The Jacksonville Jaguars are sitting pretty at 4-1, leading the AFC South, but don’t let that fool you into thinking their Week 6 London game against the Houston Texans is some easy W. Houston just snagged their first win last week against the dismal Tennessee Titans, putting an end to a rough 0-4 start, and suddenly, they’re looking a whole lot like the team everyone actually expected to see this season.
Houston Just Found Its Groove, And The Jags Are Feeling The Heat
Houston was straight up *bad* for four weeks, sitting at 0-4, but they finally broke through with a win last week. What’s wild is how much they looked like their 2025 squad in that game. Remember, analysts had the Texans ranked higher than the Jags all offseason, even though Jacksonville rolled in as the reigning AFC South champs. A win for the Jags means a HUGE lead in the division, but a loss? Forget it. All that momentum they’ve built up goes poof, and every single analyst who doubted their legitimacy all offseason will be screaming, “I told you so.” Houston’s got a massive chip on their shoulder after that 0-4 start, itching to prove they aren’t that team. The Jaguars absolutely cannot afford to just waltz into this London game thinking it’s an easy dub.
Trevor’s Protection, Stroud’s Pressure, And Rookie Debuts
First off, the Jags HAVE to protect Trevor Lawrence. Anton Harrison is out, which means Walker Little is stepping in, and Houston’s pass rush, led by absolute monsters Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, just had a dominant performance. Jacksonville’s offensive line has been shaky, and if they let this turn into a 40-plus dropback fest, it’s over. Bhayshul Tuten needs to get going on early downs to keep that playbook wide open.
On the flip side, the Jags absolutely need to make C.J. Stroud uncomfortable. He’s been crazy good at protecting the football, so Travon Walker, Hines-Allen, and the rest of the front better bring the heat. Force him to throw before Nico Collins and the HUGE news, Marvin Harrison Jr., can go deep. Yeah, you heard that right, Harrison Jr. is making his debut with Houston, and his chemistry with Stroud from their Ohio State days makes him even more dangerous. The Jags corners have to be ready to shut down those explosive plays.
And can we talk about penalties? Jacksonville has racked up *thirteen* flags in back-to-back games, constantly putting themselves behind the chains and wiping out big plays. They barely squeaked by Cincinnati and Philadelphia doing that, but Houston’s defense? That’s just asking for trouble. Finally, with Jalen Pitre out, rookie Kamari Ramsey is likely at nickel. That’s a huge weak spot Houston will have, and the Jags offense better be ready to attack it relentlessly.
This London game isn’t just another notch on the schedule. It’s a statement. A win for Jacksonville gives them a huge lead in the AFC South and silences the doubters. A loss and, well, the questions start all over again, and the division tightens up real fast. Sunday’s gonna be huge for the AFC South.
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.
Leave a Reply