Houston Texans’ run sport has a breakthrough with key contributions to win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Jawhar Jordan took the pitch from C.J. Stroud late within the third quarter Sunday and as a substitute of working towards the skin, Jordan readjusted and in the reduction of in direction of the middle of the sphere.

The inside of the Houston Texans’ offensive line had pushed the Jaguars again nicely past the road of scrimmage on the 25-yard line, opening a canyon in the midst of the sphere. Jordan dashed by way of it, evaded Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones’ try to carry him down and capped the longest run of the Houston season ultimately zone.

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The Texans’ working sport has struggled over the previous month, and few individuals would have guessed that may change Sunday going up in opposition to the Jaguars’ league-best run protection on a slippery day in London.

However behind an offensive line that was as much as the duty in opposition to Jacksonville’s entrance, Jordan’s landing run wasn’t an anomaly. As an alternative, Houston ran for over 100 yards for the primary time since Week 1 and averaged greater than 4 yards per carry for the primary time all 12 months within the 34-31 victory at Wembley Stadium.

“All of it begins up entrance,” Stroud mentioned. “Our O-line did a fantastic job right this moment.”

Houston entered Sunday second-to-last in complete dashing yards on the season whereas the Jaguars’ protection ranked No. 1 in run protection, permitting 2.9 yards per carry and 63.8 dashing yards per sport. Their Previous two opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles, mixed for simply 45 dashing yards.

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No participant had gained greater than 40 dashing yards in opposition to Jacksonville all season, not less than till it went up in opposition to Woody Marks and Jordan, who was elevated from the observe squad for the sport on account of David Montgomery’s groin damage.

Jordan has six carries for 43 yards. Marks had 56 yards on 15 carries plus one other 25 yards receiving. The Texans at the moment are 10-0 when Marks carries the ball not less than 11 occasions.

Marks’ most vital play got here by way of the air. On third-and-2 throughout Houston’s game-winning drive, Marks jabstepped to his left after which ran proper out of the backfield. Stroud hit Marks on the brief throw close to the road of scrimmage and the second-year working again sprinted up the sphere for 19 yards, placing the offense in Jacksonville territory.

Jordan emerged from the primary few weeks of coaching camp as one of many standout performers on offense however an damage reduce into his preseason work. He ended up on the observe squad, like he did final season.

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“It feels similar to final 12 months,” offensive coordinator Nick Caley mentioned Thursday. “We introduced him alongside and had a great camp final 12 months after which we lastly obtained a chance to come back on up and also you noticed.”

TEXANS 34, JAGUARS 31

First Quarter

Hou_Moreau 6 cross from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 5:13. Drive: 5 performs, 62 yards, 3:01. Key Play: Stroud 42 cross to Collins. Houston 7, Jacksonville 0.

Second Quarter

Jac_Tuten 27 cross from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 6:47. Drive: 8 performs, 79 yards, 4:26. Key Performs: Lawrence 19 cross to Washington; Lawrence 27 cross to Washington on Third-and-4. Houston 7, Jacksonville 7.

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Hou_FG Fairbairn 25, 4:16. Drive: 8 performs, 62 yards, 2:31. Key Performs: Hutchinson kick return to Houston 31; Stroud 34 cross to Noel; Stroud 14 cross to M.Harrison; Stroud 7 cross to Schultz on Third-and-8. Houston 10, Jacksonville 7.

Jac_Tuten 2 cross from Lawrence (C.Little kick), :55. Drive: 10 performs, 48 yards, 3:21. Key Performs: Cameron kick return to Houston 48; Lawrence 9 cross to Meyers on Third-and-8; Lawrence 19 cross to T.Hunter. Jacksonville 14, Houston 10.

Hou_Moreau 1 cross from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), :08. Drive: 4 performs, 63 yards, 00:47. Key Performs: Noel kick return to Houston 37; Stroud 50 cross to Noel. Houston 17, Jacksonville 14.

Third Quarter

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Hou_Noel 13 cross from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 9:21. Drive: 12 performs, 65 yards, 5:39. Key Performs: Stroud 9 cross to Schultz on Third-and-10; Stroud 14 cross to M.Harrison; Stroud 10 cross to Noel; Stroud 6 cross to M.Harrison on Third-and-2. Houston 24, Jacksonville 14.

Jac_Boerkircher 1 cross from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 2:34. Drive: 6 performs, 69 yards, 2:57. Key Performs: Lawrence 22 cross to Meyers; Lawrence 28 cross to Meyers; Lawrence 11 cross to Tuten on Third-and-3. Houston 24, Jacksonville 21.

Hou_J.Jordan 25 run (Fairbairn kick), :50. Drive: 6 performs, 65 yards, 1:44. Key Play: Stroud 16 cross to Schultz. Houston 31, Jacksonville 21.

Fourth Quarter

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Jac_T.Hunter 7 cross from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 11:26. Drive: 9 performs, 61 yards, 4:18. Key Performs: Lawrence 26 cross to T.Hunter; Lawrence 10 cross to Washington; Rodriguez 3 run on Third-and-1. Houston 31, Jacksonville 28.

Jac_FG C.Little 60, 1:55. Drive: 7 performs, 38 yards, 1:58. Key Performs: T.Hunter 0 interception return to Jacksonville 20; Lawrence 15 cross to Meyers; Lawrence 6 cross to Unusual on Third-and-10. Houston 31, Jacksonville 31.

Hou_FG Fairbairn 49, :00. Drive: 8 performs, 36 yards, 1:55. Key Performs: Hutchinson kick return to Houston 32; Stroud 19 cross to Marks on Third-and-2. Houston 34, Jacksonville 31.

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Houston, Marks 15-56, J.Jordan 6-43, Stroud 1-5, Collins 1-5, Stover 2-5. Jacksonville, Rodriguez 11-55, Tuten 12-39, Lawrence 3-11, Allen 1-1.

PASSING_Houston, Stroud 24-34-1-312. Jacksonville, Lawrence 24-41-1-306.

RECEIVING_Houston, Noel 4-107, Schultz 4-33, Collins 3-74, Harrison 3-34, Marks 2-25, Boutte 2-16, Hutchinson 2-10, Moreau 2-7, J.Jordan 1-7, B.Jordan 1-(minus 1). Jacksonville, Meyers 5-83, Unusual 5-44, Washington 4-64, Hunter 4-59, Tuten 4-48, Boerkircher 2-8.

PUNT RETURNS_Houston, Noel 1-2. Jacksonville, Washington 1-7.

KICKOFF RETURNS_Houston, Noel 2-65, Hutchinson 2-52. Jacksonville, Abdullah 4-118, Cameron 1-46.

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TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS_Houston, Lassiter 6-2-0, Stingley 5-1-0, To’oTo’o 3-3-0, Togiai 3-3-0, Blankenship 3-2-0, Bullock 3-2-0, Stewart 3-0-0, Al-Shaair 2-5-0, T.Smith 2-1-0, Hunter 1-2-0, L.Corridor 1-1-0, Rankins 1-0-0, Anderson 0-1-0, Crumedy 0-1-0, McDonald 0-1-0, Ramsey 0-1-0. Jacksonville, Johnson 5-1-0, Oluokun 4-4-0, Merriweather 4-3-0, Jar.Jones 4-2-0, Combs 3-1-0, Lewis 3-0-0, Murray 2-1-0, Miller 1-5-0, Hunter 1-2-0, Walker 1-2-0, Hamilton 1-1-0, Gardeck 1-0-0, Hines-Allen 1-0-0, Armstead 0-2-0, Dickerson 0-1-0, Orhorhoro 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS_Houston, Bullock 1-0. Jacksonville, Hunter 1-0.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

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OFFICIALS_Referee Shawn Hochuli, Ump Larry Smith, HL Patrick Holt, LJ Carl Johnson, FJ Jason Ledet, SJ Dave Hawkshaw, BJ Jimmy Russell, Replay Tyler Cerimeli.

When Jordan obtained his alternative final 12 months in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals, he put up the very best dashing efficiency of the 2025 Texans season with 101 yards on 15 carries.

Houston did not want Jordan to be the lead again Sunday prefer it did final 12 months, however Jordan made probably the most of his carries. His 25-yard rating was the primary landing of his profession, and his 7-yard rush on the game-winning drive turned Ka’imi Fairbairn’s successful kick from a 56-yarder to a 49-yarder.

These seven yards should not go unnoticed. Fairbairn hasn’t missed a discipline objective below 50 yards in 51 makes an attempt.

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“One factor I all the time inform all of our guys, wherever you might be on our staff, is whenever you get the chance, are you maximizing that chance?” Ryans mentioned. “Jawhar did precisely that right this moment.”

However Jordan and Marks could not have completed with out the Texans’ offensive line, which performed a fantastic sport. Not solely did they open holes for the 2 working backs however additionally they saved Stroud protected.

Houston had just one play go for unfavorable yardage. The Jaguars protection additionally did not sack Stroud as soon as and registered simply two quarterback hits.

“Our backs, they did an exceptional job,” Ryans mentioned. “Our offensive line did a fantastic job defending C.J. No sacks right this moment. Our offense performed very well.”

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Peter Warren reported from Houston

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This text initially revealed at Houston Texans’ run sport has a breakthrough with key contributions to win over Jacksonville Jaguars.