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.....

[chuck]

The food in London is awesome. That's really all I have.

Oh, don't eat vindaloo the night before a flight back home. You're welcome.

[chuck]

Wake up, you goons.

[Arky]

Gametime!

Texans to receive the opening kickoff.

Texans drive down the field but penaties keep them pushed back.

Fairbairn makes good from 52.

Texans 3, Jags 0

8:20 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

1st qtr ends with the Jags facing 3rd and 10 at their 41 yard line.

Score remains:

Texans 3, Jags 0

[Arky]

Texans go 80 yards with a 1 yard TD pass to Fells to finish!

XP gets blocked, no good.

Texans 9, Jags 0

5:55 left in the half.

[Arky]

Lambo is good from 30 for the Jags.

Texans 9, Jags 3

1:48 left in the half.

Texans with 2 timeouts - time enough to get some more points....

[Arky]

Fairbairn is no good from 58 with 6 seconds left in the half. Jags have time for 1 or 2 plays....

Jags complete a short pass but time runs out.

Halftime.

Texans 9, Jags 3

[Arky]

Jags take the 2nd half kickoff and drive down but bungle the FG try. Texans takeover at midfield.

8:56 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Fairbairn is good from 42.

Texans 12, Jags 3

4:57 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

A 48-yard run by Hyde followed by a nice pass to Dhop sets up the Texans for a 1 yard TD run by D Johnson!

Texans 19, Jags 3

31 seconds left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Oh my goodness. Carlos Hyde had a 59 yard run heading in for the TD and has the ball stripped at the last second. Ball falls into the end zone for a touchback.

Jags ball at the 20 with 4:43 left in the game.

Justin Reid with the INT on the 1st play! Returns it all the way to the Jag 3! Texans ball!

[Arky]

Watson hits Hop for the 1 yard TD.

Texans 26, Jags 3

4:19 left in the game.

Texans with 2 INT's....

[Arky]

Oy, Minshew keeps and gets clobbered, fumbles... Texans get the ball a the Jag 40 with about 3 and a half minutes left....

What a crazy 4th qtr.....

[Arky]

The game ends with the Texans on top:

Texans 26, Jags 3

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Surprising performance from a beat-up defense.... Lots of big plays from both the offense and defense....