Thomas Redeems Himself as Jaguars Hold Off Texans 17-10 in Chippy Divisional Matchup

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a game marked by frustration, redemption, and physical intensity, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured their first home win over the Houston Texans since 2017 with a 17-10 victory on Sunday. Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who struggled early with multiple drops and the crowd's disapproval, played a pivotal role in the victory, hauling in a critical 46-yard catch that helped swing momentum back in the Jaguars’ favor.

“I just had to keep fighting,” said Thomas, whose early struggles threatened to derail Jacksonville’s offense. “A 60-minute game is a long game, and my teammates had my back the whole game.” The long completion from quarterback Trevor Lawrence came in response to a Houston blitz and set up Travis Etienne’s go-ahead touchdown. The Jaguars (2-1) not only snapped a six-year home losing streak to the Texans (0-3), but also displayed the kind of defensive resilience and emotional edge that has often been lacking in recent years. Lawrence, who finished 22 of 31 for 256 yards and no turnovers, said the team’s refusal to be “bullied” was a turning point. A sideline confrontation with Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in the second half underscored the game’s physical nature. “We're not going to get bullied,” Lawrence stated. “It was fun to be able to punch back and stand up in those moments.”

Houston had chances late, but mistakes proved costly. The key turning point came with under four minutes to play when Texans receiver Nico Collins fumbled after a catch. Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell dislodged the ball, and linebacker Devin Lloyd recovered it, setting up the Etienne score that would ultimately decide the game.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans lamented the turnover: “We give the ball to one of our best players, Nico. He knows it. I know he hates it more than anyone else, to have the ball taken away from him there.” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who had never thrown an interception against Jacksonville, finished 25 of 38 for 204 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson picked off a deflected pass late in the fourth quarter after edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen disrupted Stroud’s release. Hines-Allen was dominant throughout, especially in his matchup with rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery. The veteran defender recorded three quarterback hits, shared a sack with Arik Armstead, and was instrumental in the game’s final defensive stand. He now sits just 1.5 sacks away from breaking Tony Brackens’ franchise record of 55 sacks, set in 2003. “We're building something very special here,” Hines-Allen said. “This was a great building point for how far can we go.” Jacksonville’s defense forced three turnovers for the third consecutive game — a franchise first to start a season — highlighting a defensive resurgence under coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Injuries mounted for both teams. Houston lost All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in the first quarter to an abdominal injury; he attempted a brief return but was ruled out early in the second half. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson also left temporarily but returned. The Jaguars lost wide receiver Dyami Brown to a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

Looking ahead, Houston will try to regroup at home against Tennessee next Sunday, while Jacksonville faces a tough road test at San Francisco. The Jaguars are 0-2 historically in San Francisco and will look to reverse that trend in Week 4.