Jawhar Jordan, fresh off the practice squad, didn’t just play a role in the Houston Texans’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, he helped spark a full-blown breakthrough for their run game, capped by his first career touchdown. This wasn’t some minor victory, either; the Texans took down the Jags 34-31 at Wembley Stadium in London, a win that felt earned in every single yard.
The Canyon Run That Shocked the League
Late in the third quarter, Jordan took a pitch from C.J. Stroud. Instead of hitting the outside, he cut back hard toward the center of the field, and man, was it the right call. Houston’s offensive line had absolutely mauled the Jaguars’ front, pushing them way back past the 25-yard line. It created a literal canyon in the middle of the field, and Jordan, he just bolted through it. He even shook off Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones’ tackle attempt before reaching the end zone for the longest run of Houston’s entire season. Think about that for a second!
This wasn’t just a fluke, either. The Texans’ run game had been struggling big time, second-to-last in total rushing yards all season. Few, if any, expected them to turn it around against the Jaguars, who came into Sunday with the league’s best run defense, allowing just 2.9 yards per carry and a measly 63.8 rushing yards per game. Their last two opponents, the Bengals and Eagles, combined for just 45 rushing yards against Jacksonville. But on a slippery day in London, Houston’s O-line was up to the task, and their ground game delivered. They rushed for over 100 yards for the first time since Week 1 and averaged more than 4 yards per carry for the first time all year. Stroud said it best himself, “It all starts up front. Our O-line did a great job today.”
Marks Also Made His Mark in the Backfield
Jordan wasn’t the only one making noise. Woody Marks also put in work, gaining 56 yards on 15 carries and adding another 25 yards receiving. No player had gained more than 40 rushing yards against Jacksonville all season before Marks and Jordan showed up. What’s even crazier? The Texans are now 10-0 when Marks carries the ball at least 11 times. That’s a stat you cannot ignore. Marks even made the most important play through the air on Houston’s game-winning drive. On third-and-2, he jabstepped left, then ran right out of the backfield. Stroud hit him on a short throw, and Marks sprinted upfield for 19 yards, putting Houston deep in Jacksonville territory. That’s clutch.
Jordan’s journey to this moment is pretty cool too. He emerged as a standout in training camp earlier this year, but an injury cut short his preseason work. He ended up back on the practice squad, just like last season. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley said on Thursday, “It feels very similar to last year. We brought him along and had a good camp last year and then we finally got an opportunity to come on up and you saw.” Talk about making the most of an opportunity.
This win, with the run game finally clicking against the best run defense in the league, has got to give Houston a massive boost. They just proved they can lean on the ground game when it matters most, and with Marks consistently hitting that 11-carry mark, this offense just added a whole new dimension. You have to wonder what this means for their momentum going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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