Doug Marrone makes his head coaching debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Tom Savage led Houston Texans in a game that could have long term implications… on who finishes at the bottom of the AFC South. The Texans have made the playoffs for two straight seasons under head coach Bill O’Brien, but that has more to do with their horrid division and the fact that somebody had to win it than it did his coaching ability. Either way, this is a big game for both teams. For the Texans, it’s a chance to show that O’Brien has made the right call at quarterback. For Jacksonville, it’s a chance at a fresh start under a new coach.
The Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (-5)
The series just goes back to 2002, the debut season for the Houston Texans. Houston leads the all-time match up 19-11.
The Texans are currently riding a six-game winning streak dating back to December, 2014. It’s the longest Houston win streak in the series. Before that, Jacksonville won two straight, both with Chad Henne at quarterback.
The Jaguars’ longest streak was three games form September, 2009 to November, 2010 in the David Garrard era.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
For a team with all the questions on offense, especially at quarterback like the Jaguars, starting out on the road against the top NFL defense from 2016 with a healthy J.J. Watt is a recipe for disaster. Jacksonville brings a secretly formidable defense of their own to the table. The Jags were the No. 6 ranked defense in yards allowed last season, but No. 25 in points allowed. What does that mean? It means the offense turned the ball over a lot and set up their opponents with a short field.
Jacksonville shows up with most of the same defense, with the addition of last year’s second round pick Myles Jack who starts after taking an injury reshirt. With Jack in the middle, Paul Posluszny moves to outside linebacker opposite Telvin Smith, one of the most underrated players in the league.
Up front the Jaguars add free agent defensive end Calais Campbell and, if you ask me (and the Jaguars certainly didn’t), they’re starting him in the wrong place. Jacksonville is lining Campbell up at defense end when he had most of his success playing as an interior lineman with the Arizona Cardinals’ 3-4.
We can talk about the defense all day, but if the Jaguars are going to turn things around this season it’ll be the offense that makes it happen. Blake Bortles looks to have lost any confidence he’d developed just a couple of seasons ago. He’ll be playing behind a new offensive line with rookie Cam Robinson at left tackle. The hope is that Leonard Fournette at running back should take off some of the pressure and all Bortles really needs to do is get the ball out of his hands quickly as Jacksonville boasts a bevy a playmakers at wide receiver and tight end.
HOUSTON TEXANS
We’re about to see what a healthy J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney look like when they play together. I suspect Bortles will get to know both guys very well before the day is done. Clowney was one of the best players in the league in getting into the opponents’ backfield last season and Watt is still Watt, regardless of whether he’s coming off an injury, until he proves otherwise.
The Texans are solid on defense at every level, especially at linebacker. As underrated as Telvin Smith is with the Jaguars, Whitney Mercilus is almost an afterthought with the Texans. On any other team he’d be a household name.
The issues with Houston are all on offense. They’re loaded at running back with about three guys deep behind starter Lamar Miller, even with Alfred Blue expected to miss the game. The wide receiver corps will be without Will Fuller V, but with Savage at QB, DeAndre Hopkins and tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz should see most of the action anyway.
The Pick
The Texans aren’t just playing for themselves this week, they’re playing for the entire city of Houston and anyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Even with a lackluster offense, their defense is likely to outscore the Jaguars. Texans 24, Jaguars 13
This Week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 1-0
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