3. Oh no. The Jaguars controlled Sunday’s game for 50 minutes. They gave up that control in a matter of seconds early in the fourth quarter. Lawrence threw into coverage to wide receiver Parker Washington on third-and-10 from the Jaguars 33 with 9:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, with safety Jalen Pitre intercepting at the 50.
“I got greedy, just a dumb play by me,” Lawrence said. “I got to just check it down and we either punt or maybe we run for the first down on the underneath so that was just a really bad play by me.”
Stroud on the ensuing play found Collins wide open down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown that tied it 10-10 with 9:25 remaining.
4. Conversion, plus … The Jaguars held momentum and a touchdown lead early Sunday. Then came a key sequence that helped keep the Texans close. The Texans faced third-and-14 at their 33-yard line. Stroud faced pressure on the play, but moved up in the pocket and found Collins for an 18-yard gain. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on safety Eric Murray for a first down at the Jaguars. That was one key play on this drive: Just as big was the Jaguars holding the Texans to kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 27-yard field goal that cut the lead to 7-3 with 6:54 remaining in the first half.
5. Big early hit. This one’s about Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd – and about a big defensive series that helped set an early tone. The Texans on their second series took possession at their 48 after a Jaguars punt, then drove to the Jaguars 27 – where they faced second-and-6. Stroud on that play threw short to Collins, with Lloyd tackling him backward for a one-yard loss that set up a third-and-7 that became an incomplete pass by Stroud. When Fairbairn missed a 52-yard field goal, the Jaguars had kept the game scoreless and had the starting field position that led to a 1-yard run by running back Bhayshul Tuten and a 7-0 lead with 2:09 remaining. Credit the Jaguars’ defense for flipping field possession and setting the tone for the first quarter.
5a. A glimpse – a really impressive glimpse. Rookie Travis Hunter provided a glimpse of why he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. It was an impressive moment – and a quietly important one early in Sunday’s second half. The Jaguars led 7-3 and faced first-and-20 at their 23 after a holding penalty on left tackle Walker Little. But while penalties had helped end Jaguars first-half drives, Lawrence on this play threw to his right to Hunter, who evaded a tackler and turned a short gain into a 21-yard gain and a first-and-10 at the Jaguars 44. The drive ended with a 39-yard field goal by Cam Little that pushed the lead to 7-3 with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter, with the key play a play that showed the dynamic playmaking and miss-ability that Hunter can provide.