The Jaguars are sitting pretty at 4-1 heading into their London tilt, but you can bet that 36-29 collapse against the Texans last season is still burning in the locker room. Houston somehow dropped a ridiculous 26-0 on Jacksonville in the fourth quarter of that game, erasing a 29-10 deficit to steal the win at Reliant Stadium. Now, with a new trip to Wembley Stadium on deck, the Jags have to face a Texans team that, despite a 1-4 record, has their number.
The Records, The Odds, and The Injury Report
Jacksonville is coming off a 22-17 win over Philadelphia at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, showing they can get it done across the pond. The Texans, meanwhile, finally snagged their second win, beating Tennessee 26-3 on the road. Despite their poor record, Houston proved they can still deliver a beatdown. According to BetMGM, the Jaguars are a 2.5-point favorite and -145 on the moneyline, with Houston at +125. The over-under is set at 42.5.
Injury-wise, both teams are feeling the pain. The Jaguars are without CB Montaric Brown (hamstring) and LS Ross Matiscik (shoulder), with CB Jaylon Jones (hamstring) listed as questionable. The Texans, however, are hit harder on offense, with WR Tank Dell (knee) and RB David Montgomery (groin) both out. They’re also missing S Jalen Pitre (shoulder), and have CB J’Marcus Ingram (elbow) and LB Henry To’o To’o (shoulder) listed as questionable. That’s a lot of key playmakers missing for Houston, especially on offense.
A Rivalry Dominated by the Underdog
Seriously, this rivalry is wild. Houston holds a commanding 32-16 lead in the series history and has won four of the last six matchups. Even the only other time they played at a neutral site, back in 2019 at Wembley Stadium, the Texans walked away with a 26-3 victory. It feels like no matter the records, Houston just knows how to beat Jacksonville. That 36-29 thriller from November 9, 2025, perfectly encapsulates it. Parker Washington scored twice for the Jags, once on a punt return and again on a pass from Trevor Lawrence, but Davis Mills scored the go-ahead touchdown for Houston as they completely shut down Jacksonville in the final quarter. The Jags let that game slip, and you know that can’t happen again.
The Crucial Matchup That Could Swing Everything
The real battle to watch in this game will be in the trenches: Jaguars OT Walker Little stepping up against Houston DEs Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. Little is taking over the left side due to Anton Harrison’s injury, and his immediate task is to neutralize those two pass-rushing monsters. Will Anderson is absolutely on fire this season, leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks through five games. As a rookie, he had five solo tackles, three assists, and three quarterback hits in two games against the Jags, even blocking a field goal attempt in one meeting.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope for the Jags. In five starts against the Texans since Anderson entered the league, Little has managed to hold him to only two sacks, one in each game last season. Danielle Hunter, who was a wrecking crew last year in Houston with 3.5 sacks against the Jags, is also off to a great start this season with three sacks, six quarterback hits, and four passes defensed. Little’s performance in protecting the pocket is going to be absolutely critical.
This isn’t just another game across the pond; it’s a chance for the Jaguars to finally flip the script on a team that has historically owned them, especially after that soul-crushing fourth-quarter collapse last year. Wembley Stadium will be rocking for what promises to be an intense AFC South showdown where the Jags desperately need to prove they can overcome their Texans demons.
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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