate him making his season debut. He hasn’t played football in over three months, but he’s there as a solid depth piece for the Texans should anything happen along the offensive line with an injury.

Desmond King will be elevated from the practice squad as reinforcements in the secondary. I don’t know how much King will play, but that’s a better depth piece than most teams have.

The other elevation is Steven Sims. He was helping on returns last week and caught a screen for a huge first down. He’s a nice depth piece as well.

I will be interested to see exactly how the gameday roster shakes out. Jimmie Ward, Noah Brown, and Jake Hansen will be inactive. Case Keenum will be inactive as the emergency quarterback. The Texans are a little light at linebacker, and maybe overloaded on the offensive line.

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