The Houston Texans are looking to regain their footing as they head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. The Texans are currently riding a five-game winning streak against their AFC South opponents, and they will be seeking to extend that streak to six games.
Despite their recent success against the Jaguars, the Texans are coming off a tough stretch, having lost their previous two games. They will be looking to get back on track against a Jacksonville team that has struggled to find its footing this season.
The Jaguars, who sit at the bottom of the AFC South with a 2-9 record, will be looking to play the role of spoiler as they host the Texans. Jacksonville has had a difficult time competing with the top teams in the league, but they have shown flashes of brilliance at times.
The Texans will be counting on their strong running game to pace them against the Jaguars. Houston has been one of the top rushing teams in the league, with a strong backfield duo of Dameon Pierce and Devon Achane. The Texans will look to control the tempo of the game by pounding the ball on the ground and wearing down the Jacksonville defense.
Defensively, the Texans will be looking to put pressure on the Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has shown incredible potential in his young career, but he has also struggled at times. Houston will be counting on their pass rush to get to Lawrence and disrupt his timing.
On the other side, the Jaguars will be looking to exploit the Texans' pass defense. Jacksonville has a talented receiving corps, led by veterans Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. The Jaguars will look to stretch the Texans' defense and create big plays down the sideline.
Despite their recent struggles, the Texans are still very much alive in the AFC playoff picture. A win against the Jaguars would go a long way towards keeping their postseason hopes alive. The Texans will need to regroup and refocus if they are going to make a late-season push.
For Jacksonville, a win against the Texans would be a major upset. However, the Jaguars have shown at times that they are capable of competing with the top teams in the league. If they can put it all together, they could be in for a big day.
The game between the Texans and Jaguars has all the makings of a competitive matchup. Both teams have a lot to play for, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold on the field.