Official Texans @ Jaguars Game Thread (London), 11/3/2019

[Arky]

The 5-3 Texans are headed to London to play the 4-4 Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday morning. The Texans are coming off a 27-24 home win over the Oakland Raiders. The Jags are coming off a 29-15 home win over the New York Jets.

I'm gonna let Walterfootball give the bottom line summary for this game:

You know that two-point conversion I just referenced? What if the Jaguars had converted? They'd be 5-3 right now, while Houston would be 4-4. In that case, would the Jaguars be favored? I think so! In fact, I believe the wrong team is favored in this contest.

The Texans have the superior quarterback, No. 1 receiver and linebacking corps, but can you think of one other area in which they are better than the Jaguars? Jacksonville has the superior running back (by a wide margin), Nos. 2 and 3 receivers (with Fuller out), defensive line (by a wide margin with Watt out) and secondary. And as crazy as it sounds, Doug Marrone is the superior coach, but only by default because Bill O'Brien is so awful.

Despite this, the public is favoring the Texans, albeit at a less-than two-thirds clip. I'm going the other way.

He makes a good argument but I think I'm going to side with Michael Jordan. Texans win (and if they don't, the forecast for rest of the season is cloudy with a chance of rain).

Texans 28, Jags 24

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TV = NFLN, 8:30 am CST, London, 11/3/2019

Announcers = Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin

The line = Pickem to Texans by 2

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = Indianapolis @ Pittsburgh, Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

CBS (late) = Green Bay @ LA Chargers, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (early) = Chicago @ Philadelphia, Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth

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Prime time:

TNF = San Francisco @ Arizona (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = New England @ Baltimore (NBC)

MNF = Dallas @ NY Giants (ESPN)


Byes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, LA Rams, New Orleans

[barrett]

That’s some deep insight. If things had gone different then things would be different.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

That’s some deep insight. If things had gone different then things would be different.

Eheh. Well, I think his main point was that the Jags are a better team than the Texans. Raw team statistics tell me the Texans have the better offense but the Jags have the better defense. So, I've got them as kinda even. The Texan defense has been a disappointment.... just 3 INT's on the year although good at causing fumbles....

Football Outsiders who I've never had much respect for, has the Jags power ranked 11th with the Texans 13th. They rank the Jags individual offense and defense both better than the Texans offense and defense...

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Arky

Eheh. Well, I think his main point was that the Jags are a better team than the Texans. Raw team statistics tell me the Texans have the better offense but the Jags have the better defense. So, I've got them as kinda even. The Texan defense has been a disappointment.... just 3 INT's on the year although good at causing fumbles....

Football Outsiders who I've never had much respect for, has the Jags power ranked 11th with the Texans 13th. They rank the Jags individual offense and defense both better than the Texans offense and defense...

Everyone with a website needs interesting takes to sell and drive discussion. Simply saying the team with the better record, head to head win, and infinitely better QB is the better team doesn't make anyone talk.

[HPF Bob]

I just wonder how the Texans will adjust to the long flight and the awful food? The Jaguars are used to this crap. Therefore, I'd favor the Jags by 7.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

Everyone with a website needs interesting takes to sell and drive discussion. Simply saying the team with the better record, head to head win, and infinitely better QB is the better team doesn't make anyone talk.

OK. Not sure where you're going with that.... Are you implying that Walter is just throwing contrary stuff out to get hits on his website? I dunno about that. He furnishes a lot of hard data - not just his opinions - and (claims to) wager on the games he believes will be winners. In my book, that qualifies him as a resource. I don't always agree with him but I think he's gotta better and more educated take than the average schmo....

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I just wonder how the Texans will adjust to the long flight and the awful food? The Jaguars are used to this crap. Therefore, I'd favor the Jags by 7.

That's a good point. It'll be interesting to see if OB can keep them focused.....