Official Texans vs. Jaguars Game Thread, 1/1/2023

[Keith]

The Texans (2-12-1) come home to host the suddenly surging Jaguars (7-8) on Sunday. QB Trevor Lawrence has the division rivals playing far better than they were when the teams first met in October, as they are now just one win over Tennessee from being crowned the AFC South champions. The Texans meanwhile are coming off their second win of the season, which is also their second win in the division, strangely giving them at 2-1-1 the best record amongst AFC South opponents.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon CST, 1/1/2023

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

The line = Jacksonville by 4

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

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

FOX (late) = San Francisco @ Las Vegas, Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez

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Prime time:

TNF = Dallas @ Tennessee (Amazon Prime)

SNF = Pittsburgh @ Baltimore (NBC)

MNF = Buffalo @ Cincinnati (ESPN/ABC)

[Keith]

Texans receive. Dare Ogunbowale takes the first carry up the middle 9 yards. Kinda amazing that the Texans have won nine straight against these guys. If there was a merciful god, the NFL season would still be 16 games and this would be the final one. But alas, we are forsaken.

Driskel-cat on a 4th-and-1 fails. Turnover on downs.

Jaguars take over at the Texans 45. QB Trevor Lawrence moves the offense into the redzone with a pass to Marvin Jones. A 3rd and goal handoff is good for a 5-yard touchdown by JaMychal Hasty. Extra point is good.

0-7 Jaguars
8:24 1st quarter

[Keith]

Texans respond with a 3-and-out, culminating with a 3rd down checkdown to Rex Burkhead. Hard to imagine why this offense struggles.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne runs 27 yards across midfield to the Texans 42. He then can't handle the pitch and falls on it for a short loss. Jaguars try a screen on third down and can't get enough for a first. Stalled at the HOU 44, they punt. Ball is downed inside the 1.

Jags player stepped into the endzone but I guess re-established himself before downing it. Well, Lovie saw it too.. throws the challenge flag. Takes two commercial breaks to review this. Ruling stands.

Pass interference gets the Texans out from trouble, moves offense to their 24. WR Chris Moore catches a 6-yd pass and takes a shot to the helmet. Wondered if he had a bloody nose. 3rd down pass is incomplete, so the Texans punt. Jags take over at their own 35.

0-7 Jaguars
1:14 left in 1st

[Keith]

Jags open the 2nd quarter with a couple nearly intercepted passes that fall incomplete. Punt is fair caught at the HOU 10.

Moore did go to the medical tent after all. Wonder if he was checked for a concussion. He's back on the field, so good for him.

Offense can't get going though, another three-and-out. Cam Johnston punts short, but it takes a favorable bounce to the JAX 38.

Etienne takes the first play 62 yards for a touchdown. Extra point is good.

0-14 Jaguars

12:21 2nd quarter

[Keith]

More trouble for the offense. Davis Mills attempts to throw a ball into the flat, but it gets deflected and is ruled as a lateral. Returned for a touchdown by Tyson Campbell.

Whee.

0-21 Jaguars
11:35 2nd

[Keith]

Next drive is a dud. Texans punt.

Jaguars keep Lawrence in the game.

INTERCEPTION!

Errant short pass from Lawrence is picked off by a diving Desmond King. Texans take over at the JAX 41. Mills finds O.J. Howard for a 26-yd completion to the 15. Drive stalls. Lovie tells Ka'imi Fairbairn to get off the fie;d, they're going for it. Pass lofted to Burkhead in the endzone is incomplete. Really miss Nico Collins for a play like that.

Jaguars get the ball back at their 11. Three rushes from Etienne can't get a first down. King returns the punt to the HOU 42.

Mills escapes the pocket for a third down completion to Jordan Akins to the JAX 46. Drive stalls at the 44, and Lovie elects to punt this time at the two minute warning.

Pooch punt by Johnston fair caught at the JAX 9. Lawrence fakes a reverse on third down and finds an open Etienne who runs it 30 yards. Ogbo Okoronkwo sacks Lawrence for a loss of 8. Jags can't make up for it and let time expire.

0-21 Jaguars
Halftime

[Keith]

Jags receive to start second half. Lawrence still in the game, finds Even Engram for 16 to the JAX 44 then Jones for 17 to the HOU 39. Hasty then gets couple touches and move the offense to the 23. Lawrence goes back to Jones for 15, then rookie RB Snoop Conner takes the final 3 yards for the score. Extra point is good.

0-28 Jaguars
9:28 3rd quarter

[Keith]

Brevin Jordan gets on the board with a 20-yard reception, moves the Texans to their 48. Mills then scrambles for 11. Holding on Tunsil on the next play moves them back. Mills takes off again but his 13-yd run ends with a vicious shot near the sideline, looks like helmet-to-helmet, but no flag and a ref is right there, too. Sheesh.

Fairbairn gets a chance. 56-yard attempt is good.

3-28 Jags
5:49 3rd

[Keith]

C.J. Beathard enters for Lawrence. He's the grandson of former Redskins and Chargers GM Bobby Beathard, which I'm sure some old guys like us might remember. Etienne appears likely done as well but he still has a helmet.

Play action goes to Jones for 11 to the JAX 36. Conner powers up the middle for 8. Jonathan Greenard removed for potential concussion. DE Jerry Hughes gets a first down sack.

INTERCEPTION!

Jalen Pitre with a good read picks off Beathard, his 5th interception of his rookie season. Hmm, his glove remains stuck to the ball even after he takes it off (i.e. the "sticky hands" celebration). Texans offense takes over at their own 10.

3-28 Jags
0:45 3rd

[Keith]

Mills connects with Hairston and then Moore to get a first at the HOU 32. Moore is wide open down the left sideline but Mills is unable to get a ball within reach. Next pass though is caught by Amari Rodgers up the middle for 10 yards at the HOU 42. Another deep pass to Brandin Cooks is overthrown by Mills. On 4th and 3 from midfield, Mills is incomplete to Phillip Dorsett.

Jags takeover on downs. 11:38 remaining. They go 3-and-out.

Texans drive starts at their own 10. Driskel is sacked on third down for a 9-yard loss. Jags return the punt to the HOU 40.

Jags offense goes nowhere, and they kick a 53-yd field goal.

3-31 Jaguars
6:06 remaining.

[Keith]

Texans drive sputters, turnover on downs at JAX 31.

Both teams wish this game was already over. Bears are losing to the Lions, so the rights to the first overall draft pick are still unassigned. Today's loss locks the Texans into at least a top two pick.

Mills connects with Akins and it bounces up and out of his hands when he hits the ground. Jags DB Andrew Wingard catches it on the hop for an apparent interception. Play is reviewed as it appears Akins didn't control it, call is overturned. Texans keep it and run for a first down next play. Clock rolling, all timeouts remaining.

Mills deep attempt goes out of bounds. He has not been accurate all day. A completion to Moore gets the clock moving again. Mills has one of his better passes of the day finding Akins for 29 to the JAX 25. Seconds remain, but the Texans choose to let them run out rather than attempt what would have been a 43-yd field goal attempt.

3-31 Jaguars
Final

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Keith

C.J. Beathard enters for Lawrence. He's the grandson of former Redskins and Chargers GM Bobby Beathard, which I'm sure some old guys like us might remember.

I remember him vividly. He was the guy who built the great Redskins teams that Casserly happily took credit for. The Nexans have been letting charlatans run the team since day one.